University of Texas at Austin School of Law

Grace S. Miller

Whether you are a business or an individual, litigation can be extremely stressful. My clients know I’m in their corner from day one: learning their business, thinking ahead, and never treating their problem as routine.

Grace Miller helps Texas-based businesses with national problems and national businesses with Texas-based problems both inside and outside the courtroom. She represents plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes disputes across industries including software, FinTech, real estate, and healthcare.

Grace handles a broad range of commercial and consumer matters, including breach of contract, deceptive trade practices, and non-compete and trade secret disputes. From initial litigation assessment through trial and appeal, she has represented clients in state and federal courts and in arbitration across the country.

Grace approaches every matter with a practical mindset: litigation is a means to an end, not an end in itself. She works to understand each client’s goals from the outset, anticipates opposing counsel’s next move, and looks for creative solutions — without losing sight of what it takes to successfully take a case to trial.

Cynthia Dunn Raibourn

I am committed to guiding clients through difficult family transitions while advocating strongly for their interest and the well-being of their families. In addition to litigation, I am also trained in Collaborative Law as an alternative to resolving family disputes. The collaborative process allows parties to work together respectfully and privately to reach solutions outside of the courtroom, helping families move foward cooperatively.

Cynthia Dunn Raibourn is a shareholder in the Family Law Section and a highly respected attorney who is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction that reflects her extensive experience and recognized expertise in this complex area of law. With more than 32 years of dedicated practice, Cynthia has focused exclusively on family law, representing individuals and families in a wide range of sensitive and often high-stakes matters affecting children and family relationships.

Throughout her career, Cynthia has successfully handled cases involving pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, divorce proceedings, child custody and visitation disputes, child support matters, enforcement of court orders, paternity actions, termination of parental rights, adoptions, and post-judgment modifications of both Texas and out-of-state orders. Her practice reflects a deep commitment to helping clients navigate challenging personal situations while protecting their legal rights and the best interests of their children.

Cynthia is particularly passionate about trial advocacy and is known for her strong courtroom presence. She has extensive litigation experience, having tried numerous jury trials and bench trials in courts throughout the State of Texas. Her thorough preparation, strategic approach, and dedication to her clients have earned her a reputation as a skilled and effective advocate in family law litigation.

Michael Patrick O’Brien

Prior to working at Carrington Coleman, Michael represented many of the world’s largest insurance companies, providing them with coverage advice and litigation defense. Now he brings that invaluable experience to the commercial policyholder side, using his knowledge of how insurance companies work to maximize insurance recovery for his clients. He knows how to persuade insurers to resolve claims prior to litigation wherever possible, but he also knows how to mount the strongest litigation offensive if that fails.

As a former law clerk, Michael enjoys the intricacies of civil procedure and motion practice. As a former English teacher with a Master’s in Medieval Literature, Michael excels in closely analyzing coverage to find the most persuasive arguments. He has won motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, motions to compel, motions in limine, and appellate arguments—always by pursuing the clearest yet most innovative way to argue his client’s case. Perhaps most importantly, Michael’s clients find that he puts them at ease with the litigation process—particularly in preparing for depositions, hearings and trial—and that he is adept at explaining complex legal concepts in an approachable manner.

Victor Solyanik

Victor Solyanik is recognized for his strong litigation skills and clutch potential when it matters most. Comfortable under pressure, he achieved notable success in a moot court competition at Texas Law, ranking in the top 10% of his class and showcasing his advocacy ability. With nearly two years of experience at various District Attorney’s offices, Victor developed valuable skills in trial preparation and high-stakes litigation. He is committed to building lasting client relationships and delivering exceptional results tailored to each client’s needs.

Haley Ablon

No matter the obstacle, I am always ready to jump in. My ability to listen, coupled with my passion for creativity, allows me to assess a situation from many perspectives and respond with creative and effective solutions.

Haley Ablon represents clients facing a myriad of commercial and construction litigation needs in both state and federal courts. She knows that legal problems are human problems and faces each challenge with compassion, curiosity, creativity, and attention to detail.

Haley’s prior experience helps her to ask the hard questions and leave no stone unturned. She approaches situations with an eye toward resolution but will go to bat for her clients when needed.

Brent M. Rubin

Brent Rubin advocates for individuals, businesses, and government entities in litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Brent’s practice encompasses complex business disputes, including non-compete/non-solicitation issues, insurance coverage, and real estate and construction matters. He also handles government law matters for both public and private clients, including land use and zoning, open government, and immunity issues.

Brent represents both plaintiffs and defendants in claims of breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, fraud, and tortious interference. He represents clients as first-chair trial counsel and presents oral argument on appeal. He has also drafted, argued, and won dispositive motions in both state and federal court and has substantial experience with motions to dismiss under the Texas Citizens Participation Act, Texas’s anti-SLAPP statute. Additionally, Brent assists the firm’s clients with immigration issues, focusing on business immigration.

When a client encounters a problem, out-of-the-box advice doesn’t cut it. I work to craft creative and efficient solutions that take my client’s goals to heart. Every case gets my thorough attention. That helps me plot effective—and often innovative—strategies and arguments that achieve the best results for my client.

With a Texas-based practice focused on management-side employment law, Christie Newkirk advises employers and finds practical solutions to the variety of human resources matters they face. Clients regard Christie as a true advisor and rely on her in navigating COVID-19 laws and workplace issues, planning and implementing reductions in force, managing employee and executive performance issues, making high-risk employment decisions, and drafting confidentiality, noncompetition, and executive employment agreements.

Always bringing honesty and excellent people skills to her work, Christie deeply values the long-term client relationships she’s built over two decades. When workplace problems surface, she fully understands the spectrum of considerations at stake. These include business goals and legal risks, but also real-world concerns such as an organization’s unique work environment. She assists companies in evaluating each of these factors and weighing them against one another. Adept at finding creative paths, Christie ensures all solutions are tailored to her clients’ unique needs.