Crain Caton & James

09/01/2026

Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, today announced the members of its Executive Committee for the year ahead, effective September 1, 2026. The changes bring new leadership to the firm’s governing body while keeping the firm’s focus where it has long been: on the quality of its work, the service it provides to clients, and the strength of its team.

Anna Valkovich Kavanaugh, a Shareholder in the firm’s Estate, Trust, & Wealth Planning practice, will serve as President beginning September 1, 2026, and will continue on the Executive Committee through April 30, 2027.

“It’s a privilege to step into this role at a firm so committed to its clients and its people,” said Anna Valkovich Kavanaugh. “Our priorities don’t change — we do excellent work, we take care of the people who trust us to counsel and represent them, and we give talented attorneys a place where they want to build a career.”

Jennifer L. Varadi, a Shareholder in the firm’s Family Law practice, has been elected to the Executive Committee for a two-year term running September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028.

James E. Smith, a Shareholder in the firm’s Environmental, Natural Resources, Health & Safety practice, will continue his service on the board through December 1, 2027.

The firm also recognized James E. Hudson III, a Shareholder in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, who completed his service on the Executive Committee on August 31, 2026. “I want to thank Jim Hudson for two years of dedicated service and steady leadership on the Executive Committee,” said Kavanaugh. “The firm is stronger for his wisdom and counsel.”

As it looks to the year ahead, the committee’s focus remains consistent with the values that have guided Crain Caton & James for more than a century: delivering high-quality legal work and dependable service to clients and attracting and retaining exceptional talent.

HOUSTON, TEXAS, September 1, 2026 — Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, today announced the members of its Executive Committee for the year ahead, effective September 1, 2026. The changes bring new leadership to the firm’s governing body while keeping the firm’s focus where it has long be...

08/21/2026

HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 20, 2026 Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, announced today that three of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, a distinction for attorneys who are earlier in their careers and have earned strong recognition from their peers.
Like the main Best Lawyers list, Ones to Watch selections are based on peer review within the same practice area and region, with no fee or self-nomination involved. The recognition identifies attorneys whose work is already drawing notice from the lawyers around them.

“Seeing Alexander W. Cohn, Greg DeVries, and Suzanne D. Perry recognized in the 2027 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America edition tells us the next generation at Crain Caton & James is already delivering at the highest level.”
James E. Hudson III, President and Chairman, Crain Caton & James

Crain Caton & James attorneys named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America 2027
Alexander W. (Alex) Cohn: Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance
Alexander W. Cohn is a shareholder whose litigation practice spans commercial, business, real estate, bankruptcy, and banking disputes. A seasoned trial lawyer, he has tried dozens of cases to juries and judges and represents clients in state and federal courts across Texas.

Greg DeVries: Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance
Greg DeVries is a banking and financial institutions litigator who represents national banks, mortgage lenders and servicers, and consumer financial service providers in matters under the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and UCC Articles 3, 4, and 4A.

Suzanne D. Perry: Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
Suzanne D. Perry focuses her practice on probate, trust, and guardianship administration and related litigation. She represents clients in contested and uncontested Texas probate court proceedings and advises on estate planning strategies.

About Crain Caton & James
For more than a century, Crain Caton & James has served clients from its Houston office with a broad civil practice that includes appellate, banking and financial institutions, commercial litigation, corporate and real estate, environmental, family law, fiduciary litigation, intellectual property, labor and employment, and trust and estate. The firm is located at 1401 McKinney Street, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas 77010.

https://craincaton.com/three-crain-caton-james-attorneys-named-to-best-lawyers-ones-to-watch-in-america-2027/

08/20/2026

HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 20, 2026
Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, announced today that 20 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

The recognition spans environmental law, family law, tax law, trusts and estates, elder law, real estate law, patent litigation, commercial litigation, appellate practice, construction litigation, corporate law, employment law, and banking and finance law.

Recognition in Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Attorneys are evaluated by their peers in the same practice area and geographic region, and no fee or self-nomination is involved. Selection to the 2027 edition places these attorneys among those most respected by the lawyers who work alongside and across from them.

“Best Lawyers carries weight because the recognition comes from other lawyers, the people who see the work up close. When a client or a referring attorney sees 20 of our attorneys on the 2027 list, it shows them the profession itself stands behind this firm.”
James E. Hudson III, President and Chairman, Crain Caton & James

Crain Caton & James attorneys selected for The Best Lawyers in America 2027
Kelly D. Brown: Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental
Sarah Sokol Clark: Trusts and Estates
Sherri A. Evans: Collaborative Law: Family Law; Family Law; Family Law Arbitration
Larry D. George: Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
Jeffrey I. Horowitz: Real Estate Law
James E. Hudson III: Litigation - Patent
William P. (Pat) Huttenbach: Commercial Litigation
William P. Jensen: Litigation - Patent
Anna Valkovich Kavanaugh: Trusts and Estates
C. Henry Kollenberg: Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Construction; Litigation - Real Estate
Charles D. Maynard, Jr.: Real Estate Law
Robert E. (Robin) Morse III: Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental
Peter G. Nemeth: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Corporate Law
David A. (Dave) Polsinelli: Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation
Mindy M. Riseden: Litigation - Construction
Darlene Payne Smith: Elder Law; Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
James E. (Jim) Smith: Environmental Law
Kimberly R. Stuart: Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
Jennifer L. Varadi: Family Law
Robert R. Wisner: Banking and Finance Law

About Crain Caton & James
For more than a century, Crain Caton & James has served clients from its Houston office with a broad civil practice that includes appellate, banking and financial institutions, commercial litigation, corporate and real estate, environmental, family law, fiduciary litigation, intellectual property, labor and employment, and trust and estate. The firm is located at 1401 McKinney Street, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas 77010.

HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 20, 2026 Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, announced today that 20 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The recognition spans environmental law, family law, tax law, trusts and estates, elder law, real est...

08/12/2026

HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 13, 2026
Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, announced today that seven of its attorneys have been named to the 2026 Texas Rising Stars list, a recognition published annually by Thomson Reuters.
The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of the attorneys in a state, and eligibility is limited to attorneys who are 40 or younger or who have been in practice for 10 years or less. Selection follows the same peer nomination and independent research process used for the Super Lawyers list.

“Seeing our attorneys recognized as Texas Rising Stars across business litigation, civil litigation, estate and probate, and family law, and shows how deep the talent runs at Crain Caton & James, and how much strength we are building for the years ahead.”
James E. Hudson III, President and Chairman, Crain Caton & James
Crain Caton & James attorneys named to 2026 Texas Rising Stars

Sarah Sokol Clark: Estate and Probate
Sarah Sokol Clark is a shareholder whose practice covers estate, trust, and wealth planning and probate, trust, and guardianship matters, including complex wills and trusts, powers of attorney, medical directives, and estate administration.

Alexander W. (Alex) Cohn: Business Litigation
Alexander W. Cohn is a shareholder whose litigation practice spans commercial, real estate, bankruptcy, banking, and employment disputes. He previously served more than five years as an Assistant District Attorney in the Harris County District Attorney's Office and has tried dozens of cases to juries and judges.

Greg DeVries: Civil Litigation: Defense
Greg DeVries is a banking litigator who represents a wide range of financial institutions in state and federal court on matters involving the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, credit agreements and secured transactions, and UCC Articles 3, 4, and 4A.

George (Trey) Gifford III: Estate and Probate
George (Trey) Gifford III is an associate in the firm's Fiduciary Litigation and Probate, Trust, and Guardianship practices, with work that includes will contests, executor and administrator disputes, contested guardianships, and probate appeals. He is certified to handle guardianship matters in Texas.

David A. (Dave) Polsinelli: Business Litigation
David A. Polsinelli is a shareholder who focuses on commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels, handling disputes involving contracts, real estate, oil and gas, construction, and trade secrets. He clerked for Justice John P. Devine of the Texas Supreme Court.

Stacie M. Seals: Family Law
Stacie M. Seals is an associate in the firm's Family Law practice, focusing on divorce, child custody, and property division, and representing clients through discovery, hearings, mediation, and settlement.

Jennifer L. Varadi: Family Law
Jennifer L. Varadi is a shareholder who is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice centers on high net worth divorces, child custody and support, complex property division, and premarital and post-marital agreements, and she is a certified mediator.

HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 13, 2026 Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, announced today that seven of its attorneys have been named to the 2026 Texas Rising Stars list, a recognition published annually by Thomson Reuters. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of the attorneys in...

08/11/2026

HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 11, 2026
Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, announced today that 13 of its attorneys have been named to the 2026 Texas Super Lawyers list, published by Thomson Reuters. The honorees were recognized in environmental law, family law, estate and probate, estate and trust litigation, real estate, banking, intellectual property, general litigation, and employment and labor.

Super Lawyers names no more than five percent of the attorneys in a state each year. Selection is based on a process of peer nominations and independent research that evaluates professional achievement and peer recognition across more than 70 practice areas.

“The Texas Super Lawyers list is often where clients and other lawyers start when they are deciding who to trust with a matter. Having 13 of our attorneys on it, many named year after year, reflects a reputation built over time rather than in any single year.”
James E. Hudson III, President and Chairman, Crain Caton & James

Crain Caton & James attorneys named to 2026 Texas Super Lawyers
Kelly D. Brown: Environmental
Sherri Evans: Family Law
Larry George: Estate and Probate
Jeffrey I. Horowitz: Real Estate
William Pat Huttenbach: Banking
William P. Jensen: Intellectual Property
Anna Valkovich Kavanaugh: Estate and Probate
Charles D. Maynard, Jr.: Real Estate
Robert E. (Robin) Morse III: Environmental
Mindy M. Riseden: General Litigation
Darlene Payne Smith: Estate and Trust Litigation
James E. Smith: Environmental
Kimberly R. Stuart: Employment and Labor

HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 11, 2026 Crain Caton & James, a Houston law firm, announced today that 13 of its attorneys have been named to the 2026 Texas Super Lawyers list, published by Thomson Reuters. The honorees were recognized in environmental law, family law, estate and probate, estate and trust li...

08/11/2026

HOUSTON — Crain Caton & James, P.C. is pleased to announce that Miriam Sweetin has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the Banking & Financial Institutions practice group. Sweetin is a seasoned bank litigator with more than 14 years of experience representing financial institutions in court and before regulatory agencies, with a practice focused on banking litigation, bank fraud, lender liability, banking regulation and compliance, and disputes arising in the financial services industry.

Miriam has tried cases in both state and federal court and has managed every phase of litigation — from pleadings and motion practice through depositions, oral argument, and trial. She has handled dockets averaging more than 30 concurrent cases across Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado, and is licensed to practice in all three states.

Miriam brings a distinctive perspective shaped by experience on both sides of the regulatory relationship. As Senior Attorney at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, she advised senior staff on enforcement strategy and the interpretation of federal banking law, including the FDI Act, Regulation O, Regulation W, and Part 362. Prior to her time at the FDIC, she served as litigation counsel for a large national bank, where she led internal investigations and managed outside litigation counsel across multiple states.

Her litigation practice is grounded in working knowledge of the Bank Secrecy Act, Dodd-Frank, TILA, FDCPA, ECOA, FCRA, and UDAAP. She has developed and implemented consumer banking compliance programs, managed bank examinations with regulatory agencies, and provided legal guidance on enterprise-wide regulatory reporting and compliance initiatives.

“Miriam is exactly the kind of attorney our banking clients need in their corner,” said Pat Huttenbach, Shareholder in the firm’s Banking & Financial Institutions practice. “She has tried cases, managed regulatory relationships, and worked inside the agencies that examine and enforce against our clients. That combination of courtroom experience and regulatory insight is genuinely rare, and it makes her an exceptional resource for financial institutions facing litigation or enforcement exposure.”

Miriam earned her J.D. with highest honors from the University of Tulsa College of Law and her B.A. summa cm laude from Oral Roberts University. She is admitted to practice in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.

She joins a practice group with deep institutional knowledge of the banking industry, where she will work alongside Huttenbach and other firm attorneys advising banks, credit unions, and financial holding companies on litigation strategy, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.

Veteran bank litigator brings more than 14 years of experience representing financial institutions in court and before regulatory agencies HOUSTON — Crain Caton & James, P.C. is pleased to announce that Miriam Sweetin has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the Banking & Financial Institutions practi...

07/20/2026

Crain Caton & James is pleased to announce that shareholder James E. (Jim) Smith will speak at the 38th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference, A Star-Spangled Affair, taking place August 5–7, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin.

The Superconference is presented by the Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, along with EarthX, the Air & Waste Management Association, Southwest Section, the Water Environment Association of Texas, and the American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy & Resources. It is the premier environmental and natural resources CLE program in Texas and the surrounding region, drawing leading practitioners, regulators, and in-house counsel each year.

Jim will deliver the conference’s Case Law Update on Thursday, August 6, from 9:45 to 10:15 AM, offering attendees a timely review of recent decisions shaping environmental practice.

We’re proud to see Jim contribute his environmental law experience to this respected gathering. To learn more or register, visit the conference page: https://www.texenrls.org/cle/superconference/

07/17/2026

Crain Caton & James, P.C. is proud to announce that the firm has been named First Place in Family Law in the Houston Chronicle’s 2026 Best of the Best program, one of the region’s most respected community-voted recognitions.

The honor was celebrated on July 16 at the program’s awards gala, where the firm was recognized alongside the best businesses and professionals across the greater Houston area.

In addition to its first-place finish in Family Law, Crain Caton & James earned Top 3 Finalist recognition in three additional categories: Trusts & Estates, Corporate Law, and Real Estate Law. These results reflect the depth, breadth, and consistent excellence of the firm’s practice groups.

Representing Crain Caton & James at the gala were Sarah Sokol Clark, Courtney Hoff, James E. Hudson III, Marty Olson, Kimberly Stuart, and Suzanne D. Perry, who accepted the recognition on behalf of the entire firm.

“This recognition belongs to our clients, our attorneys, and our staff,” said Hudson, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. “Being named the best in Family Law, and earning finalist recognition across three more practice areas, reflects the trust our clients place in us and the dedication our team brings to their work every single day. We are grateful, we are honored, and we are proud to serve this community.”

To everyone who voted and to the clients who continue to place their confidence in the firm: thank you. And to the attorneys and staff whose outstanding and consistent contributions make Crain Caton & James what it is, thank you for making this recognition possible.

Crain Caton & James, P.C. is proud to announce that the firm has been named First Place in Family Law in the Houston Chronicle’s 2026 Best of the Best program, one of the region’s most respected community-voted recognitions. The honor was celebrated on July 16 at the program’s awards gala, whe...

05/11/2026

How a small act of support turned into something bigger than we expected.

Every year, the Houston Chronicle asks the people of Houston a simple question: Who’s the best? Readers nominate the businesses and professionals they trust — the ones they recommend to friends and turn to when it matters most. It’s called the Best of the Best competition, and it’s one of the most meaningful honors in our city.

Our clients, peers, colleagues, and employees thought of us — and because of their nominations, Crain Caton & James has advanced to the final Voting Round in all five of our practice areas: Corporate, Family Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Trusts & Estates. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because the people in our corner took a moment out of their day to say, quietly and sincerely: these are the people I trust. We don’t take that lightly.

The final voting round is now open through May 26. Anyone can vote once per day — no account required, no purchase necessary. Just a genuine opinion about who deserves to be called the best. Each practice area has its own ballot, and every single vote counts.

If we’ve had the privilege of working with you — helping protect your business, your family, or your future — we’d be honored to have your vote. Please share these links with anyone you think might want to weigh in.

VOTE FOR US — ONE CLICK PER CATEGORY, ONCE PER DAY

Corporate Law: https://www.chron.com/best/ #/gallery/531992271
Real Estate Law: https://www.chron.com/best/ #/gallery/531992432
Trusts & Estates: https://www.chron.com/best/ #/gallery/531992551
Family Law: https://www.chron.com/best/ #/gallery/531992713
Commercial Litigation: https://www.chron.com/best/ #/gallery/531991779

“Thank you for trusting us with what matters most. That trust is the only award that has ever truly meant something to us.”

Home of the Houston Chronicle's Best of the Best Voting

05/07/2026

Crain Caton & James is pleased to announce that Kristina Villarin has joined the firm as an Associate in its Litigation Practice, focusing on commercial litigation.

Kristina brings a unique combination of legal and financial experience to her practice. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she spent nearly a decade in accounting, developing a strong foundation in financial analysis and regulatory compliance. Her prior experience enables her to work closely with attorneys to dissect complex financial records, streamline discovery, and identify key issues early in litigation.

She earned her J.D., summa cm laude, from South Texas College of Law, graduating in the top 5% of her class.

“We are excited to welcome Kristina to the firm,” said Mindy Riseden, Shareholder in the Litigation Practice. “Her accounting background and academic achievements position her to add immediate value in complex litigation matters, particularly in analyzing financial data and supporting case strategy.”

Kristina is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and holds both an M.B.A. and B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Houston.

Crain Caton & James is pleased to announce that Kristina Villarin has joined the firm as an Associate in its Litigation Practice, focusing on commercial litigation. Kristina brings a unique combination of legal and financial experience to her practice. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she spent....