Christine D. Burkhart is a principal in the San Antonio office. She has over 19 years of experience in civil litigation primarily focusing her practice on construction defect litigation, representing general contractors and subcontractors, premises liability, product liability and trucking/transportation matters. Most of her cases concern highly complex matters with substantial damages. While a talented and skilled litigator, Christine has successfully achieved highly desirable settlements in multimillion dollar cases. Prior to pursuing her career in the law, Christine worked in mortgage lending for 13 years in Northern Ohio and Las Vegas. During that time, she handled loan originations, loan closings and became an underwriter. Thereafter, she moved into management and oversaw loan operations and sales for branch offices in the region. Her knowledge of the business and ability to understand the relationships and impact of the laws and regulations give Christine’s clients added value beyond her legal knowledge.

Javier T. Duran is a Principal with the firm, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Rice University in 1995, and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law in 1999. Prior to law school, Javier worked in residential construction repairing and remodeling homes in low-income neighborhoods. During his 20-year career, Javier T. Duran has first-chaired felony jury trials as a Bexar County Criminal Assistant District Attorney. Javier’s legal expertise also spans an impressive array of substantive areas. He has worked with complex, multi-party, and multi-district litigations, and his practice areas emphasize representing businesses and individuals in employment, business litigation, personal injury, and products liability. Javier also has experience representing the transportation industry and major retailers.

Gregory Howard is a litigation attorney with Germer PLLC. Greg is a proud native Houstonian, with undergraduate and graduate business degrees from Texas A&M University and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Since graduating law school in 2005, Greg has spent the better part of his legal career as a litigator and advocate in such areas as commercial litigation, real estate, personal injury, and insurance defense, while consistently maintaining a broad exposure to many other facets of business law, property, and contracts. As a highly motivated individual, Greg takes great pride in performing high-quality work and appreciates practicing in a dynamic legal environment.

Nadine Ona is originally from Houston, graduated from Texas Tech, and joined Germer in 2017. While at Tech, she served as editor for the Business & Bankruptcy Law Journal and the Texas Bank Lawyer. She also interned for a federal judge in the Eastern District of Texas—Beaumont Division and a justice at the First Court of Appeals in Houston. She has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Thompson Reuters publication, in 2025. Nadine is licensed in Texas and Louisiana, and practices primarily in the areas of personal injury defense and civil litigation.

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.

Adrian Senyszyn is a principal at Germer PLLC, and he practices in the areas of construction, cybersecurity, health care law, HIPAA, employment law, administrative law, and personal injury. Mr. Senyszyn represents clients throughout Texas. Much of his construction practice involves large, multiparty construction defect litigation. Mr. Senyszyn represents both general contractors and subcontractors, and he has represented many scopes of work to include HVAC, swimming pools, electrical, roofing, waterproofing, masonry, framing, window manufacturers, concrete, and ornamental steel. He also advises about mechanic’s and materialman’s liens and other issues that affect the general business of contractors. Mr. Senyszyn’s cyber security practice includes the health care sector where he routinely advises health care practices about privacy and security rules. Mr. Senyszyn has extensive experience managing claims through the breach notification process, and he has advised many practices suffering catastrophic breaches. Mr. Senyszyn also defends clients before courts and administrative agencies such as the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Texas Medical Board. Mr. Senyszyn has experience defending class action claims related to cybersecurity breaches. Mr. Senyszyn often speaks about health care issues, cybersecurity and HIPAA rules. Mr. Senyszyn has been recognized as a “Texas Superlawyer” by Thompson Reuters from 2021-2025, “Best Lawyers®” since 2022, and a “Top Attorney” according to Texas Monthly since 2023.

Collin D. Shellenberger was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. He has spent his entire legal career with Germer, PLLC in its Beaumont office defending businesses and individuals in civil litigation matters.

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.

Kimberlee Markle is an attorney practicing in our pre-litigation department at Bailey & Galyen. She grew up in the Red Oak area (close to Dallas) and now resides in Fort Worth with her husband and three children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 1997. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1998. Kimberlee is experienced in representing clients in the pre-litigation process of personal injury cases with understanding and compassion. She is aware of the serious nature that the clients are experiencing and acts with professionalism in all capacities to represent the client’s best interest. Kimberlee works hard and values the position she holds with in the firm. She offers advice, counsel, and significant knowledge to all her clients so she can provide diligent and qualified.

Ana Lee is a Personal Injury Litigation Attorney at Bailey & Galyen with over 12 years of experience in representing clients who have been seriously injured. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington and graduated from Tulane University School of Law in 2014. Ana has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2015 and is also licensed in the Northern District of Texas. Ana is passionate about helping people through challenging times by providing clear communication and personalized support. She is dedicated to understanding each client’s unique needs and guiding them through the legal process with honesty and transparency. If you’ve been seriously injured, Ana is here to help.