AZA Associates Applaud Work Quality & Put Firm in Top 3 Texas Midsized Firms 

May 7, 2026

HOUSTON – AZA associates responding to the Vault Annual Associate Survey anonymously praised the firm for quality work and in doing so raised the firm to top 3 among Texas midsized law firms.  

Vault is a national organization that offers young lawyers career guidance and industry insights. Each year it conducts anonymous surveys of law firm associates to get a picture of what it’s really like to work there.  

AZA also ranked in the top 10 in compensation and inclusion. The firm tied for third in Texas overall. 

“AZA always does well in the anonymous Vault survey, and we are thrilled to see our Texas ranking shoot up,” said AZA co-founder and managing partner John Zavitsanos. “We hire hard-driving lawyers with stellar credentials. And we throw them quickly into the deep end of trial work.”  

Here is what the AZA associates said in the anonymous survey: 

Quality of work 

• “Even as a first-year associate, I was assigned a leading role in several cases. Associates at AZA do not spend their day just doing assigned grunt work like doc review and memo writing. We are expected to manage cases, speak with clients, confer with opposing counsel, draft briefs, take depositions, argue hearings, and generally prepare cases for trial and take a substantial role in trial.” 

• “Within my first year at the firm, I went to trial twice, gave both opening statements, and presented witnesses. I have argued substantive motions multiple times and drafted numerous motions.” 

Compensation: 

• “The firm was one of the few boutiques to match the most recent BigLaw associate raises for certain classes of associates.”  

• “The firm pays top of the market, and Houston has a low cost of living. Plus, the hours-billable-to-hours-worked ratio is very high.”  

Inclusion: 

• “There are a lot of different kinds of people here, and I think that’s great.” 

• “Compared to other boutiques, AZA is one of the most diverse firms in Houston. … There is a concerted effort to put women on as many teams as possible and to have women take speaking roles at trials and hearings. There is a ton of mentoring between the women at the firm, and male partners and senior associates are always willing and eager to help female associates succeed.”  

  General firm culture: 

• “Cordial and family-like on the inside, aggressive on the outside.”  

• “AZA’s culture is a huge part of what makes it a successful firm. Folks here are friendly, informal, and genuinely interested in the success and happiness of all their colleagues. Equally importantly, we don’t take ourselves too seriously.” 

AZA, or Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing, is a Houston-based law firm that is home to true courtroom lawyers with a formidable track record in complex commercial litigation, including energy, healthcare, intellectual property and business dispute cases. AZA was recognized again by Chambers USA 2025 as among the best in Texas in commercial law and intellectual property; the firm has been listed by Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms as one of the country’s best commercial litigation firms for 13 years; has been named Litigation Department of the Year by Texas Lawyer three times; and was dubbed a Texas Powerhouse law firm by Law360.