Chamberlain Hrdlicka Attorneys Named 2021 Texas Rising Stars
Houston, March 23, 2021 – Five Texas-based attorneys with Chamberlain Hrdlicka have been named to the 2021 Texas Rising Stars by Super Lawyers Magazine, including Jarrod B. Martin, Kathryn “Kelly” Shields and Justin E. VandenBout in Houston as well as F. Matthew “Matt” Flores and Jaime Vasquez in San Antonio. Part of the national Super Lawyers rating service, Texas Rising Stars recognizes the best attorneys age 40 or younger, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor.
Flores focuses his practice on probate and fiduciary litigation, representing trustees, executors, beneficiaries, individuals, and business entities in the areas of estates, trusts, contested guardianships, and other related litigation. He also assists clients in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, and closely held business succession planning. He is Board Certified in Estate Planning & Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Flores graduated from the Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He obtained his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law and earned a Master of Laws degree in Estate Planning from the University of Miami School of Law. He’s been named to Best Lawyers in America 2021 – “Ones to Watch” and 2021 San Antonio’s Rising Stars by San Antonio Scene Magazine.
Martin has more than a decade of national litigation experience with a focus on restructuring and bankruptcy. He has practiced in both federal and state courts across the country, including time at both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, representing a variety of clients, including bankruptcy trustees, creditors, and corporate and high net-worth debtors, helping them through their bankruptcy and beyond. He has a wealth of experience in restructuring matters affecting energy companies and has represented creditors in some of the largest oil and gas bankruptcies filed in Texas. He is also a Subchapter V Trustee appointed by the Department of Justice under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019, supervising eligible, financially distressed businesses navigating the streamlined and expedited debt restructuring process. Martin received his bachelor’s degree from UCLA and his J. D. from The University of Miami School of Law. He’s been named to Texas Rising Stars for three consecutive years since 2019.
Shields is a litigation attorney who maintains a diverse litigation practice, representing clients in probate and fiduciary litigation, labor and employment litigation, complex commercial litigation, and arbitration. She has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts in a variety of cases including will contests, trust disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, FLSA, Title VII, ADA/ADEA, contractual disputes, and construction disputes. Shields graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and psychology. Shields then graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law. She was named to 2021 Best Lawyers in America – “Ones to Watch.”
VandenBout is a trial lawyer who maintains a nationwide litigation practice with an emphasis on commercial litigation and complex insurance coverage litigation. He has successfully represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants in federal and state courts throughout the United States in matters ranging from intellectual property disputes, catastrophic personal injury, products liability, professional liability, construction, and breach of contract matters. He has trial experience in a variety of cases, including business partnership disputes, personal injury, property damage, intellectual property, and commercial litigation. In connection with his representation of claimants, he has been successful in collecting over $225 million in matters throughout the United States. VandenBout graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a law degree from the South Texas College of Law. He is a Texas Bar Foundation Life Fellow, granted to only the top 1/3 of 1% of lawyers in Texas. VandenBout’s skill and advocacy on behalf of clients has consistently earned him recognition as one of the top lawyers in Texas in the areas of commercial litigation and insurance coverage. He’s been named to Texas Rising Stars for six consecutive years since 2016, “Leading Lawyer in Texas” by Leaders in Law and “Top Lawyer in Houston” by H Texas Magazine.
Vasquez concentrates his practice on federal, state, and international tax controversy matters. He has counseled clients in tax litigation matters, handling cases before the United States Tax Court, United States District Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Vasquez is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and earned his undergraduate and Master of Accounting degrees from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, his law degree from University of Texas School of Law, and his Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University. He’s been named to Texas Rising Stars for eight consecutive years, since 2014. He was also named “Outstanding Lawyer” by San Antonio Business Journal and “Lawyer of the Year” for San Antonio in Litigation & Controversy – Tax in 2019 by Best Lawyers in America. He’s been listed on Best Lawyers in America for the past three years.
