With 36 years of legal experience, Jane Mapes has dedicated the past 26 years to Family Law in Texas. After starting her career in real estate and personal injury law in Florida, she moved to Texas in 1996 and quickly became well-versed in the courts of Tarrant and Dallas Counties. Since joining Bailey & Galyen in 1999, she has focused exclusively on helping families navigate complex legal matters.

For over 40 years, Attorney Paul F. Wieneskie has successfully represented clients across Texas in civil appeals, municipal disputes, land use cases, and economic development matters. He is dedicated to protecting the rights of private citizens in legal challenges involving local governments, zoning, and property issues.

Since the start of his career, Travis B. Terry has focused on personal injury law. He has offered quality representation since 1993. He has successfully handled thousands of injury cases and focuses on cases involving victims of serious injuries. Mr. Terry is proud to serve the Sugar Land, Katy, Richmond, Greater Houston and Austin, TX, areas.

David Norman Getz is a practicing lawyer in the state of Texas handling personal injury matters,

Catherine Marsden is an attorney practicing in the Commercial, Industrial, and Catastrophic Injury Litigation department at Bailey & Galyen. She is an El Paso native and a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso who now calls Dallas home. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2018 after graduating from the University of Texas School of Law. Catherine is an accomplished attorney with a robust background in mass torts and complex litigation. Catherine’s deep understanding of the intricacies involved in complex personal injury cases underscores her commitment to the public and advocating for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Catherine is known for her dedication to representing ordinary individuals facing complex legal challenges and ensuring they receive diligent and compassionate legal representation.

James Luster is an experienced trial attorney who will fight to protect you and your rights. If you are facing criminal prosecution in Tarrant, Parker, or the surrounding counties, you need a criminal defense lawyer who is willing and able to stand with you, and if necessary, take your case to trial. As a former prosecutor in the Lubbock and Tarrant County District Attorney’s Offices, James Luster worked on cases ranging from traffic tickets all the way up to Aggravated Robbery and Murder. James has handled thousands of cases, including both juvenile and adult, misdemeanors and felonies. At the DA’s office, his duties included seeing cases through the grand jury process, plea negotiations, and frequently all the way to trial. As an Assistant District Attorney, James had dozens of jury trials in County and District Courts. If you need a criminal defense lawyer, you will want to hire someone with the experience to take your case to trial if needed. James Luster has that experience.

Teri Estes-Hightower is a Texas attorney of nearly 20 years. Having graduated in 1999, Teri has a Doctorate degree in Jurisprudence from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, which is currently Texas A&M University School of Law. Teri is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas and is a member of the State Bar of Texas. Teri has never been disciplined for ethical violations. Teri's legal career started as a law clerk interning in Criminal District Court No. 2, Tarrant County, Texas. After turning down a Prosecutor offer, she commenced a criminal defense practice and developed the Law Office of Teri Estes. Teri believed more justice was needed on the defense side of the aisle. She added a civil law practice that included Personal Injury, Family, Divorce and Contracts litigation matters. Currently, Teri is the founding partner of Estes-Hightower PLLC. The Law Firm's primary focus is Personal Injury and Criminal Defense, which also includes post-conviction work. Teri's tremendous contribution is in the areas of Marketing and Business Development. Having worked ten years in Corporate America at Motown Records, the Texas Rangers Baseball Club, and Shell Exploration and Production, Teri has incorporated streamlined, lean workflow processes to manage the volume business at Estes-Hightower PLLC. Managing multi-million corporate accounts gave Teri the experience required to recruit and maintain a high volume client base. Her prior affiliations include: the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association. Teri gained political exposure running for Family (Civil) Court Judge in the 360th District Court, Tarrant County. She is admitted to practice in Federal Court for the Northern District of Texas. She is admitted to practice in Immigration Court and able to practice before the Board of Immigration Appeals. Teri is also a certified Mediator.

My interest in practicing Law sprouted in my undergraduate studies. Though I was born and raised in the Dallas area, I received my Bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University in Economics and Philosophy. I obtained my J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law. During law school, I not only met my law partner but also my life partner, Genevieve. We have been practicing law together since 2005, and we moved our law firm to South Texas to be closer family and friends. I enjoy problem solving, and with my 20 years of experience as a practicing attorney, I have learned how to apply this to my legal practice in a way that is beneficial to my clients. I help my clients navigate the tumultuous waters of divorce, child custody and property distribution issues. I excel at engaging courts in prosecuting personal injury claims, such as bodily injury due to car accidents, injury due to another's negligence, or breaches of contract or other business dealings. I am invested in getting the best results possible for all of my clients and assuring a satisfactory outcome for their cases.

Karen R. Bennett, managing principal with the firm, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from the University of Texas at Arlington. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Texas Tech University. Karen has handled a docket of personal injury and civil litigation files since the beginning of her practice. She is also the principal in charge of the firm’s Family Law Department. She has litigated cases in the discovery phase and trial of several complex cases including those involving class actions and prescription drugs. She is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Texas, Texas state courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She is a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, State Bar of Texas, Texas Women Lawyers, Jefferson County Bar Association along with Family Law Section, Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, American Board of Trial Advocates, and Houston Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates. She also has served on the Board of Directors for the Jefferson County Bar Association and has been a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and Mickey Mehaffy Inns of Court. She has served on the Board of the Jefferson County Bar Association Auxiliary and is a past President. She has also served on the Board of the Junior League of Beaumont. She was recognized as a “Texas Super Lawyer”, a Thompson Reuters publication, in 2013-2024. Karen has been active in many local volunteer organizations in the community.

Chris A. Blackerby is a successful trial lawyer with 30 years of experience in a wide range of matters focusing principally on product liability and personal injury litigation as well as commercial and patent litigation. He has tried complex cases throughout Texas and elsewhere totaling over $2 billion in controversy. After graduating law school, Chris served as a Briefing Attorney to the Honorable James R. Nowlin in the United States District Court, Western District of Texas. After a successful practice at a large law firm in Austin, Chris joined Germer in 2008. Chris is a “Texas Super Lawyer” and is rated an AV Preeminent Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. Chris routinely handles complex product liability lawsuits for manufacturers. His clients include tire, automotive, agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers. He has defended cases involving tires, air bags, seatbelts, roof/vehicle structures, rollovers, fires, seats and seat backs and general crashworthiness.