Valerie is Southeast Texas born and raised and is a proud alumni of All Saints Episcopal School (c/o 2000), West Brook High School (c/o 2004), Rice University (c/o 2008), and Tulane University Law School School (c/o 2014). Before law school, she spent one year teaching English in rural France. She subsequently served two years as a Teach For America Corps Member in Northern California, where she taught seventh grade English as part of Teach For America’s mission to make excellent education equitable for all children and fought for an uncompromising belief in every child. Valerie’s advocacy skills also carry into her volunteer efforts in the Southeast Texas community, where she has served on the Boards of Directors of the Junior League of Beaumont, the Michelle M. Mehaffy Inn of Court, the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, and the Foundation for Southeast Texas.

Christopher D. Leavins is a Principal and Member at our Beaumont and Houston offices and has been with Germer PLLC since 2008. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics prior to receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence at South Texas College of Law. Chris is Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law and Residential Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Chris has extensive experience in representing real estate developers, lenders, and businesses, as well as individuals in complex real estate transactions, financing, leasing, development, subdivisions, shopping centers and office buildings. In addition, he also has experience in estate planning, probate, business acquisitions, commercial litigation, and advising clients on the formation, operation and dissolution of various business entities. Chris has significant public entity representation, including acting as City Attorney and City Prosecutor for local municipalities, as well as representing economic development corporations and emergency service providers. He has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Thompson Reuters publication, from 2018 – 2022.

My practice focuses on estate planning and litigating complex trust, estate and guardianship disputes. With over 20 years of civil trial and appellate experience, I have represented clients in all stages of litigation from pre-trial, trial, mediation and appeals to the Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court. I have represented clients in over 70 appeals in both the Texas and Federal Courts of Appeal and am Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. My experience as a litigator and appellate attorney permits to provide my clients with a high level of analysis in all facets of a dispute and find a path to victory. However, my true strength as an attorney arises from my client-centered approach. I understand and accept that my clients come to me with both legal and personal disputes which arise after the death or incapacity of a close family member. As your attorney, my job is to help my clients navigate these disputes and move on to a place in their lives where they can focus on what really matters - their families and loved ones.

John O. Yow, PLLC has a thorough understanding of Texas law. I work hard to help you get the best possible results. Our first priority is providing clients with prompt and courteous legal services. We pride ourselves on our high level of professionalism and our understanding that we are often dealing with families during difficult times in their lives. We have spent more than twenty years developing our knowledge of this area of law and the needs of families, whether planning for the future or dealing with the death or incapacity of a loved one.