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Benton, Parker

Parker Benton is an attorney, whose practice focuses on corporate and real estate transactions. Parker also supports the firm’s Disputes and Litigation Group. Before practicing law, Parker worked in music licensing for television and film production.

EDUCATION & BAR ADMISSIONS


J.D., St. Mary’s University (cum laude)

Bachelor of Arts (English), Texas A&M University

Member, State Bar of Texas

PUBLICATIONS


Cracking Down on Egg Law: Legal Discrepancies Impacting Sales of Ungraded Eggs in Texas, 55 St. Mary’s L.J. 279 (2024)

Bañales, Cassidi

Cassidi D. Bañales is an intellectual property attorney. She is a commercial litigator and admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Cassidi’s practice focuses on patent prosecution and intellectual property disputes. 

EDUCATION & BAR ADMISSIONS


J.D., cum laude, St. Mary’s University School of Law

B.S. Biomedical Sciences / Chemistry minor, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

United States Patent and Trademark Office

United States District Court – Western District of Texas

United States District Court – Southern District of Texas

State Bar of Texas

Community Involvement


San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, Board of Directors

San Antonio Bar Association, Member

ACCOLADES


“Outstanding Women in Law”, S.A. Scene Magazine (2023)

John M. Harlan Society

Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society

National Society of Leadership and Success Honor Society

Litigation and Advocacy Award

St. Mary’s University Dean’s List

Morris, Zachary

Zachary Morris advises his clients on mergers and acquisitions, business and corporate matters, financing transactions, and real estate transactions. He represents companies, business owners, and entrepreneurs across a variety of industries and provides practical legal advice tailored to the individual client’s needs.

Mr. Morris negotiates, structures, and documents asset purchases, stock purchases, mergers, and reorganizations, and acts as a trusted advisor to his clients throughout these complex processes. He also counsels his clients on day-to-day and long-term strategic business issues, including corporate formation, corporate governance, and financing matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Morris worked for international law firms representing lenders and borrowers in complex commercial and corporate financing transactions, including senior secured, mezzanine, cash flow, and asset-based debt financing transactions. His clients included regional and global banks, as well as leading private equity firms and middle-market companies.

Mr. Morris also previously served as in-house counsel for a financial services firm where he worked closely with internal business units to develop and implement company-wide policies, procedures, and programs, advised on corporate governance and regulatory compliance matters, and negotiated vendor and other commercial contracts.

Education & Bar Admissions


Juris Doctor, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

Bachelor of Arts, Indiana University – Bloomington

Admitted to practice in the State of Texas and the State of Illinois


ACCOLADES


“Best Lawyer” Mergers and Acquisitions, S.A. Scene Magazine (2024)

Van Kleef, Christian

Christian Van Kleef’s practice focuses on the representation of privately held business in matters relating to corporate, financing, and real estate transactions. His experience and expertise extends to matters involving domestic and international acquisitions and asset sales, corporate and asset based lending, corporate structure and formation, commercial real estate transactions, and other corporate governance matters. Mr. Van Kleef also provides general counsel services to his clients, and regularly advises them on day-to-day business issues relating to the licensing of intellectual property, master sales and service agreements, inventory procurement, subcontractor and vendor engagement, and other routine and extraordinary contractual matters. Early in his career, Mr. Van Kleef litigated cases on behalf of large, sophisticated clients involved in the manufacture and supply of industrial process gas, offshore oil & gas exploration equipment, and automotive safety components. His prior litigation experience provides him with a unique perspective when advising clients on day-to-day and long-term strategic business issues and transactions.

Education & Bar Admissions


Juris Doctor, Baylor University School of Law

Bachelor of Science, Economics, Baylor University

Member, State Bar of Texas

Admitted to practice; Texas; United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

ACCOLADES


“Best Lawyer” Business and Corporate, S.A. Scene Magazine (2018-2024)

Cardona, Sylvia A.

Sylvia Cardona has a broad complex litigation practice representing companies and individuals in State Court, Federal Court, and Arbitration proceedings.  In her practice, Sylvia handles disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, injunction litigation, real property rights, mineral rights, deceptive trade practice, negligence claims, personal injury, non-competes, theft of trade secrets, and professional liability issues.  Fluent in Spanish, she also has experience in cross-border transactions and assisting non-U.S. persons and entities with their U.S. businesses.  She handles all aspects of litigation and serves as lead counsel in high-stakes related disputes.  With over twenty years of courtroom experience, Sylvia passionately represents her clients, regardless of the size of the case.

In 2008, she was elected as the First Latina President of a 24,000-member organization, the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA). Sylvia is active in her community and bar associations. Her commitment to service is rooted in her upbringing.  The daughter of two migrant farm workers, she grew up with a strong work ethic and the dream that one could achieve success with discipline and “animo” (motivation).  She applies these values to her clients’ cases and her volunteerism.

EDUCATION & BAR ADMISSIONS


LL.M., Georgetown University

  Law Center, International and

  Comparative Law

J.D., University of Oklahoma

   College of Law, Order of Barristers

B.A., University of Texas at San Antonio

Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT


  • Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, Member by Invitation
  • Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees (Secretary, Treasurer, and Sustaining Life Fellow)
  • State Bar of Texas (SBOT)
    • SBOT Litigation Section (Council Member)
    • SBOT Corporate Counsel Section (Former Council Member)
  • SBOT Advertising Review Committee (2016-2023)
  • SBOT Director, District 10, Place 2 (2010-2013) 
    • Judicial Section Committee (Alt. Advisor)
    • Standing Committee on Court Rules (Advisor)
    • Texas Bar Journal Board of Directors 
    • Continuing Legal Education Committee 
    • Local Bar Services Committee 
    • Texas Minority Counsel Program Committee 
    • Annual Meeting Committee (Co-chair, 2010-2011)
  • SBOT Director (as representative of TYLA) (2007-2010)
    • Texas Bar Foundation Board of Directors
    • Texas Bar Journal Board of Directors 
    • Continuing Legal Education Committee 
    • Nominations and Elections Committee (for SBOT President-elect candidates)
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA)
    • Immediate-Past President (2009-2010)
    • President (2008-2009) 
      • Administration of 40+ member board of directors and 22+ committees 
    • President-Elect (2007-2008)
      • First elected Hispanic female into state-wide, 24,000+ member organization
      • Executive Committee
      • Nominations and Elections Committee, Chair
  • Director (2006-2008)
    • Law Focused Education Committee 
    • ProBAR Committee 
    • Low-Income Texans Committee
    • Long Range Planning Committee
  • San Antonio Bar Association
    • Litigation Section (Chair, 2012-2013)
  • San Antonio Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • William S. Sessions Inn of Court
  • Bexar County Women’s Bar Association/Foundation
    • LEAD Academy: Founding Member/Steering Committee/Advisory Committee.  LEAD is a leadership program aimed to assist women attorneys in attaining the highest level of success in their firms/organizations
  • San Antonio Young Lawyers Association
    • Director (2004-2007)
      • Assisted in numerous member and civic related committees

ACCOLADES


  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in America, 2020-2025; Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Construction
  • Named Texas “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters and Texas Monthly, 2014, 2016-2024
  • Named to the Top 2020 Women Texas Super Lawyers list, Business Litigation
  • Received Women’s Leadership Award by the San Antonio Business Journal, 2017
  • Recognized by peers as one of San Antonio’s Best Lawyers in Scene SA magazine, 2016, 2024
  • Presented Special Achievement Award by the San Antonio Restaurant Association, 2014
  • Named Texas “Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters and Texas Monthly, 2009-2014
  • Presented leadership-based “Rising Star Award” by the San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 2013
  • Received Belva Lockwood Outstanding Lawyer Award by the Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation, 2012
  • Awarded State Bar of Texas Presidential Citation, 2011
  • Received La Prensa’s “Outstanding Women in Action” Legal Award, 2008
  • Recognized as one of Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Legal Leaders,” 2008
  • Named Texas “Rising Star” by peers in Scene San Antonio magazine, 2008 and 2009
  • Received invitation from Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, Wallace B. Jefferson, to address attendees at swearing-in ceremony for successful Bar examinees (November 2008 & April 2009)  
  • President of a 24,000+ member organization, the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA), 2008-2009 
  • Received TYLA President’s Award of Merit for Service to the Public and the Bar, 2007
  • Named “Rising Star (40 under 40)” by the San Antonio Business Journal, 2004
  • Community and humanitarian service contributions featured in numerous publications and media, including the San Antonio Express News, San Antonio Woman, Univision/Dallas, KSAT 12, La Prensa, San Antonio’s only bilingual newspaper, and KENS TV’s Texas Spirit Campaign
  • Speaker at various State Bar of Texas CLE courses, including the Texas Minority Attorney Program and the Advanced Civil Trial Course; served as course director in SBOT CLE sponsored programming; and direct involvement in planning, coordinating and executing several CLE programs for corporate counsel

Mery, Hannah

Hannah Mery is an attorney in the Disputes and Litigation Group and has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation matters.  Prior to starting her career in litigation, Hannah clerked for Justice John P. Devine at the Texas Supreme Court.

EDUCATION & BAR ADMISSIONS


Juris Doctor, St. Mary’s University School of Law (summa cum laude; John Harlan Society)

Editor-in-Chief, St. Mary’s Journal on Legal Malpractice and Ethics

Bachelor of Arts, University of Texas at Austin (highest honors)

Admitted to practice: Texas; United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT


Texas Young Lawyers Association

San Antonio Young Lawyers Association

Bexar County Women’s Bar Association

Leadership SBOT, Class of 2023–2024


ACCOLADES


“Best Lawyer” Business Litigation, S.A. Scene Magazine (2024)


PUBLICATIONS


  • The Dangers of Doxing and Swatting: Why Texas Should Criminalize These Malicious Forms of Cyberharassment, 52 St. Mary’s L.J. 905 (2021)

DeWitt, Delaney

Delaney DeWitt’s practice concerns general business, financing, commercial real estate and corporate transactions. Mrs. DeWitt has experience representing private companies in land use and zoning. 

EDUCATION & BAR ADMISSIONS


Juris Doctor, Texas Tech University School of Law

Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University

Admitted to practice in the State of Texas

Community Involvement


Real Estate Council of San Antonio

San Antonio Young Lawyers Association

RECSA Leadership Development Program, Class of 2022-2023

ACCOLADES


“Rising Star”, S.A. Scene Magazine (2022)

“Best Lawyer” Real Estate Transactions, S.A. Scene Magazine (2024)

Hottle, Gary N.

Gary N. Hottle serves in a key supporting role for the firm’s attorneys in the Financing Transactions, Real Estate, Business & Corporate Transactions and Disputes & Litigation practice groups. Throughout his thirty-plus year legal career, Gary has served in a variety of roles in a law firm environment, with the majority of his experience being concentrated in the areas of trial support, business disputes and commercial real estate transactions.

EDUCATION & BAR ADMISSIONS


Attended the University of Texas at San Antonio

Rapp, Michael

With his primary practice representing businesses in employment law matters, Michael Rapp offers expertise in defense against allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation under federal and Texas law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act, among other federal and state employment statutes.

He has regularly handled defense against EEOC investigations in connection with charges of discrimination of all varieties, as well as investigations into sexual harassment and other employee misconduct. He has also represented employers in wage and hour investigations brought by the U.S. Department of Labor and has defended against class/collective action wage claims brought by private individuals.

Mr. Rapp also frequently drafts employment, confidentiality, non-competition and trade secret agreements and regularly handles litigation in this area.

EDUCATION & BAR Associations


J.D., University of Georgia School of Law

B.A.,Carleton College

Admitted to practice: Texas; United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT


Mr. Rapp is an active member of both the Texas Young Lawyers Association and San Antonio Young Lawyers Association.

Rapp, Robert

Mr. Rapp has represented management interests in labor and employment law matters and litigation for more than 35 years. His experience encompasses defense against allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation under federal and Texas law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the full panoply of other federal and state employment statutes.

He also has advised employers experiencing union organizing campaigns and unfair labor practice charges under the National Labor Relations Act. He has represented businesses in health and safety matters, including defending businesses against alleged willful and serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. He has also represented employers during wage and hour investigations brought by the U.S. Department of Labor and has successfully defended against class/collective action wage claims brought by private individuals on multiple occasions.

Mr. Rapp also frequently drafts employment, confidentiality, non-competition and trade secret agreements and regularly handles litigation in this area. He has both prosecuted actions for injunctive relief for breaches of non-compete agreements and defended employers against allegations of interference in such contracts and trade secret litigation.

In addition to litigation, Mr. Rapp’s employment practice includes management training in the human resource field, design of personnel systems, preparation of policies and handbooks, drafting executive employment agreements, creation of affirmative action plans for government contractors, advice on reductions in force and other employment terminations, and investigations of alleged employee misconduct such as theft of trade secrets, sexual harassment and whistleblower claims as well as for claims of unlawful discrimination.

EDUCATION & BAR Associations


J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Law Review

B.A., magna cum laude, Harvard University

Admitted to practice: Texas; United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; United States District Courts for the Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas

ACCOLADES


Mr. Rapp has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for approximately 30 years. He has long held a peer-reviewed “A/V” rating (the highest conferred) from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. He has been named every year from 2008 to 2015 to the listing “Texas Super Lawyers,” published by Thomson Reuters, a distinction conferred upon only 5 percent of Texas lawyers.

“Best Lawyer” Employment Litigation Defense, S.A. Scene Magazine (2018)

“Best Lawyer” Employment Law – Management and Labor Law – Management Best Lawyers in America (2021 Edition)

“Lawyer of the Year” Labor Law – Management Best Lawyers in America (2021 Edition)

2008-2015