Our Attorneys

Natalie Armour joined the Issues and Appeals section of The Lanier Law Firm in 2012. She handles complex briefing in trial and appellate courts in mass tort, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, and other types of product liability cases, personal injury matters, and business litigation. She has briefed appellate matters before the Texas Supreme Court, Texas Courts of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Eighth Circuit, the Missouri Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Missouri. She is licensed to practice law in Texas.

Leila Ayachi joined Lanier Law Firm, in 2018, as an associate in the pharmaceutical liability section.

Harvey Brown serves as Of Counsel for The Lanier Law Firm out of the Houston office. Judge Brown joined The Lanier Law Firm in 2019 following distinguished service as a District Judge in Harris County (1995-2002) and as a Justice on the First Court of Appeals for the State of Texas (2010 – 2018). While on the appellate court, Judge Brown also served on the Texas State Multidistrict Litigation Panel and authored more than1,000 opinions.

Manny Cabrera joined The Lanier Law Firm as an associate, in 2018, focusing on plaintiff’s civil litigation with an emphasis on asbestos-related injuries. He has extensive experience in federal and state district courts as well as appellate courts throughout Texas. His exposure to multiple sides within the courtroom has given Mr. Cabrera the benefit of a well-rounded insight of litigation and what assures justice on behalf of his clients.

Attorney Michelle Carreras has been an attorney at The Lanier Law Firm since 2009. She initially worked in the Bankruptcy Litigation group, where she focused on litigation matters arising out of corporate bankruptcies. In September 2011, Ms. Carreras joined the Issues and Appeals group, where she handles complex appeals and trial-level briefing and research.

Ryan D. Ellis is a trial attorney who represents individuals and businesses in a variety of civil litigation matters. Named a “Lawyer on the Rise” by Texas Lawyer magazine in 2017, Ryan focuses his practice on business disputes—such as fraud claims, contractual disputes, business torts, employment disputes, trade secrets and other intellectual property disputes—as well as on environmental class action matters. Individuals and companies of all sizes and across a wide range of industries have relied on Ryan to represent and advise them throughout all stages of litigation in both state and federal court, as well as in private arbitration.

Chris Gadoury joined The Lanier Law Firm in 2015 where he serves the firm’s clients in complex business and environmental litigation matters.

Felicia M. Hubert is a senior associate with the Lanier Law Firm Houston office. Felicia devotes her entire practice to trial work, representing clients in the areas of personal injury, truck and motor vehicle accidents, product liability, premises liability, commercial and consumer litigation. Felicia has vast experience at the trial and appellate levels, with over 50 first and second chair trials to judges and juries in Federal and State court and ten State Court appellate arguments, with successful reported opinions. Felicia also represents a vast array of pro bono clients for the firm.

Benjamin T. Major, a senior attorney of the Issues and Appeals Practice Group at The Lanier Law Firm, has vast experience in trial and appellate matters. In his role for the firm, he has served as lead appellate counsel on a number of appeals; has worked to preserve seven- to ten-digit judgments on appeal; and has headed up motion practice efforts in large scale and complex litigation, including personal injury cases, commercial disputes, civil rights litigation, and oil and gas cases.

Ralph (Skip) McBride serves as Of Counsel for The Lanier Law Firm out of the Houston office. As a member of The Lanier Law Firm team, Mr. McBride represents commercial clients and individuals in real estate disputes, products liability lawsuits, oil and gas disputes, personal injury cases, construction contracts, trusts and probate matters and securities litigation.

Patrice McKinney represents the LLF's clients in personal injury cases, especially car and trucking collision cases, oilfield related injuries, and railroad workers injured on the job (FELA).

Caroline McLeod joined the Issues and Appeals section of the Lanier Law Firm in 2018. Her practice involves briefing in trial and appellate courts in the areas of mass tort litigation, commercial litigation, personal injury, and products liability.

Rebecca Phillips joined The Lanier Law Firm team because she believes in the power of the civil justice system to promote good corporate behavior and public safety. She loves helping individuals utilize that power to seek justice, through both trial work and appeals. Rebecca’s practice is diverse, having experience in mass torts, class actions, and complex business cases. Most recently, she focuses her time on litigation concerning the opioid epidemic and on litigation concerning injuries caused by the diabetes drug Onglyza.

Christopher Phipps is an attorney in the Bankruptcy Department for the Asbestos and Toxic Exposure group at The Lanier Law Firm’s Houston office.

Matthew D. Przywara is an associate in the Business Litigation section of the Lanier Law Firm, representing a wide variety of complex clients on a diverse array of complex commercial litigation matters.

Kent Sullivan’s highly diverse background includes government regulation, public policy, leadership, stewardship, and law. He’s previously served as the Texas Commissioner of Insurance and has also been a trial and appellate court judge. Of Counsel to The Lanier Law Firm, Kent has practiced law more than 35 years and has been a partner at several major law firms.

Leydyluz “Luz” Symphorien-Restrepo joined The Lanier Law firm in 2017 with more than six years of experience in trial litigation.