Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing

Ahmad, Zavitsanos and Mensing P.C. is a litigation boutique whose attorneys are known for their trial prowess. With a team of over 50 lawyers, the firm has participated in more than 225 trials. The firm is a Texas staple, ranking among the Top 5 firms in Vault’s Best Midsize Law Firms in Texas. 

From IP to Energy

AZA was founded in 1993 in Texas by Joe Ahmad and John Zavitsanos—both of whom are still at the firm today. Although many of its cases involve high-stakes litigation for multinational companies, AZA also represents individuals and mid-sized businesses with serious legal issues. AZA represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of practice areas, including commercial litigation, company investigations, construction and real estate litigation, executive employment litigation, intellectual property litigation, oil and gas/energy, and trade secrets and covenants not to compete.

While the firm has a strong commercial litigation practice, it is also known for its work in IP litigation, especially patent litigation. The firm’s IP lawyers handle cases across the globe and across multiple industries, such as biochemistry, chemistry, energy, hardware and software, technology, telecom, and transportation. Given its roots in the Lone Star state, it may come as no surprise that the firm also has strength advising clients in the energy sector, including big-name oil and gas companies.

Get on Your Feet

At AZA, lawyers definitely do not sit in the passenger seat for long, including as junior attorneys and summer associates. All associates take on substantive work on a trial within their first year, and summer associates have at least one opportunity to experience a deposition or courtroom session. Summers also engage in a mock argument competition in front of former judges.

• AZA won what is believed to be the first same-sex harassment trial in U.S. history to reach a verdict, in Mota v. University of Houston Health Science Center, 261 F.3d 512 (5th Cir. 2001).
• In its first trial of any prominence, AZA won a First Amendment retaliation case representing seven police officers who were terminated because of political expression, Brady v. Fort Bend County, 145 F.3d 691 (5th Cir. 1998). The nationally prominent case is considered one of the leading decisions in free speech for police officers.
• AZA won a $5.3 million jury verdict against the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—believed to be the first defamation verdict against a labor union.
• AZA won a $65 million verdict against the largest insurer in the U.S. The firm represented emergency room doctors in the first of its kind trial involving insurance reimbursements.