Archive for the ‘News’ Category
AZA Wins Rare $2 Million Attorneys’ Fees Award for Defendants
HOUSTON – A Harris County judge has taken the unusual step of awarding AZA client Dr. Steven Hotze and his fellow defendants more than $2 million in attorneys’ fees after a jury decided in their favor and delivered a take-nothing verdict. Attorneys’ fees are often awarded to plaintiffs who prevail in a lawsuit, but the […]
AZA Prevails Against Google in Patent Infringement Dispute Appeal Over Spreadsheets
HOUSTON – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed a lower court’s ruling for Google LLC in a dispute over three spreadsheet patents asserted by Data Engine Technologies LLC, a unit of Acacia Research Corp. The appellate court ruled, in a precedential decision, that a Delaware court was incorrect when it tossed […]
AZA Lawyer Lizzie Pannill Fletcher Elected to Congress; Former Firm Lawyer Wins Judgeship
HOUSTON – AZA partner Lizzie Pannill Fletcher won an upset election against a Republican congressman this week to become the first Democrat ever elected to the Houston congressional district once represented by President George H.W. Bush. At the same time, former AZA trial lawyer Lauren Reeder was elected to Harris County’s 234th Civil District Court. […]
AZA Named to Best Law Firms List for Seventh Year by National Ranking Guide
HOUSTON – For the seventh year in a row, the commercial litigation and intellectual property firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, is being recognized among the nation’s Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America. “This firm is outstanding. They are the best firm […]
AZA Lawyer Rey Flores Writes on His Hispanic Heritage and the Value of Mentors
HOUSTON – In an article for Texas Lawbook, Rey Flores, an associate at AZA or Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., wrote about his experiences as a combat veteran in the Middle East and what we can all do to inspire each other. In a bylined article titled, “Señor, usted es un orgullo Hispano,” […]
Appellate Court Confirms AZA’s Successful Dismissal of Landry’s Defamation Suit over Caged Tigers in Houston
HOUSTON – The Texas 14th Court of Appeals upheld a judge’s dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by Landry’s Inc. restaurant chain and its Downtown Aquarium that claimed the Animal Legal Defense Fund defamed Landry’s by criticizing the treatment of four endangered white tigers kept at the aquarium. The appellate court found that Harris County […]
Dr. Steven Hotze and Two Brothers Win Take-Nothing Verdict in Family Business Dispute
HOUSTON – AZA lawyers secured a take-nothing jury verdict for well-known Houstonian Dr. Steven Hotze and two of his brothers, who were accused of fraud, securities violations, and breaching their fiduciary duties involving family business operations. The lawsuit was filed by two other Hotze brothers who alleged that nearly every transaction over the past four […]
Texas Super Lawyers Again Honors Nine AZA Lawyers; Two Are Tops in State
HOUSTON – All eight partners and one lawyer who is of counsel with the commercial litigation firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, have earned selection to the 2018 Texas Super Lawyers listing. Two of those lawyers rank among the top 100 attorneys in Texas. AZA partners and co-founders Joe Ahmad and […]
National Oilwell Varco Wins $12 Million After Discovering Ex-Employees’ Fraud
HOUSTON – A federal judge awarded $12.2 million to National Oilwell Varco (NOV) from three former high-level employees based in Dubai who participated in various schemes to defraud and siphon funds from the company. After receiving a whistleblower complaint through NOV’s internal compliance hotline, the global oilfield services company conducted a thorough investigation that ultimately […]
AZA Lawyers Named Among Nation’s Best for Commercial, Patent Litigation and Appellate Law
HOUSTON – Ten lawyers with Houston trial law firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, won national recognition in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. AZA partners Joe Ahmad, John Zavitsanos, Demetrios Anaipakos, Amir Alavi, Todd Mensing, Steve Mitby, Tim Shelby and Elizabeth Pannill Fletcher, and of counsel David […]
Vault Ranks AZA Among Top Mid-Sized US Law Firms, Citing Work Quality, Hiring Selectivity
HOUSTON – AZA is ranked among the nation’s top mid-sized law firms and among the top 10 for quality of work and top 15 for hiring selectivity by Vault rankings. Vault, which just released its 20th law firm ranking guide to help law students and lawyers, included AZA in its “Top 150 Under 150.” This […]
AZA Meets Big Law Pay Scale Starting New Lawyers at $195k
HOUSTON – John Zavitsanos, a founding partner of Houston trial lawyer boutique Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C. or AZA, announced today that the firm will match the $195,000 salary and bonus for new lawyers started by Big Law. But he said the cost to AZA clients will not go up. The added expense […]
AZA Has Many Houston Clients Among Nations’ Most Valuable Branded Companies
HOUSTON – Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, has many clients among the Houston companies recognized on Brand Finance’s list of 500 Most Valuable American Brands for 2018. The Houston Business Journal reported on the Bayou City’s top brands in “Study: These Houston companies rank among America’s most valuable brands” and the […]
International IP Guide Honors AZA Among Top Texas Patent Trial Firms for Fourth Year in a Row
HOUSTON – Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, is recommended as one of the top patent litigation firms in Texas by London-based intellectual property magazine Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) for the fourth year now. “Litigation thoroughbred Ahmad Zavitsanos Anaipakos has successfully resolved disputes across virtually all technologies, industry sectors and forums; its […]
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