Author Archives: monie walters

Article by Michelle Blair on Premises Liability

Partner Michelle Blair has authored an article that was published in the latest issue of the Texas Association of Defense Council Magazine, Finding the Offramps on the Road to Premises Liability: Negating a Duty to Protect Independent Contractors from Dangerous Conditions on Property. The article is a guide—complete with flowchart—for attorneys representing premises owners and occupiers who are navigating the complex legal landscape governing accidents on their property that injure employees of independent contractors. The article is available online at https://tadc.org/read-the-latest-tadc-magazine/.

Ware Jackson’s Annual Veterans Day Celebration

Ware Jackson hosted our annual Veterans Day Lunch Celebration to honor veterans and active service members of the United States. We had the privilege to hear from guest speakers Captain Lee Thweatt of the U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) and Chief Warrant Officer 2 (Ret.) Chase Carlton of the Army National Guard.

Captain Thweatt served as Judge Advocate and was on active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom. He served as a legal assistance attorney, providing a wide range of legal services to over 2,500 Marines, sailors, and family members, and as lead trial counsel for the First Marine Division and its attendant regiments and battalions. He has received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and a Meritorious Unit Citation. During the program, Captain Thweatt discussed the importance of service and what it meant to him and discussed the role he played in representing servicemembers and in prosecuting 215 courts-marshal.

Chase Carlton served as an Aviator for nine years and was deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Combat Aviation Brigade, where he piloted Apache helicopters in attack operations and supported multiple ODA Teams, ANSOF 60 Commandos, CIA, UK Special Forces, and various NATO Special Operations units. He received numerous awards, including a Combat Action Badge, multiple Air Medals with “V” and “C” devices, and an Air Forces Reverse Medal with an “M” device. Recently, Carlton founded the Longbow Foundation, which helps combat veterans transition from active duty to civilian life through mentorship and outdoor adventure. During the program, Carlton shared pictures and stories of his military experiences and discussed the mission of his foundation.

To those currently in uniform and those who have served in the past, we thank you and honor you today and every day

U.S. News – Best Lawyers® Names Ware Jackson in the 2025 “Best Law Firms” List

Ware Jackson is proud to be recognized for 6 practice areas nationally and for 12 practice areas in the Houston area by the 2025 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” report. According to Best Lawyers®, achieving this accolade “signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.” The rankings are based on a “methodology that relies on qualitative and quantitative data on legal skillset, achievements and client successes.” This year’s rankings for Ware Jackson include:

National Tier 1: Litigation – Construction
National Tier 2: Appellate Practice, Energy Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
National Tier 3: Litigation – Environmental

Metropolitan Tier 1 – Houston: Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Metropolitan Tier 2 – Houston: Litigation – Environmental
Metropolitan Tier 3 – Houston: Employment Law – Management

Tee It Up with TIRR 2024 Golf Tournament

Ware Jackson sponsored this year’s Tee It Up with TIRR golf tournament. Partners Don Jackson, Paul Smith, and Ferguson McNiel, pictured here with friend of the firm John Kim, participated in the tournament, which raises funds for Mission Connect, a collaborative neurotrauma research project founded by TIRR Foundation that focuses on traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.

Ware Jackson Attorneys Honored to be Named to 2025 Best Lawyers in America by Best Lawyers®.

Ware, Jackson, Lee, O’Neill, Smith & Barrow, LLP is pleased to announce that eight of its lawyers have been included in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

These are the attorneys recognized as the 2025 Best Lawyers in America:

Don Jackson
Arbitration, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Energy Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Timothy Lee
Appellate Practice

Paul Smith
Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Dennis Barrow
Litigation – Construction, Commercial Litigation

Eileen O’Neill
Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management

Tyler Henkel
Litigation – Construction

Margaret Bryant
Appellate Practice, Litigation – Construction

Ferguson McNeill
Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management

 

Ware Jackson is proud to be recognized for 6 practice areas nationally and for 12 practice areas in the Houston area by the 2024 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” report. According to Best Lawyers®, achieving this accolade “signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.” The rankings are based on a “methodology that relies on qualitative and quantitative data on legal skillset, achievements, and client successes.” This year’s rankings for Ware Jackson include:

National Tier 1: Litigation – Construction
National Tier 2: Appellate Practice, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
National Tier 3: Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Metropolitan Tier 1 – Houston: Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Labor & Employment, Litigation – Trusts & Estates, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Metropolitan Tier 2 – Houston: Litigation – Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
Metropolitan Tier 3 – Houston: Employment Law – Management