AJ Rosenfeld has been an attorney for Schechter, Shaffer & Harris LLP since 2009. He has helped hundreds of individuals and families involved in personal injury accidents recover millions of dollars in compensation. AJ understands that suffering an injury can be a stressful and frightening situation. He keeps a calm presence with his clients and encourages them to focus on their recovery as he handles the nuances of their claim and/ or lawsuit. AJ pays keen attention to the details of every case he handles. He is a fierce advocate and problem solver who stands behind his clients. AJ is a member of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of Minnesota, the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. AJ has very little spare time, but he loves spending it with his wife and three sons and coaching Little League.

In 1992, Matt Shaffer joined Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., the continuation of a firm that has focused on representing injured men and women since 1964. As a managing partner of the firm, Mr. Shaffer has represented thousands of clients across the United States. Most recently, he successfully settled the largest single victim Jones Act case on record for a client with a brain injury. He has played a significant role in litigation related to several major maritime disasters, including the Deepwater Horizon explosion. Mr. Shaffer takes pride in bringing an experienced and thorough approach to every case. He is dedicated to providing a high level of support for his clients, who are often surprised to get return phone calls and emails from him well after business hours are done. More than 25 years ago, Mr. Shaffer began his career in law by representing large corporate clients. In 1992, he came to SMSH and began using his experience to help working men and women recover damages for on-the-job injuries. Mr. Shaffer is among the small percentage of Texas attorneys who are certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial law. He has previously served as chairman of The Texas State Bar’s Grievance Committee for District 4C. He’s also licensed to practice law in Colorado. Every year since 2006, Mr. Shaffer has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine, an honor bestowed on only 5% of the state’s attorneys. He’s also been recognized by H Texas magazine as one of Houston’s Top Lawyers for the People and was selected for inclusion in the 22nd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2016) in the practice area of Admiralty and Maritime Law.

Laura De La Cruz first joined Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP in 2010 as a paralegal for managing partner, Matthew D. Shaffer. She continued to work at the firm through law school until she became licensed to practice law in 2015. Laura believes the law is meant to serve those who have been wronged. She has devoted most of her practice to advocating for maritime workers and other individuals injured in serious accidents throughout the country. She understands how a serious injury can transform an individual’s life and fights hard to obtain the best outcome for her clients in every case. She is licensed to practice law in Texas and Louisiana and regularly practices in both federal and state court. Laura was born in Puerto Rico and spent much of her childhood moving across different parts of the United States. She now considers Texas her home. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center and has spent her entire legal career representing claimants. In her spare time, Laura enjoys spending time with her two young daughters and traveling to new places.

We are excited to welcome Jonathan Bever to our legal team. Jonathan brings with him a strong foundation in federal workers’ compensation law, a tireless work ethic, and a genuine passion for helping injured workers and their families navigate complex claims processes. Jonathan earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2018. He went on to attend the University of Houston Law Center, where he graduated cum laude in 2021 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence. During law school, he developed a strong interest in workers’ compensation law and began shaping his legal career around it. Immediately after law school, Jonathan began representing injured workers under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and the Defense Base Act. Over the years, he has expanded his practice to include claims under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act. His commitment to advocating for those injured while serving their country or working in high-risk environments has earned him a reputation for being both compassionate and results-driven. Jonathan is known for his approachable demeanor, attention to detail, and deep understanding of federal compensation systems. Whether he’s advocating for overseas contractors injured in conflict zones or harbor workers injured on the job, he works diligently to ensure each client receives the care, benefits, and justice they deserve. Outside of his legal practice, Jonathan is a devoted husband and proud father to three energetic young boys, ages 4, 2, and 1. He enjoys coaching Little League and finds great joy in watching his sons learn and grow through sports. In his free time, Jonathan also enjoys cooking for his family, golfing with friends, and fishing whenever he gets the chance. Jonathan’s blend of professional experience and personal values makes him a tremendous asset to our firm and a strong advocate for the clients we serve. We are thrilled to have him on board.

Austin Marin is a Houston native who takes pride in serving the community that shaped him. Raised in a working-class family, he understands the value of hard work, resilience, and treating people with respect. He earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law, where he was recognized on the Dean’s List, and graduated cum laude from the University of Houston as a member of the Honors College. He approaches every case with dedication and a client-first mindset, ensuring those he represents feel heard and supported throughout the legal process. When he’s not practicing law, Austin enjoys staying active, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Ty was born and raised in the heart of the Pineywoods in Longview, Texas. Making his way to Houston to attend law school and ultimately founded Gibson Hill PC in 2013. While attending South Texas College of Law, Ty personally managed a personal injury docket at a local law firm. This was Ty’s initial exposure to personal injury law, personal injury clients, and the skills necessary to cultivate a good attorney-client relationship, and ultimately a passion for assisting those who have been injured. Ty handles each client’s case as if it is a mission, knowing that each and every case will have their own set of obstacles that need to be addressed. This style of practice requires an open channel of communication with the client. This is essential in ensuring clients secure the outcome they deserve. This type of advocacy on behalf of individuals has turned countless denied claims into a victory on behalf of the injured party. In addition to assisting those injured by the negligence of others, Ty has had the opportunity to represent businesses and hospitals all over the State of Texas on business matters of all types. It is the relationships that are forged by assisting those in need through a troubled time that gravitates Ty to all clients in all legal matters. This is what has turned a business into a passion for Ty.

Lyle J. Rudolph is a proud advocate for people injured by the negligence of others. His practice includes a wide range of personal injury cases including automobile, motorcycle, and 18-wheeler collisions, along with claims arising from an injury on someone else’s property and work place injuries where the employer does not participate in workers compensation insurance. Lyle graduated from South Texas College of Law with high honors. In his time at South Texas, Lyle participated as a member of South Texas Law Review and he was admitted into Phi Delta Phi Honor Society. He is admitted to practice in both the State Bar of Texas and U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas. Lyle is active in the community serving as a board member on the New Caney ISD Education Foundation and is a member of Rotary International. Lyle is a husband and father of two. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

Gabriel joined the firm back in January of 2016 working as a Law Clerk and began his career as a personal injury attorney in 2017. He graduated from South Texas College of Law with honors and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Houston Young Lawyers Association. Gabriel comes from a family of lawyers, so it was a natural decision for him to choose this career path. Gabriel personally understands the frustrations of being involved in an accident, and wants to help others with the process of healing and recovering what is just. Gabriel is a husband and father of two, and enjoys fishing, playing golf, and coaching his daughter’s softball team.

Brett Hill is an attorney based in Houston, Texas representing clients in a variety of cases. While dedicating himself to the academic rigors required to obtain his Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law, Brett also dedicated a great deal of his time in the #1 competitive advocacy program in the United States for which he traveled the country competing as one of the program’s top advocates and achieved accolades and numerous advocacy awards. Brett has further honed his advocacy skills representing hundreds of clients through often highly contentious litigation. Brett represents individuals and families who have been injured as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of another individual or entity. Whether they’ve been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, car wreck, or work-related incident- Brett has, and will continue to advance his client’s best interest in every case. In addition to people, Brett also represents businesses in breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and tortious interference cases. His representation has included disputes ranging in size from $1,000 to over $100,000,000. Whether you are a business that needs to sue or has been sued, Brett is prepared to offer you an aggressively tailored litigation strategy designed to fit your particular situation. Prior to being an attorney, Brett served four years in the United States Marine Corps, where he earned two meritorious promotions. He grew up in the Sam Houston National Forest, is a Sixth-Generation Texan, and enjoys bowhunting & outdoor sports. He has two awesome sons, two beautiful daughters, and a lovely wife. Call Brett, and he will be happy to meet for a free consultation.

“HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AN ARMOR FOR MY CLIENTS.” “I am passionate about helping individuals, families, seniors and business owners achieve peace of mind by tailoring legal services to fit their needs. My goal is to make this process as accessible, efficient and streamlined as possible. I received my Undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University in 1997 and my JD from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M University School of Law) in 2002. I have been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2003. I have 3 wonderful Sons 17, 11 and 11 years old that are active in the Katy Community.”