Val C. Cronin

I function as a proactive advisor to my clients. I try to think ahead and come up with creative solutions to issues before they become problems for my clients. What makes coming to work exciting is coming up with creative solutions that most people don’t think of. The center of my wheelhouse is federal taxation. Since just about everything we do has a tax impact, my practice is varied. From helping clients structure their business lives from inception to sale to maximize their after-tax cash flow, to provide asset protection planning to help clients protect the wealth they have acquired, to mergers and acquisition work, to estate planning.

Val practices in the fields of mergers and acquisitions, taxation, asset protection, and estate planning. He offers considerable experience in business sales and acquisitions, family and business tax planning, asset protection, and estate planning for family succession.

Val offers years of experience structuring family business interests for growth and asset transfers and minimizing the tax consequences of those transactions in present day transfers and in transferring the family business to the next generation. He strongly believes in protecting key family assets from litigation risk and creating the business structures most likely to offer that advantage. As lawyers we frequently encounter people in crisis. He has learned to be a good listener to understand a client’s issues and concerns before he starts talking about solutions.

He has advised start-up businesses from inception through negotiating and drafting the documents to selling the business. In that process, he works with the client to structure the deal in a manner that minimizes income tax consequences and maximizes cash flow.  Finally, he works with the client to plan for minimizing estate taxes and protect the assets the client has spent their business lives accumulating.

Val is a Certified Public Accountant.

Emily Owen

Emily Owen represents individuals and businesses across a range of industries through all phases of litigation. Whether through motion practice, mediation, or trial, she is a dedicated advocate for her clients both in and out of the courtroom. Prior to joining Carrington Coleman, Emily served as an Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. There she defended a broad range of civil matters as lead counsel on behalf of the United States, including cases arising under Title VII, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Federal Tort Claims Act, and the Whistleblower Protection Act. She also investigated cases involving the False Claims Act. Emily also has significant experience representing and advising health care providers in medical malpractice claims, guardianship matters, and proceedings before the Texas Medical Board and Texas Board of Nursing. Her diverse legal background allows her to approach cases with a strategic and innovative perspective. Emily understands the overlapping areas of law that may impact her clients and their positions in litigation. She understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to litigation and brings a tailored, client-focused strategy to every matter she handles.

Rodney H. Lawson

With decades of experience in advocating vigorously and successfully for his clients, Rodney Lawson specializes in health care law and litigation, as well as business litigation, products liability, and oil and gas litigation. His practice largely serves Texas-based organizations, particularly in the Dallas area, including many area hospitals and medical practitioners. He also practices out of the firm’s East Texas office in Longview.

Rodney brings a great deal of expertise and confidence to each matter. At the same time, he rejects cookie-cutter solutions and never operates by rote. Instead, he recognizes the unique circumstances and nature of each case and approaches them accordingly. Rodney constantly looks for opportunities to minimize clients’ expenses by resolving matters advantageously before they go to trial.

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I firmly believe that there is a reasonable solution for every problem, and I fight hard to get the results my clients want and need. For me, being a lawyer isn’t a 9-5 job, but rather a way of life. My clients know I’m entirely committed to them and am passionate about helping them around the clock, every day of the week.

With decades of experience in advocating vigorously and successfully for his clients, Rodney Lawson specializes in health care law and litigation, as well as business litigation, products liability, and oil and gas litigation. His practice largely serves Texas-based organizations, particularly in the Dallas area, including many area hospitals and medical practitioners. He also practices out of the firm’s East Texas office in Longview.

Rodney brings a great deal of expertise and confidence to each matter. At the same time, he rejects cookie-cutter solutions and never operates by rote. Instead, he recognizes the unique circumstances and nature of each case and approaches them accordingly. Rodney constantly looks for opportunities to minimize clients’ expenses by resolving matters advantageously before they go to trial.

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