Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys

Attorney Ben Michael

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2013

Education:

• Loyola Law School, 2013
• University of Florida 
  • Major: Political Science

Professional Memberships and Achievements

• Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers / Rising Stars list (2026), Thomson Reuters — peer-reviewed and independently researched
• "Superb" 10.0/10.0 rating on Avvo, the highest rating Avvo issues
• Client Champion Platinum, Martindale-Hubbell (2025) — based on quantity and quality of verified client reviews
• Client's Choice, Avvo — based on verified client reviews
• Top-Rated on Justia
• Named to America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys (2026)
• Recognized for Professional Involvement (2026), Lawyer Legion
• Member, National College of DUI Defense Lawyers
• Member, The National Trial Lawyers

Attorney Andromeda Vega Rubio

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2019

Education:

• Baylor Law School, 2019 
  • Juris Doctor
• Johns Hopkins University
  • Master of Science
  • Major: Biotechnology
• University of Maryland University College, 2014
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Honors: cum laude  
  • Major: Psychology

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish
• German 

Attorney Matthew Pospisil

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2016 

Education:

• South Texas College of Law, 2015
  • Juris Doctor
• Sam Houston State University, 2012
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Major: Criminal Justice
  • Major: Law Enforcement Administration

Attorney Joseph Deeb

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• St. Mary's University School of Law, 2001
  • J.D.
• Florida State University - College of Business
  • B.S.
  • Honors: Golden Key National Honor Society
  • Major: Finance

Attorney James Fletcher

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• South Texas College of Law 
• Baylor University

Attorney Dan Dworin

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 1995
• United States District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Texas

Education:

• University of Texas School of Law, 1995
  • Juris Doctor

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association 
• Criminal Justice Section of the Austin Bar Association
•  Austin Chapter President of the Federal Bar Association

Attorney Dax Garvin

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2002

Education:

• Texas Tech University
•  Austin College

Attorney Nelson Knight

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• South Texas College of Law
• Texas A&M University

Attorney Clifford Duke

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• Gonzaga University School of Law, 2004
  • Juris Doctor
• Gonzaga University

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Director  
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Project (CDLP), Board Member

Attorney RC Pate

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• University of Houston Law Center, 2007
  
  • J.D.
• Trinity University. 2002
  • Major: Physics
  • Major: Religion
  • Major: Mathematics
  • Major: Philosophy

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Former Assistant Chief Public Defender
• Member, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Member, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
• Member, DUI Defense Lawyers Association
• Member, Brazoria County Bar Association
• Member, American Chemical Society (Greater Houston Section)
• Member, ACS Chemistry and the Law Division (CHAL)
• Member, ACS Analytical Chemistry Division (ANYL)
• Member, ACS Chemical Toxicology Division (TOXI)
• Member, Texas DWI Lawyers Association

Attorney Charles Pelowski   

Bar Admissions:

• Texas
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Education:

• Texas Tech University School of Law, 2010
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: Order of Barristers
• Texas Tech University
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Major: Sociology

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
• DUI Defense Lawyers Association
• Brazoria County Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas
• American Chemical Society

Attorney Zach Redington

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• University of Texas School of Law , 2003
  • J.D.
• Wake Forest University, 2000
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Politics

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Ellis County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (ECCDLA), Former President 

Attorney James B. Landriault

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• South Texas College of Law Houston, 2015
  • Juris Doctor
• Texas A&M University, 2011
  • Bachelor of Science

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
• Galveston Bar Association

Attorney Park Silkenson

Bar Admissions: 

• Texas , 2008

Education:

• St. Mary's University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas
  • Juris Doctor
• University of Texas at Austin
  
  • Major: Journalism

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas

Attorney Cole Nettles

• Texas, 2016

Education:

• Texas A&M University School of Law, 2015 
  • Juris Doctor
• University of Texas at San Antonio, 2010
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Major: Political Science
  • Major: Government

Attorney Kaytlyn Knowles 

Bar Admissions: 

• Texas, 2012

Education:

• South Texas College of Law, 2012
  • Juris Doctor
• Texas Christian University, 2009
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Honors: magna cum laude 
  • Major: Psychology

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Texas District & County Attorneys Association

Attorney Michael Garcia

Bar Admissions:

• Texas 

Education:

• Baylor Law School, 2006 
  • Juris Doctor
• Texas Wesleyan University
  • Bachelor of Science 
  • Honors: summa cum laude
  • Major: Psychology

Attorney Steven Baker

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2010

Education:

• Texas Tech University, 2010
  • Juris Doctor
• Texas Christian University, 2000
  • B.A.

Attorney Robert Keating

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2014

Education:

• Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
  
  • Juris Doctor
• Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Attorney Monica Khirallah

Bar Admissions:

•  Texas, 2011

Education:

• Ave Maria School of Law, 2011 
  • Juris Doctor
• University of Dallas, 2007
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Politics

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Kendall County Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish 

Attorney Audrey Kelly

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School 
  • Juris Doctor
• Southeastern Oklahoma State University
  • Bachelor's Degree

Attorney Ethan Smartt

Bar Admissions:

• Tennessee, 2012

Education:

• University of Tennessee College of Law, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2012
  
  • Juris Doctor
• The University of Tennessee, 2007
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Major: Journalism
  • Major: Electronic Media

Attorney Kim Samman

Bar Admissions:

• Texas
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Education:

• University of Houston Law Center 
  • Juris Doctor
• University of Texas at Tyler
  
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Major: Criminal Justice

Attorney Thomas Ross

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2012
• Tennessee

Education:

• University of Houston Law Center, 2012
  • Juris Doctor
• LeTourneau University
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Major: English Language and Literature/Letters

Attorney Will Williams

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• Texas Tech University School of Law, 2011
  
  • Juris Doctor
• Texas A&M
  
  • Major: Commerce
  • Major: Political Science

Attorney Sarah Ellis

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas
  
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: Clifford Brown Award
• Sam Houston State University
  
  • B.A.
  • Honors: With Honors

Attorney Sorsha Huff

Bar Admissions:

• Texas 

Education:

• Baylor Law School
  • Juris Doctor

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (DWI Committee Member)
• Dallas LGBT Bar Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
• Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
• Dallas Women Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
• DUI Defense Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
• Denton County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2022 - Present (Member)
• Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2020 - Present (Executive Board Member- Secretary)
• Texas Young Lawyers Association, 2019 - Present (Member)
• Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, 2021 - 2022 (Member)

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish

Attorney Christina King

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2011

Education:

• University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas
  • Juris Doctor
• Southwestern University

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish

Attorney Janie Martin

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2002

Education:

• University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma
  • Juris Doctor
• University of Texas at Austin
  
  

Attorney Andres Carullo

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2010
  
  • Juris Doctor
• Florida International University, 2005
  • Bachelor of Arts and Sciences
  • Major: Political Science

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish

Attorney Lori Botello

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2006

Education:

• South Texas College of Law Houston, Houston, Texas, 2006
  
  • J.D.
• University of Texas at Austin, 2003
  
  • B.B.A.
  • Major: Marketing
  • Major: Art History

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• State Bar College (Member)
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) (Member)
• Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association, 2010 - Present
• Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, 2009 - Present
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2009 - Present
• Houston Bar Association, Probate Section, 2008 - Present
• Houston Bar Association, 2006 - Present

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish

Attorney Daniel C. Krause

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2019

Education:

• South Texas College of Law Houston, Houston, Texas, 2019
  
  • J.D.
• Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Texas

Attorney Ben Friedman

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2015

Education:

• University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 2015
  
  • Doctor of Jurisprudence
• Michigan State University
  
  

Attorney Marissa Giovenco

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2011

Education:

• South Texas College of Law
  • J.D.
• University of North Texas
  
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Honors: Criminal Justice Honors Society
  • Major: Criminal Justice

Attorney Carlton Alexander

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2017

Education:

• Texas A&M University School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan University School of Law), Fort Worth, Texas, 2015
  • J.D.
• Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 2010
  
  • B.A.
  • Major: English
  • Major: Political Science

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Member, Tarrant County Bar Association, 2017 - Present
• Member, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 2017 - Present
• Member, State Bar of Texas, 2017 - Present
• Member, American Bar Association, 2017 - Present

Attorney Kyle Simpson

Bar Admissions:

• Texas
• Utah
• New Mexico
• South Dakota

Education:

• St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2003
  • Juris Doctor
• University of North Texas
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Political Science
  • Major: Economics

Attorney Erick Victor Muñoz

Bar Admissions:

• California, 2005

Education:

• University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2004
  • J.D.
• Emory University, 1999
  • B.S.
  • Major: Political Science
  • Major: Government 

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• American Association of Attorney Advocates Top 10 Law Firm (2026)
• American Institute 10 Best Law Firm (2026)
• American Institute of Legal Advocates Top Law Firm (2026)
• American Institute of Trial Lawyers Best Law Firm (2026)

Attorney Carson Joachim

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2002

Education:

• Baylor University School of Law, 2002
  
  • Juris Doctor
• Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, NM, U.S.A., 1999
  
  • B.B.A.
  • Honors: summa cum laude
  • Major: Marketing/Bus Admin.

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish

Attorney Rishabh Godha

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2012

Education:

• University of Texas School of Law, 2012
  • Juris Doctor
• Boston College
  • Major: Political Science
  • Major: Chemistry

Attorney Ryan Eady

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 2011

Education:

• Texas A&M University School of Law, 2011
  • Juris Doctor
• Texas Tech University, 2007
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Psychology

Attorney Paul Vasquez

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, Kansas, May, 2002
  
  • J.D.
• Wichita State University
  
  • Master of Arts
• Washburn University
  
  • Bachelor of Arts

Languages Spoken:

• English
• Spanish

Attorney Michele Ferroni

Bar Admissions:

• State Bar of California

Education:

• Lincoln Law School of Sacramento, 1989
  • Juris Doctor
• University of California
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Criminal Justice

Attorney Jackie Gravois

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• South Texas College of Law Houston, 2007
  • J.D.
• Sam Houston State University, 2004
  • B.S.
  • Major: Criminal Justice
  • Major: Psychology

Attorney Danny J. Baxter

Bar Admissions:

• Tennessee, 2001

Education:

• Nashville School of Law, 2000
  
  • J.D.
• Trevecca Nazarene University, 1995
  • Major: Business Administration and Management
• Middle Tennessee State University

Attorney Michael Rutledge Norton

Bar Admissions:

• California, 2006

Education:

• Whittier College School of Law, Los Angeles, California
• Purdue University

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• California Public Defenders Association (Member, 2008 - Present)
• California DUI Lawyers Association (Member, 2008 - Present)