Eleven AZA Lawyers Named Lawdragon Leading Litigators

HOUSTON – Eleven partners at AZA were named by Lawdragon among the 500 top litigators in the nation, who they have called “the advisors you want to send into battle.” 

Lawyers named in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America were selected based on journalistic research, submissions and vetting. Lawdragon said of these top litigators: “These lawyers win hundreds of millions, billions even. They win rights, or lose them. They win freedom, or lose it for someone. They have the abilities to change businesses and entire industries. It’s an audacious thing a trial lawyer does: to tell a judge, jury or other arbiter, ‘Hear me. Believe me. Rule for my client.’” 

“We try cases at AZA, and it’s rewarding, but not surprising, to see so many of our lawyers recognized on this national list of the very best trial lawyers,” said John Zavitsanos, AZA’s managing partner and co-founder. 

• Joe Ahmad, co-founder of the firm, was cited for his work in commercial litigation, energy litigation and IP (intellectual property) litigation. 

• Sammy Ford IV was awarded for his work in commercial litigation. 

• Rey Flores was recognized for his work in commercial litigation and energy litigation. 

• Shahmeer Halepota was named for his commercial litigation work. 

• Kevin Leyendecker was awarded for his commercial litigation and energy litigation work. 

• Jason McManis, head of the firm’s intellectual property group, was cited for his IP litigation work. 

• Todd Mensing was recognized for his work in commercial litigation, energy litigation and IP litigation. 

• Jane Langdell Robinson was awarded for her commercial litigation and energy litigation work. 

• Tim Shelby was cited for his work in commercial litigation and energy litigation. 

• Monica Uddin was recognized for her work in commercial litigation. 

• John Zavitsanos, co-founder of the firm with Mr. Ahmad, was awarded for his work in commercial litigation and energy litigation. 

 AZA co-founders Messrs. Ahmad and  Zavitsanos earlier were named to the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America list. 

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 is recognized by Chambers USA 2024 as among the best in Texas in commercial law and intellectual property; has been listed by Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms as one of the country’s best commercial litigation firms for 12 years; has been named Litigation Department of the Year by Texas Lawyer three times; and was previously dubbed a Texas Powerhouse law firm by Law360.