Charlie Henke is the founding partner of Henke Law Firm, LLP, the predecessor to Henke, Williams & Boll, LLP. The firm was founded in 1992. His practice focuses on the prosecution and defense of commercial and contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, business tort claims, and probate litigation. He has first-chaired jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts and has handled the arbitration of securities disputes, law firm partnership disputes, and construction claims. Charlie is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Of the more than one hundred thousand attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas, less than one percent hold this distinction. Charlie is a member of various sections of the State Bar of Texas including the Litigation, the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law, and the Antitrust and Business Litigation sections. He belongs to the Houston Bar Association, and is active in the Litigation (former Chair) and the Probate, Trusts, and Estates sections of the HBA. Charlie was appointed to serve on the HBA Fee Dispute Committee for over a dozen years where he served as an arbitrator of fee disputes between attorneys and their clients. He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and a Life Fellow of both the Texas and Houston Bar Foundations. Charlie has been a member of the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas since 1994. He is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates and currently serves as Treasurer of TEX-ABOTA. Charlie was appointed by several Presidents of the State Bar of Texas to serve three terms on the State Bar Standing Committee on Pattern Jury Charges for Business, Consumer, and Employment cases. As a member of this prestigious committee, over 6 years he helped draft the written instructions and questions given to all juries throughout Texas. Charlie was named a "Lawyer on the Fast Track" in business litigation by H Texas Magazine in 2004, has been recognized as one of "Houston’s Top Lawyers" for business litigation since 2005 by the same publication. He has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine since 2007. Charlie earned an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center where he was active in student governance and alumni relations. Charlie received his license to practice law by the State of Texas in 1992. He is licensed to practice law in the United States Supreme Court, United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fifth, Seventh and Tenth Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the Northern District of Indiana and Colorado. An active contributor to his community, Charlie has served on the Board of Directors of several charitable organizations and served as a Director and past President of The Houston Club. Charlie Henke is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston.

Carmen Jo Rejda-Ponce (“CJ”) is a Principal in Germer’s Houston office, but her practice takes her all across Texas. She regularly counsels and defends both private and public sector clients on matters involving employment issues and civil (constitutional) rights. She handles matters from the pre-claim and pre-suit stage, through litigation, and through appeal. She is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. CJ focuses on a broad range of labor and employment litigation, including, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, retaliation, disability accommodation, workers’ compensation retaliation, on-the-job injuries, and wage and hour issues. She has represented private and public sector clients in employment-related disputes before federal and state courts, federal and state administrative agencies, and arbitrators. CJ counsels private and public sector employers on labor and employment concerns, including, addressing medical leave, developing and revising workplace policies and procedures, investigating and addressing employee complaints, conducting employee disciplines and terminations, drafting employment, separation, and other agreements, and determining proactive solutions to workplace problems while avoiding litigation. CJ also defends public sector clients —including counties, cities, and law enforcement officers— in a variety of civil rights matters, including defense of first amendment retaliation, excessive force, wrongful arrest, inmate medical care, and jail death matters. Many of these civil rights matters involve qualified immunity issues for law enforcement officers. Through her civil rights defense work, CJ has gained appellate experience. She has handled multiple federal and state appeals. She has successfully argued for her clients twice before the Fifth Circuit, and is looking forward to more opportunities. CJ also has experience with personal injury litigation, including on-the job-injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and negligence claims against public entities. CJ’s private practice experience includes Baker Botts LLP and Reed Smith LLP. CJ also previously served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Houston in Labor, Employment, and Civil Rights Division. She was also a registered lobbyist during the 2013 Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.

Larry J. Simmons, Jr., a principal in the firm, has tried dozens of cases as lead attorney in a variety of commercial, employment, civil rights and personal injury lawsuits. Larry is one of only seven Texas attorneys double Board Certified as a Specialist in Labor & Employment Law (2005) and Personal Injury Trial Law (1999) by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Larry is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He has been recognized as a “Texas Super Lawyer”, a Thompson Reuters publication, in 2007, 2010-2020, and 2022-2025. In 2015, he was recognized in the Top 100 Houston Super Lawyers List, a Thompson Reuters publication. Larry is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and is also listed in the 2010-2022 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, by BL Rankings. Larry represents dozens of public and private sector employers in a variety of matters, ranging from consultation to trial work, including general litigation, discrimination, wrongful termination and wage & hour class action cases. Larry also represents public sector clients in a variety of civil rights matters, including defending excessive force, inmate medical care and jail death cases, many of which have received national media attention. Larry graduated in the top five percent of his Baylor Law School class, receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, cum laude. While in law school he held several positions with the Baylor Law Review including Executive Editor, Research & Topics Editor and Notes & Comments Editor. He was elected to the Baylor Order of Barristers. He was selected as a Top Ten Speaker in Moot Court and was awarded an Academic Merit Scholarship. Prior to law school, Larry obtained a Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from Lamar University and a Masters degree in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University. Larry is an active member of the local business community, currently serving on the state and local boards of multiple employer associations. He is also a member of the State Bar of Texas Labor & Employment Section, and Texas Association of Defense Counsel. He is admitted to practice before Texas courts, and the United States District Court for the Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas. Larry has been a principal with Germer since January 1997.

Tiffany Pham is a Principal at Germer’s Houston Office, where she represents clients across Texas in labor, employment, and civil rights matters. Her practice encompasses the full spectrum of employment law, including discrimination claims, hostile work environment cases, wage disputes, and wrongful termination suits. She represents both public and private employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. She also advises and represents governmental entities and elected and appointed officials in civil rights matters. She has successfully defended cases involving First Amendment retaliation, excessive force, wrongful arrest, jail assaults, and jail death matters. Tiffany analyzes each case’s unique circumstances to develop tailored solutions that advance client interests while minimizing risk. She consistently delivers practical, results-oriented counsel that helps clients navigate legal challenges efficiently and effectively. She has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Thompson Reuters publication, in 2025.

David was born in Houston and raised in the Northwest. After high school, David enlisted in the military with the Army National Guard. Prior to his junior year of college, David was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait in Operation Iraqi Freedom III with Task Force Liberty of the 42nd Infantry Division. While deployed, David completed eighteen college credits and was able to sustain a 4.0-grade point average during this period, ultimately earning him academic honors for his personal scholarly endeavor as well as an Army Achievement Medal for his logistical support in the war. After returning state-side and completing his undergrad, David returned to Texas and was admitted into South Texas College of Law Houston. While attending law school, David clerked full-time at The Kassab Law Firm, gaining extensive experience in civil litigation, while focusing almost exclusively in legal malpractice, attorney breach of fiduciary duty claims and legal ethics. During his third year of law school, David obtained his Temporary Trial Card and argued several motions and hearings in court while under the supervision of an attorney. After graduating law school and passing the Texas Bar Exam in 2010, David continued his employment with The Kassab Law Firm as a licensed attorney. Here, David combines his prior military experience with his formal legal and business training, allowing him to work efficiently and effectively under pressure, all in an effort to better serve our clients. While clerking for the Kassab Law firm and since his licensure, David has assisted in the resolution of several high-dollar legal malpractice cases, and has successfully litigated these legal malpractice cases to their resolution against some of Texas’ largest and most prestigious law firms. David has handled legal malpractice cases in Texas State and Federal Courts and has arbitrated cases before the American Arbitration Association. David is licensed to practice law in all Texas courts as well as the federal courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas. David is also licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri. David belongs to several professional organizations and is a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association, the American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, and Houston Young Lawyers Association. David is a published author in the American Bar Association’s Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct, writing on the effects and impact of mandatory legal malpractice insurance link: https://www.bna.com/avoiding-accountability-rise-n57982093773/.

Ashok Bail is the principal attorney for The Bail Law Firm, a Houston, Texas law firm that practices federal & private sector employment law and labor law nationally and throughout the state of Texas. Mr. Bail has represented clients in the following Texas cities: Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, McAllen, Marshall, Tyler, Corpus Christi, Laredo, El Paso, Beaumont, Brenham, Brownsville, El Campo, and Orange. Mr. Bail has represented clients in the following states across the United States of America: Texas, Washington D.C., Louisiana, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, New York, and North Carolina. With nearly two decades of experience, Mr. Bail's client centered approach is what distinguishes The Bail Law Firm from many other law firms. In our profession we are known as "Attorneys" and "Counselors of Law." Mr. Bail understands that his role as counselor is equally important as his role as attorney. When a client comes to visit Mr. Bail for the first time, Mr. Bail understands that it might be the first time the client has spoken to anyone who is interested in helping them with their legal issues. Mr. Bail listens to his clients.

Alton C Todd is a Texas native and has lived in the Galveston/Houston areas since 1971. Alton grew up in the small central Texas town of Hamilton about 70 miles west of Waco and graduated in 1964. He then received his undergraduate degree from North Texas State University (now UNT) while working full-time on a freight dock. He graduated in 1968 with a wife, twin boys, and a daughter on the way. Despite working full-time to support his family, Alton was admitted to Southern Methodist University Law School where he earned a spot on the Southwestern Law Journal in his first year. Alton worked during the summer on a gunite crew building swimming pools while at SMU Law and graduated in the spring of 1971, now with three kids in tow and another on the way. Upon graduating, Alton accepted an offer with the prestigious Mills Shirley law firm on Galveston Island. He moved his family to the island, and his love affair with Galveston began. After four wonderful years, Alton moved to Alvin to join a plaintiff’s law firm, Wellborn, Britt, and Brown where he quickly made partner the next year. This firm eventually became Todd & Haygood in 1986. In 2000, The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers was born when Alton bought one of his favorite Friendswood landmarks, the historic Brown House in Friendswood, and turned it into an office. He has called this law office home for the last 22 years. In a career that has spanned over five decades, Alton has won several standout verdicts, earned an impressive assortment of awards and, most importantly, is renowned by his peers for his hard work and ethical behavior above all else. Alton is double board certified in Texas in personal injury trial law and civil trial law and is nationally certified as a civil trial advocate. He is a past member of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has consistently been ranked as a Texas Super Lawyer, including earning the honor of being selected as a Top Ten Texas Super Lawyer. He has won and settled several cases over $10 million in his career, earning over $500 million in returns throughout his career. Alton is licensed to practice in Texas and Georgia. Alton lives with his wife, Nari, in Friendswood and has seven children and six grandchildren. His son, Seth Park, is also an attorney and has worked with him since 2016. In his spare time, Alton enjoys traveling, having been to more than 100 countries, and loves all sports, perhaps none more than Texas high school football. Through the years, Alton coached all seven of his children in Friendswood youth sports including football, baseball, basketball, and soccer, and remains very active in and around the city of Friendswood, including as a member of the Friendswood Economic Development Commission. The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers - Friendswood 312 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546 (281) 992-8633 The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers - Galveston 2101 Mechanic St #253 Galveston, TX 77550 (409) 207-9299

Ms. Dean's professional experience encompasses a broad range of legal matters. Her primary emphases are estate planning, elder law, and probate. Her estate planning practice involves helping clients orchestrate their estates by drafting a vast array of trusts, wills and powers of attorney. Ms. Dean also provides compassionate legal advice while assisting families through the probate process. Ms. Dean's legal expertise in civil appeals includes both advising at the trial court level and handling all aspects of the appeal. She has handled appeals dealing with complex insurance matters, business matters, personal injury and family law appeals. She has successfully argued in federal and state courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, on behalf of a major insurance company, corporations, and individuals. She works with trial attorneys and clients to preserve error on the trial court level, preparing legal motions, handling mandamus actions, preparing and arguing the jury charge and handling all post-judgment motions. At the appellate level, Ms. Dean leads the appeal of a judgment, including preparing briefs, petitions for review and briefs on the merits to the Texas Supreme Court, and presenting oral argument before diverse panels of judges. Throughout her career, Ms. Dean has handled other civil matters as well, such as complex commercial litigation, corporate buy-outs, employment and business contracts, consumer issues, family law litigation, adoptions, real estate transactions and personal injury litigation. She successfully negotiated and closed a multi-million dollar buy-out of a snowboard clothing company to a major sporting goods conglomerate. Prior to specializing in appellate law, Ms. Dean engaged in a successful trial practice and as a result, understands the needs of trial attorneys and what it takes to make them successful at the trial level and on appeal. Integrity and operating under a high standard of ethics are of utmost importance to us at The Dean Law Firm. We abide by the Texas Lawyer's Creed.

Craig Eiland grew up in a farming and ranching family in west Texas and is an accomplished and respected trial lawyer, who has represented clients throughout the U.S. -- as well as internationally. In addition, he has over 20 years of experience in the Texas House of Representatives. During his tenure as an elected official, he served as Chairman of the Pensions and Investments Committee and Vice Chairman of the Insurance and Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committees. He was also a member of the Business and Industry; Appropriations; and State, Federal and International Relations Committees. As a personal injury advocate, Mr. Eiland has represented clients injured while working offshore or in the petrochemical industry, traveling in a car or truck, or from ingesting a defective drug. He is dedicated to his clients and is not intimidated by the large Fortune 500 companies that he holds accountable for their negligence. He can represent you as a sole practitioner or partner with a law firm that needs a successful trial litigator. In his practice of civil and commercial litigation, Craig Eiland also handles cases that involve maritime and admiralty issues, breach of fiduciary duty and insurance claim disputes. While he prepares all of his cases for trial, he also handles cases in arbitration to resolve all types of legal matters.