When your case is likely to be decided in a courtroom, experience is critical. At the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, founded by Houston family law attorney Bryan Fagan, Melvin Thathiah represents clients in Dallas and across North Texas in contested divorce, custody, and litigation-driven family law matters. With more than 20 years of litigation experience, including hundreds of bench trials and over 50 jury trials, he provides clients with trial-ready representation and strategic courtroom advocacy. Melvin previously served as a Visiting Judge in Collin County, presiding over civil and criminal matters.

Not all estate and probate matters are straightforward—especially when financial issues, disputes, or tax considerations are involved. At the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, founded by Houston family law attorney Bryan Fagan, Lawrence Eulette helps clients navigate probate, estate, and guardianship matters involving financial complexity, asset disputes, and tax-related issues. With a background in accounting, tax law, and civil litigation, he brings a deeper level of analysis and strategy to every case.

Robin N. Blanchette represents a wide variety of clients and companies who are based locally, nationally, and internationally, and whose industries include retailers (premises liability, general negligence, premises security, products, DTPA), oil and gas (employment, personal injury, OCSLA, DOHSA), construction liability (worksite accidents, contractual indemnity, OSHA), products liability (manufacturing defects, design defects, marketing defects, DTPA, warranty, distribution), property management companies / owners, and restaurants. Robin is admitted to practice in Texas state courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern, Northern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and Houston Bar Association. Robin was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, a Thompson Reuters publication, from 2012-2016.

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.

Gary W. Coker, a principal with the firm, is a native of Jasper, Texas. For more than 35 years, Gary has represented financial institutions, businesses and individuals primarily in the areas of business organizations and transactions, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, real estate, health law and estate planning and probate. Gary is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings and is licensed to practice in Texas state courts and the United States District Court for the Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Jefferson County Bar Association, Texas Association of Bank Council, and is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas and is an active member of Beaumont’s First Baptist Church. Gary is also a certified mediator.

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.

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.

Scott C. Crutchfield is a Principal in GERMER PLLC’s Business section. His practice is primarily concentrated on representing Lenders and Borrowers in connection with HUD-Insured Loan transactions for the construction, refinancing and acquisition of Multifamily and Healthcare facilities under HUD’s various mortgage insurance programs, as well as property acquisitions and assumption of HUD-insured loans (“TPA’s”). Scott’s work in this area includes successful closings of numerous affordable transactions that combine HUD-insured financing, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Tax-Exempt Bonds and various types of local, state and federal subordinate loan elements. Geographically, approximately one-half to two-thirds of the transactions Scott has closed are through the Southwest Multifamily Region based in Fort Worth, with the remainder being spread across each of the other HUD Multifamily Regions. Additionally, Scott provides services to Borrowers under conventional commercial loan programs, including but not limited to those administered by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and USDA. Finally, Scott provides traditional business services to clients, including the sale, purchase or leasing of commercial property, entity formation and general services and advice.

James A. Tatem is a graduate of the University of Texas where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1989. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law in 1992. Tatem James A. is admitted to practice before Texas state courts and the United States District Court for the Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Jim has served as a first-chair trial lawyer in a variety of personal injury and property damage cases as well commercial cases. Jim has extensive experience in products liability, premises liability, toxic torts, superfund and environmental litigation, construction litigation, real estate, civil litigation, class and collective actions, commercial litigation, insurance law, mediation/arbitration, and personal injury defense.