Haynes Boone is pleased to announce the promotion of 15 lawyers to the firm’s partnership ranks, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
The 2025 New Partner Class includes:
Henson Adams, Labor and Employment, San Antonio
Cristina Addy, Real Estate, New York City
Errol Brown, Sports Law, Denver
Emily Buchanan, Insurance Recovery, Dallas
Bryan Diebels, Mergers and Acquisitions, Dallas
Carrington Giammittorio, Government Investigations, Dallas
Abby Johanson, Real Estate, San Antonio
Chris Knight, Appellate, Fort Worth
Chelsea Leitch, Commercial Contracts, Dallas
Angela Oliver, Intellectual Property Appeals, Washington, D.C.
Dan Ramish, Government Contracts, Northern Virginia
Cameron Scales, Mergers and Acquisitions, Dallas
Stephanie Spell, Real Estate, Dallas
Josh Turner, Investment Management, New York City
Greg Van Houten, Insurance Recovery, Washington, D.C.
This is one of the largest Haynes Boone partner classes of the last decade, surpassed only by the 16-lawyer Class of 2023. Together, the class is 53 percent Mansfield diverse and represents eight of the firm’s 19 global offices and more than 30 practice areas, including multiple lawyers from the mergers and acquisitions, insurance recovery and real estate groups.
“It’s a privilege to welcome this talented group as Haynes Boone’s newest partners,” Managing Partner Taylor Wilson said. “The diverse class is an excellent reflection of our firm's full-service strength, including unique perspectives and skill sets. Each new partner exemplifies our culture of collaboration, innovation and commitment to superior client service. We look forward to seeing their continued contributions to our clients, and we congratulate them on this accomplishment."
Read more about the class of 15 below.
Henson Adams counsels and defends clients in labor and employment and business matters, focusing on reducing conflict while being prepared to litigate when necessary. A former algebra teacher, Adams leverages his problem-solving and communication skills to achieve effective outcomes in employment, environmental and commercial disputes in state and federal courts and arbitration.
Cristina Addy is a member of the real estate practice group, specializing in commercial leasing transactions. She advises clients nationwide and has extensive experience representing both landlords and tenants in connection with leases for a variety of asset classes, including retail, office, medical and industrial. Addy's experience in all aspects of commercial leasing allows her to deliver tailored solutions that meet clients’ business goals and achieve efficient, effective outcomes.
Errol Brown focuses his practice on corporate transactions and governance for the sports industry, including professional teams, venues, broadcasting rights and emerging technologies. With experience as in-house counsel and in corporate strategy, he provides clients with strategic advice at the intersection of sports, media and technology.
Emily Buchanan represents commercial policyholders in insurance coverage disputes, advising on risk management and litigating claims across a range of liability, property and specialty coverages. She combines her insurance expertise with a commitment to helping others, volunteering with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program and teaching insurance law as an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Bryan Diebels focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, corporate compliance and governance. He represents corporate and private equity buyers and sellers in structuring, negotiating, documenting and closing complex business transactions. He also represents corporate clients in drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
Carrington Giammittorio concentrates her practice on government and internal investigations, class action litigation and regulatory matters, guiding clients through complex proceedings involving agencies such as the SEC, DOJ and FINRA. With extensive experience in heavily regulated industries, she helps clients navigate parallel investigations and litigation, building strong defenses while addressing intricate regulatory challenges.
Abby Johanson represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and financing of retail, industrial, office and mixed-use properties. She has extensive experience negotiating commercial leases for industrial, office and retail spaces, handling acquisitions and sales of convenience stores and other properties, as well as advising on real estate matters for renewable energy project acquisitions and other M&A matters.
Chris Knight is a member of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. A former judicial law clerk on both the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Chris routinely advocates for clients in complex matters throughout the trial and appellate process, in both state and federal court. He has argued and briefed appeals on a range of issues, including fraud damages, Texas’ anti-SLAPP statute and sovereign immunity, while actively contributing to his community and the legal profession through leadership roles in bar associations and nonprofit initiatives.
Chelsea Leitch advises clients on structuring, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements and related arrangements, bringing strategic legal insight and practical solutions into clients’ business relationships. She is a trusted advisor for clients in a variety of industries, including aviation, food and beverage, automotive, financial services and manufacturing, and she regularly assists them with a range of contracts, from business-critical, high-profile, complex commercial agreements to routine contracts that facilitate their day-to-day business activities.
Angela Oliver represents clients in appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, federal district court and in post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Recognized among the best-performing attorneys at the Federal Circuit in Patexia’s 2024 CAFC Intelligence Report, she handles complex appellate and intellectual property matters across diverse technologies, including medical devices, software and wireless communications.
Dan Ramish advises clients on all aspects of government contracts, grants and construction law, with particular focus on claims and disputes, cost accounting, intellectual property, cybersecurity, supply chain and small business issues. Before going into private practice, he was in-house government contracts counsel for an environmental remediation and munitions response contractor.
Cameron Scales handles private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and a range of corporate securities matters, including SEC reporting, corporate governance and securities offerings. Before joining Haynes Boone, he gained experience as a judicial intern in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and worked on federal and statewide political campaigns.
Stephanie Spell represents institutional investors, private equity funds, REITs and developers in connection with complex real estate transactions, including acquisitions and sales, financings, joint ventures and large-scale development projects across various asset classes. She also negotiates ground leases and space leases to provide tailored solutions for diverse real estate projects nationwide and abroad.
Josh Turner focuses his practice on the formation and operation of private investment funds, advising fund sponsors on a wide range of structuring, fundraising, operational, regulatory compliance and related matters. He also assists institutional and other investors in the review and negotiation of their investments in private investment funds and other investment advisory arrangements.
Greg Van Houten is a commercial litigator who represents corporate policyholders in insurance disputes and advises on complex insurance issues during policy renewals and M&A transactions. A former high school physics teacher, Van Houten combines his analytical skills and advocacy expertise to secure results for clients. He shares insights through his blog, “Policyholder Playbook.”
