Attorneys


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Amy Demmler


Partner


Contact Info

713.960.6002
ademmler@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Racheal Berrios
713.960.6035
rberrios@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Demmler’s practice includes the representation of public and private sector employers in all types of litigation, including employment, civil rights, and general school law matters. She has trial experience in both state and federal courts and has successfully defended cases involving federal constitutional claims, Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, and other statutory and common law claims, including disputes involving the Texas Public Information Act, wrongful termination, personal injury, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, various tort claims, governance disputes, and condemnation proceedings. Prior to joining the Firm in 2018, Ms. Demmler was an Assistant District Attorney for the 34th Judicial District in El Paso, Texas. As an Assistant District Attorney, she obtained substantial trial experience serving as the first chair attorney in over 50 misdemeanor and felony trials, including two 1st degree murder trials, and as second chair attorney for over 10 misdemeanor and felony trials, including an intoxication manslaughter trial.

Practice Areas

  • Civil Rights Law
  • General School Law
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Litigation and Appeals
  • School Consulting
  • Law Enforcement

Education

  • University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business (BBA, with a major in accounting, summa cum laude, 2011)
  • University of Houston Law Center (J.D. 2014)

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys
  • Junior League of Houston

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • All federal districts and state courts of Texas

Amy C. Tucker


Partner


Contact Info

713.960.6032
atucker@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Jennifer Cronkhite
713.960.6012
jcronkhite@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Tucker’s practice focuses on representing public school districts in all aspects of disability rights and special education law including Section 504 and ARD meetings, mediations, administrative due process hearings, and preparing responses to Texas Education Agency and Office for Civil Rights complaints. She also has extensive experience representing school districts in federal district court related to appeals of administrative due process hearings. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Tucker taught special education for five years.

Practice Areas

  • Special Education and Disability Law
  • Administrative Proceedings
  • Litigation and Appeals
  • Student Matters
  • Policy Development
  • School Consulting

Education

  • Texas A&M University (B.S. 1993; M.Ed. with emphasis in special education, 1996)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D. 2003)
  • South Texas Law Review
  • Dean’s List
  • Order of the Lytae

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys
  • Gulf Coast Administrators of Special Education
  • Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • All federal district and state courts of Texas

Clay T. Grover


Partner


Contact Info

713.960.6033
cgrover@rmgllp.com
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Jennifer Cronkhite
713.960.6012
jcronkhite@rmgllp.com

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Mr. Grover worked as an associate with the litigation firm of Essmyer, Tritico & Clary, L.L.P. in Houston, Texas from 1991 until 1998 when he joined the Firm. His practice focuses on the representation of both public and private sector employers in all forms of labor, employment and civil rights matters. Mr. Grover has trial experience in both state and federal courts and has successfully defended claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Section 1983, Whistleblower Retaliation, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Texas Commission on Human Rights, and other statutory and common law claims, including wrongful termination, workers compensation retaliation and various tort claims.

Practice Areas

  • General School Law
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Litigation and Appeals
  • School Consulting
  • Student Matters
  • Board Governance and Policy Development
  • Open Government
  • Administrative Proceedings

Education

  • Southwest Texas State University (B.A. 1987)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D. 1991)
  • Law Review
  • Dean’s List
  • American Jurisprudence Award for the highest achievement in Criminal Law

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas, Labor and Employment Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas, School Law Section
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys</li

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • All federal district and state courts of Texas

Debra M. Esterak


Partner


Contact Info
(512) 354-1090
desterak@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Racheal Berrios
713.960.6035
rberrios@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Esterak attended the University of Texas School of Law with the sole intent of practicing school law. While in law school, she clerked at the Texas Association of School Boards and became a staff attorney there after graduation. She joined the Firm in 1997 and practiced until 1999, at which point she was called to serve as the General Counsel for the Senate Education Committee under Senator Teel Bivins. Ms. Esterak was then hand-selected to be the Public Education Counsel for the Office of the Governor under then-Governor George W. Bush. She stepped away from her full-time practice in 2001 in order to raise a family, while continuing to focus on education legislation by working for TASB Governmental Relations for three legislative sessions. She rejoined the Firm in August 2014 as a partner in the Firm’s Austin office.

Practice Areas

  • Civil Rights Law
  • General School Law
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • School Consulting
  • Board Governance and Policy Development
  • Open Government
  • Contract Review
  • Student Matters
  • Employment Issues
  • Elections
  • Technology

Education

  • The University of Texas at San Antonio (B.A., 1990)
  • The University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1995)
  • Award for Highest Achievement in Mediation

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys
  • National Association of Parliamentarians
  • Austin Women’s Symphony League
  • Highland Park Elementary PTA President 2012-13, Executive Board 2010-2014
  • Co-Editor, State Bar of Texas School Law Newsletter, 2000-2002
  • Board Member, Austin Recovery Network

Bar/Court Admissions

  • All state courts of Texas

Dillon Breazeale


Associate


Contact Info

713.960.6023
dbreazeale@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Racheal Berrios
713.960.6035
rberrios@rmgllp.com

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Mr. Breazeale’s practice includes the representation of educational institutions and governmental entities in litigation, as well as employment, civil rights, and general school law.

Practice Areas

  • General School Law
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Litigation
  • Special Education and Disability Law

Education

  • Texas A&M University (B.S., Cum Laude, 2019)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D., Summa Cum Laude, 2022)
  • Dean’s List
  • Recipient, Sandra DeGraw Scholarship
  • Recipient, Dean’s Merit Scholarship
  • Recipient, Fred Parks Scholarship
  • Board of Advocates, Vice Chair 2021-2022

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
  • All state courts of Texas

Govindi Munasinghe


Associate


Contact Info

713.960.6024
gmunasinghe@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Racheal Berrios
713.960.6035
rberrios@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Munasinghe’s practice includes the representation of educational institutions and governmental entities in litigation, as well as employment, civil rights, and general school law. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Munasinghe practiced general civil litigation at a firm in Houston where she gained experience handling federal workers’ compensation cases under the Defense Base Act, including a wide variety of pretrial matters.

Practice Areas

  • General School Law
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Litigation

Education

  • The University of Texas at Dallas (B.S. in Child Learning & Development, 2018)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2022)
  • Dean’s List
  • Recipient, Dean’s Student Advocacy Service Award
  • Board of Advocates, Chair 2021-2022
  • The Order of Barristers, 2022

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association

Bar/Court Admissions

  • All state courts of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Jeffrey L. Rogers


Retired


Contact Info

713.960.6000

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Legal Assistant
Jennifer Cronkhite
713.960.6012
jcronkhite@rmgllp.com

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Mr. Rogers represented school districts since 1980 and handled numerous special education cases for Texas school districts from “cradle to grave,” from due process hearings all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. He also had extensive experience in civil rights and employment litigation. Mr. Rogers was a frequent speaker at legal conferences and seminars regarding special education.

Practice Areas

  • Employment Law
  • Special Education and Disability Law
  • Civil Rights
  • Litigation
  • Administrative Proceedings

Education

  • The University of Texas (B.A. in Journalism, 1975)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D. 1980)
  • Dean’s Honor List each year
  • E.E. Townes Award for Scholastic Excellence, 1979-1980

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • All federal district and state courts of Texas

Jonathan G. Brush


Partner


Civil Appellate Law

Contact Info

713.960.6007
jbrush@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Jennifer Cronkhite
713.960.6012
jcronkhite@rmgllp.com

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Mr. Brush is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has a broad litigation practice in state and federal court, at both the trial and appellate court levels, which includes the representation of public and private entities as plaintiffs in commercial and construction disputes, and defendants in employment, civil rights, commercial, construction disputes, and special education. Mr. Brush has successfully handled cases involving federal constitutional claims, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, the Texas Whistleblower Act, the IDEA, Section 504, and other statutory and common law causes of action, including wrongful termination, personal injury, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, construction defect, consumer claims, insurance claims, governance disputes, and disputes involving the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Texas Public Information Act. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Brush is experienced in school board governance matters, regularly serving as board counsel during board meetings and grievance hearings. Mr. Brush regularly presents continuing legal education to attorneys and has served as an adjunct professor of Education Law at the University of Houston Law Center. Prior to joining the Firm in 2007, Mr. Brush worked as an associate in the trial section of Orgain Bell & Tucker, L.L.P. in Beaumont, Texas from 2004 to 2007. 

Practice Areas

  • General School Law
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Litigation and Appeals
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Facilities and Construction
  • Business and Operations
  • Student Matters
  • Open Government
  • Board Governance
  • Special Education and Disability Law

Education

  • The University of Texas at Austin (B.F.A. 1996, with a major in Art History; B.A. 1998, with a major in History)
  • Baylor University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2004)
  • Articles Editor, Baylor Law Review
  • Baylor Order of Barristers

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas Appellate Section
  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section
  • Garland R. Walker American Inn of Court, Member of the Executive Committee
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys
  • Texas Association of School Business Officials
  • Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
  • Houston Philosophical Society, Elected Member and Member of the Executive Committee

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • All federal district and state courts of Texas

Kyle
Stone


Associate


Contact Info

713.960.6027
kstone@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Jennifer Cronkhite
713.960.6012
jcronkhite@rmgllp.com

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Mr. Stone’s practice focuses on representing school districts, community colleges and other governmental entities in governance and policy development matters, open government, employment and personnel investigations, student matters, administrative proceedings, litigation, and appeals. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Stone served as Senior Legal Counsel at Lone Star College, where he provided in-house legal services to College personnel.

Practice Areas

  • Special Education and Disability Law
  • Administrative Proceedings
  • School Consulting
  • Open Government
  • Employment Law
  • Board Governance and Policy Development
  • Student Matters
  • Investigations
  • Higher Education
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Litigation and Appeals
  • Title IX Hearing Officer

Education

  • Texas A&M University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2015)
  • Baylor University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2019)
  • Technical Editor, Baylor Law Review
  • Moot Court, Two-time Champion and Second Best Brief
  • Baylor Order of Barristers

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School and Government Law Sections
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys

Bar/Court Admissions

  • All state courts of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Mariana G. Evans


Partner


Contact Info

713.960.6036
mevans@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Racheal Berrios
713.960.6035
rberrios@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Evans’ practice focuses on the representation of school districts and governmental entities in areas such as open records and open government, real estate, land development, construction, general purchasing, business transactions, governance, contracts, and procurement. She also specializes in real estate and land development, including the negotiation and drafting of real estate contracts, leases, easements and post-closing/development agreements. She routinely assists clients through due diligence, permitting, platting, infrastructure and utility development.

Practice Areas

  • Contract Review
  • Open Government
  • Real Estate and Land Development
  • Facilities and Construction
  • Business and Operations
  • Eminent Domain
  • Higher Education
  • Commercial Transactions

Education

  • The University of St. Thomas (B.B.A. in International Studies and Business Administration, 2007)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2010)

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys

Bar/Court Admissions

  • All state courts of Texas

Michelle R. Morris


Partner


Contact Info

713.960.6009
mmorris@rmgllp.com
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Racheal Berrios
713.960.6035
rberrios@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Morris heads the Firm’s Facilities and Business Law Section. For over twenty-four years, her practice has been focused in the areas of facilities, business and commercial operations for educational institutions, including all aspects of public procurement and contracting. She is experienced in all aspects of construction law, including capital program planning and execution, the procurement, negotiation and preparation of contracts with design professionals, contractors and other project consultants. She represents clients in construction and design disputes, warranty claims, surety/bonding issues, and prevailing wage compliance. Additionally, Ms. Morris represents governmental entities through all aspects of real estate and land development transactions, including the negotiation and drafting of real estate contracts, leases, easements and development agreements. She routinely assists clients through due diligence, permitting, platting, zoning, infrastructure and utility development, and represents clients in eminent domain proceedings as both the condemnor and condemnee. Ms. Morris is also experienced in negotiating and reviewing energy, technology and economic development contracts for her government sector clients. Throughout the state, she routinely provides training to governmental entities, is a frequent speaker at conferences, and serves as a certification course instructor for the Texas Association of School Business Officials.

Practice Areas

  • Facilities and Construction
  • Business and Operations
  • Real Estate and Land Development
  • School Consulting
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Commercial Transactions
  • Board Governance and Policy Development
  • Contract Review
  • Technology
  • Eminent Domain
  • Higher Education

Education

  • Texas A & M University and Koriyama, Japan (B.A., International Studies/Economics, 1994)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D. 1997)
  • Notes Editor, South Texas College of Law International Trade Law Journal
  • Varsity Moot Court Team, Three time National Champion
  • Dean’s List
  • Dean’s Outstanding Advocate Award
  • Student Bar Association Outstanding Female Graduate Award
  • Order of the Barristers

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Real Estate Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys
  • National Charity League, Houston Hearts Chapter
  • Member and Confirmation Table Leader, Chapelwood United Methodist Church

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas
  • All state courts of Texas

Myra S. Chickering


OF COUNSEL


Contact Info

713.960.6016
mchickering@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Racheal Berrios
713.960.6035
rberrios@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Chickering has represented public school districts for over thirty years, focusing her practice on general school law consulting, including employment and civil rights issues, open government, personnel, student matters, special education disputes, and litigation. She has appellate experience in both state and federal district courts, and considerable experience in appearing before administrative agencies. In 2006, Ms. Chickering started her own law practice, with an exclusive focus on furnishing services as an independent hearing officer/impartial Board advisor. Her practice included outside independent investigations of alleged employee misconduct, sexual harassment, and other circumstances requiring objective examination and assessment. She served as a hearing officer in all manner of disputes and grievances, including Section 504 hearings, as well as student and employee complaints. As Of Counsel to the Firm, Ms. Chickering’s current practice includes counseling school districts on general school law matters, student issues, labor and employment, open government, administrative hearings, and special education and disability law.

Practice Areas

  • General School Law
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Student Matters
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Open Government
  • Administrative Hearings
  • Special Education and Disability Law

Education

  • Texas A&M University (B.S. 1987)
  • University of Texas (J.D. 1990)
  • Fraternity, Order of the Barristers

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • Past Chair of School Law Section (1999)

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • All federal district and state courts of Texas (1999)

Pam Kaminsky


Of Counsel


Contact Info

713.960.6006
pkaminsky@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Jennifer Cronkhite
713.960.6012
jcronkhite@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Kaminsky’s practice focuses on representing public school districts in special education and disability law matters at the administrative level, as well as student discipline. Her experience also includes representation of school districts in due process hearings, ARD meetings and mediations, and preparing responses to Office for Civil Rights and Texas Education Agency Complaints. Ms. Kaminsky frequently conducts trainings for Education Service Centers and various organizations throughout Texas. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Kaminsky served as in-house counsel providing legal services to the Board of Trustees, Superintendent and District personnel.

Practice Areas

  • Special Education and Disability Law
  • Civil Rights Law
  • School Consulting
  • Student Matters
  • Policy Development
  • Administrative Proceedings
  • Open Government

Education

  • Sam Houston State University (B.S. 1994)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D. 2002)

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys
  • Gulf Coast Administrators of Special Education
  • Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education

Bar/Court Admissions

  • All state courts of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas

Richard A. Morris


Special Counsel


Contact Info

713.960.6019
rmorris@rmgllp.com
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Legal Assistant
Diana Flores
713.960.6022
dflores@rmgllp.com

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Mr. Morris represents governmental entities, including public school boards and junior and community colleges. He has considerable experience advising school boards on a wide range of issues, including governance, contracts, policy development, employment matters, board/superintendent relations, and competitive procurement. He also has extensive trial and appellate experience and has served as panel counsel for the Texas Association of School Board’s Risk Pool for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Morris has defended school districts throughout the state and has trial experience in state and federal courts (both jury and non-jury cases), before administrative agencies, and state and federal appellate experience. He has been peer reviewed by Martindale-Hubbell, receiving an AV rating, which denotes the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards and has been selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers: Rising Stars (2004) and Texas Super Lawyers (2009-2012, 2014).

Practice Areas

  • General School Law
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Student Matters
  • Litigation and Appeals
  • Business and Operations
  • Higher Education
  • Board Governance and Policy Development

Education

  • The University of Texas (B.J., 1988)
  • South Texas College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 1991)
  • Law Review
  • Order of the Lytae
  • Order of Barristers
  • Langdell Scholar
  • Recipient, Alumni Association Honor Scholar Award
  • Recipient, Houston Hispanic Bar Association’s De Anda Scholarship
  • Member, National Moot Court Championship team (1990)

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys
  • Adjunct Professor, Appellate Advocacy, South Texas College of Law, 1991 to 1997.
  • Texas Association of School Business Officials

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • All federal district and state courts of Texas

Stacy L. Paltiyevich


Senior Associate


Legal Assistant
Racheal Berrios
713.960.6035
rberrios@rmgllp.com

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Ms. Paltiyevich’s practice focuses primarily on the representation of educational institutions in the areas of facilities, business, maintenance, and operations, including all aspects of public procurement and purchasing. She further assists clients in all aspects of construction, with an emphasis on the procurement, negotiation, and preparation of contracts with design professionals and contractors. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Paltiyevich’s practice focused on complex commercial and civil litigation matters in numerous areas of law including: contracts, the Texas Deceptive Practices Act, commercial leases, construction, and land-use.

Practice Areas

  • Contract Review
  • Facilities and Construction
  • Business and Operations
  • Real Estate and Land Development
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Commercial Transactions
  • Higher Education
  • Technology

Education

  • Texas A&M University (B.S., 2013, Magna Cum Laude)
  • University of Houston Law Center (J.D. 2016)

Activities and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas School Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas Corporate Counsel Section
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Texas Council of School Attorneys

Bar/Court Admissions

  • All state courts in Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas