Jason McManis Named One of Five National Trial Rising Stars by Law360

HOUSTON – AZA partner Jason McManis, head of AZA’s intellectual property group, was named one of only five Law360 Rising Stars in the Trials category for 2022. He is featured in the article “Rising Star: Ahmad Zavitsanos’ Jason McManis.”

Editors at the national legal news outlet reviewed more than 1,350 nominations for accomplished lawyers under age 40. Winners were selected based on career accomplishments in their respective disciplines, and the full listing is available at Law360 Names 2022’s Top Attorneys Under 40 (subscription required).

“Jason McManis is about 15 years ahead of where he should be as a lawyer. He looks like he is about 16 years old, comes across like an aw-shucks guy, but he’s an assassin, a Big Law slayer,” said AZA’s co-founder John Zavitsanos. “He absolutely destroys witnesses on cross. In our recent $62 million Nevada jury win for ER doctors, he impressed even the judge when he tore apart the $1,200-an-hour expert hired by United HealthCare.”

Mr. McManis is a skilled trial lawyer who helps individuals and businesses navigate their most difficult problems. He’s been on trial teams that have won nearly $2 billion in jury verdicts. He has handled high-stakes patent, trade secret, employment, and business disputes across the oil and gas, healthcare, real estate, automotive and aviation industries. He also represents plaintiffs and defendants in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases.

“Jason is whip-smart, but the quality that stands out most is his calm focus under pressure. No matter how much the other side throws at him, no matter the punishing deadlines, he never loses his cool. I have watched him unnerve many lawyers with this quality. He’s an intimidating and effective foe,” said his fellow partner Jane Langdell Robinson, the head of AZA’s appellate group who has been in trial with McManis.

Mr. McManis told Law360 that AZA believes in putting young lawyers in positions of power in trials. “I’m slowly aging out of being able to call myself a younger lawyer, but … I’ve tried six cases since I’ve been here.” he said. Mr. McManis said in every one of those cases he either gave the opening or closing statements and that he’s already first chaired and crossed experts in a nine-figure damages case.

Mr. McManis is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Dartmouth College, where he was a four-year letterman on the baseball team.

AZA 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 2022 among the best in Texas commercial law and intellectual property; by U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms as one of the country’s best commercial litigation firms for 10 years running; has been named Litigation Department of the Year by Texas Lawyer; and was previously dubbed by Law360 a Texas Powerhouse law firm.