Each attorney at McCleskey, Harriger, Brazill & Graf offers exceptional client service and knows the value of personal relationships, outstanding communication and meticulous preparation.
Attorney At Law
Ben Davidson
Attorney At Law
806.796.7306
Ben is a trial lawyer who handles both commercial and personal litigation. He has tried more than 50 cases to verdict in state and federal courts throughout Texas and handled hundreds of others to successful completions. He specializes in business disputes, oil and gas, medical malpractice and personal injury. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has an A-V Martindale Hubble rating. Ben has been with the McCleskey Law Firm since 1998. He has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1986. He graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983 and received his J.D. with honors from the University of Texas Law School in 1986. Ben was born and raised in Littlefield, Texas.
Areas of practice:
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Health Care Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Agricultural Law
Admitted to the Bar:
Texas (1986)
Court Admissions:
- All Texas State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
- 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Education:
- University of Texas Law School (J.D. with honors, 1986)
- University of Texas at Austin (B.A. with high honors, 1983)
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Phi Delta Phi
Honors & Distinctions:
- Texas Super Lawyers – Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters (2014-2019)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated
- Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Professional Memberships:
- Associate, American Board of Trial Advocates
- American Bar Association (Member Litigation, Tort Law, and Health Law Sections)
- State Bar of Texas (Member Litigation Section)
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- Lubbock Area Bar Association
Classes & Seminars Taught:
- Co-author: “Texas Statutory Caps and Settlement Credits After House Bill 4,” 46 South Texas Law Review 1217 (2005)
- Author and speaker: “Stowers Doctrine After HB4: Abolished, Modified or Expanded,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Medical Malpractice Course, 2004
- Co-author: “Pretrial Issues in Lender Liability Lawsuits,” Chapter 28 of Lender Liability Law and Litigation Guide, Mathew Bender & Co., 1996
- Author and speaker: “Business and Public Records: When the Documents Really Do Speak for Themselves,” How to Offer and Exclude Evidence Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, 1995 and 1996
Significant cases Ben has handled recently:
- Successfully represented a family over ownership IMAX movie theater.
- Executor over management of estate assets and business owner over his being fraudulently induced to purchase a business.
- Represented land owners in a surface-use dispute.
Personal:
- Born Littlefield, Texas, 1960
- Friends of Music – Board Member
- Lubbock Children’s Health Clinic – Board Member
- Texas Lawyers Insurance Exchange – Director
Of Counsel/Attorney At Law
Mary Kathleen Davidson
Of Counsel/Attorney At Law
806.796.7306
Kathleen Davidson has developed a practice centering around civil appellate work. She has been lead appellate counsel for cases involving negligence, receiverships, and commercial litigation. She has participated in oral arguments before the Seventh Court of Appeals at Amarillo. Kathleen specializes in drafting complex motions and other pleadings for various types of litigation, including but not limited to, commercial litigation, negligence and personal injury litigation, real property disputes, and litigation involving the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act. Kathleen grew up in Dallas, but has deep family ties to the West Texas region. After finishing law school in 2009, she moved back to Lubbock and joined our firm. Kathleen graduated from the University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude. She then received her Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Her areas of practice are appellate law, commercial litigation and personal injury. In 2016 she was accepted into the State Bar of Texas’ Pro Bono College.
Admitted to the Bar:
- Texas (2009)
Court Admissions:
- All Texas State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Education:
- University of Oklahoma College of Law (J.D., 2009)
- University of Oklahoma (B.A., Summa Cum Laude, 2006)
- Phi Beta Kappa
Honors & Distinctions:
- State Bar of Texas Pro Bono College (2016)
Professional Memberships:
- Lubbock Area Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
Of Counsel/Attorney At Law
Don Graf
Of Counsel/Attorney At Law
806.796.7316
Don Graf is Board Certified: Labor Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Areas of Practice
- Labor and Employment Law
- Commercial Litigation
Admitted to Bar
Texas 1962
Court Admissions
- All State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Tax Court
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law and University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1962 – Law Review)
- Concordia Junior College and University of Illinois (B.B.A., 1960, with Honors)
Honors & Distinctions
- Lubbock Area Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award (1987)
- Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters Legal (2004)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated
Professional Memberships
- State Bar of Texas (Member Environmental and Natural Resources, General and Labor Law Sections)
- Texas Association of Bank Counsel (Director, 1986–1989)
- Lubbock Area Bar Association
Personal
- Born Hanceville, Alabama, 1939
- Former Chairman, Board of Directors, Llano Estacado Winery, Lubbock, Texas
- Concordia University at Austin Board of Regents (Chairman, 2002–2005)
- The CH Foundation (former Executive Director)
Of Counsel
Paula M. Johnson
Of Counsel
806.796.7379
Paula McClellan Johnson began her career in 1980 as an associate with Charles E. Galey in Lubbock, Texas. In 1984, she began work as a trust officer for First National Bank where she was directly involved in the probate and administration of estates, administration of trusts and oversight of investments made with estate and trust assets. In 1991, Paula joined our firm where she has focused her practice in the area of trusts and estates with an emphasis on estate planning and probate. Her practice also includes establishment and administration of non-profit organizations.
Attorney At Law
Jerry M. Kolander, Jr.
Attorney At Law
806.796.7311
Jerry Kolander is managing partner of the firm. He has been with McCleskey since 1971 and a partner since 1976. He represents people from all walks of life and is experienced in representing people in estate planning and probate, financial institutions, car dealerships, and small and large businesses of all kinds. He has been involved in major commercial and real estate transactions and has represented the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce on behalf of our firm since 1975.
Areas of practice:
- Commercial and Business Transactions
- Real Estate Law
- Entity Creation and Governance
- Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Probate
- Banking and Finance
- Adoption
- Guardianship
Admitted to the Bar:
Texas (1971)
Court Admissions:
- All State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education:
- Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., 1971)
- Phi Alpha Delta
- Texas Tech University (B.A., 1968)
Honors & Distinctions:
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Justice James G. Denton Award from the Lubbock County Area Bar Association, 2022-23
Professional Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas, Real Estate Forms Committee (1990)
- State Bar of Texas, Texas Pattern Jury Charge Committee for Business, Consumer, Insurance and Employment Law (1998–2000)
- Lubbock Area Bar Association (President, 2003–2004)
Personal:
- Born Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1946
- Lubbock Optimist Club (President, 1975)
- Baseball letterman, Texas Tech 1966-67
- Texas Tech Lettermen’s Association (Director, 1979–1980)
- Lubbock Visitors and Conventions Bureau (Director, 1985–1992)
- Hospice of Lubbock, Inc. (Director, 1990–2000
President, 1994–1995) - Texas District, Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod
(Director, 1983–1995) - Community Foundation of West Texas (2011–2019)
- Lutheran Foundation of Texas (2012–Present)
Attorney At Law
William P. (Bill) Lane
Attorney At Law
806.796.7332
A past director of the Lubbock County Bar Association, Bill Lane has long been serving a diversified client base in Lubbock and throughout West Texas. Bill’s practice is focused primarily on labor and employment law and he continues to provide seminars to employers in Lubbock and the surrounding areas concerning employment law practice updates. In addition, Bill continues to represent landowners in the form of ranch management, including oil & gas and wind energy development. Bill also has experience with insurance coverage disputes, personal injury and business litigation.
Areas of practice:
- Labor & Employment (which includes Family & Medical Leave Act, Human Resources Issues, OSHA, Workers Compensation)
- Agricultural Law
- Oil & Gas Law and Wind Energy Development
- Business & Commercial Litigation
Admitted to the Bar:
Texas (1989)
Kansas (2017)
Court Admissions:
- All State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education:
- University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1989)
- Phi Alpha Delta
- Texas Tech University (B.A., Summa Cum Laude, 1986)
Honors & Distinctions:
- Omicron Delta Kappa (Honors Fraternity)
- Phi Kappa Phi (Honors Fraternity)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Professional Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Law Section
- Inn of Courts (Texas Tech University School of Law Chapter, 2014-present)
- State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee (Chairman, 2000–2004)
- Lubbock County Young Lawyers Association (President, 1996–1997; Director, 1992–1994)
- Lubbock County Bar Association (Secretary, 1997–1998; Director, 2002–2005)
Published Works:
- “Getting Employees Back to Work: Aggressive and Appropriate Responses to FMLA Leave” Council on Education in Management
- “Employment Law from the Defense’s Perspective: Language That Limits Employer Liability in Texas” Texas Tech Law School
- “Health Care Litigation: Litigation Insurance Coverage Questions” The Cutting Edge of Medical Liability Seminar SMU Law School
- “Coverage Issues in Health Care Litigation: Defendant’s Perspective” Advanced Medical Malpractice Seminar, State Bar of Texas
Classes & Seminars Taught:
- Union Avoidance in the Workplace SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), Texas Tech University Merket Alumni Center
- Fundamentals of Employment Law, Sterling Education Services, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center
- Verbal Abuse in the Workplace Seminar, Nursing Research and Leadership Conference, Covenant Medical Center
- Licensing Laws, Ethics and the Expert Witness Seminar, Texas Tech University Extended Learning
- Law, Ethics and Risk Management Seminar, Professional Development and Community Outreach, Texas Tech University
- FMLA, Worker’s Comp. and ADA Liability Seminar, Texas Probation Association 1998 Legislative Conference
- United Way of Lubbock Speakers Bureau
- Your Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace Seminar, St. Mary of the Plains Hospital
- Employment Law Seminar, Texas Tech University School of Law, West Texas Association of Legal Assistants
- Prohibition of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace HR/Client Seminars
Personal:
- Born Sweetwater, Texas, 1964
- Lubbock Optimist Club (Lt. Governor, 1994–1995, 1997–1998; President, 1993–1994)
- Legal Aid Society of Lubbock (President, 1998–1999)
- Texas Wildlife Association (Director, 2002–2005)
- Southcrest Christian School (School Board, 2005–2023)
Attorney At Law
John W. Shanklin, II
Attorney At Law
806.776.0253
John, an East Texas native, has been a partner with the McCleskey Law Firm since 2019. His extensive experience in banking, business, oil and gas and real estate includes advising on business creation, contract negotiations, and mergers and acquisitions for some of the region’s most recognizable companies and private foundations. His experience in other roles before attending law school gives him a unique perspective on each project. Prior to his legal career, John worked in Houston’s energy corridor for a number of years and later took up a management role in a small e-commerce company.
Areas of Practice
- Commercial Transactions
- Corporate Governance
- Banking & Finance
- Real Estate
- Oil & Gas
- Creditor’s Rights
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Appeals & Trial Briefing
Admitted to the Bar:
Texas (2013)
Court Admissions:
- All Texas State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
Education:
- Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D. with High Honors, 2012)
- Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business (M.B.A. with Honors, 2012)
- Texas A&M University (B.S., Agribusiness, 2001)
Honors & Distinctions:
- 2016 Bob Black Bar Leader Award
- Texas Tech University School of Law, Dean’s List, 2009-2012
- Academic awards in Legal Practice, Professional Responsibility, Business Entities, and Commercial Law
- Order of the Coif
- Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal, Vol. XII-XIII, 2010-2012
- Texas A&M University College of Agriculture, Distinguished Student, 2000
Professional Memberships:
- Volunteer Center of Lubbock, Board of Directors, 2026-2027
- Lubbock County Young Lawyers Association
- Lubbock Area Bar Association
- West Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association, President 2015-2016
- West Texas Home Builders Association
Classes & Seminars Taught:
- Presenter, Non-Participating Royalty Interests: Current Issues, American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) Field Landman Seminar, August 30, 2019.
- Co-presenter, Issues in Fraudulent and Preferential Transfer Litigation, West Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association, January 31, 2014
- Co-presenter, Changing the Consumer Claim Game: New & Amended Rules 3001 and 3002.1, West Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association, September 28, 2012.
Attorney At Law
Ann Phillips Stegall
Attorney At Law
806.796.7323
Ann Phillips Stegall is a Lubbock native who practiced in Dallas for two years before joining McCleskey in 2002. She focuses her practice in premises liability litigation, medical malpractice defense litigation, civil litigation, intellectual property and employment law.
Areas of practice:
- Contracts and Business Transactions
- Hospital and Medical Provider Representation
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Insurance Litigation
- Labor and Employment Law
- Premises Liability Litigation
- Intellectual Property
Admitted to the Bar:
Texas 2000
Court Admissions:
- All State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
Education:
- Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., 2000)
- Baylor University (B.A., 1997)
Representative Cases:
- Hoggard v. United Supermarkets, Ltd., 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 6683 (Tex. App. – Amarillo 2009, no pet.)
Honors & Distinctions:
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated
- Associate, American Board of Trial Advocates
Professional Memberships:
- ABOTA/American Board of Trial Advocates. Member of the national and state organization and president of the local chapter.
- Lubbock Area Bar Association
- Lubbock County Women Lawyers Association
Of Counsel/Attorney At Law
Tommy J. Swann
Of Counsel/Attorney At Law
806.796.7340
Tommy Swann has practiced law with McCleskey since 1979. His practice has included representing banks and large agricultural lenders in collections, workouts, foreclosures and bankruptcies (Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13). His transactions practice has included the representation of clients in complex real estate and commercial transactions as well as representation of individuals in home sales and purchases. In addition, he has an active probate practice.
Areas of practice:
- Business and Commercial Transactions
- Real Estate Law
- Entity Creation and Governance
- Agriculture
- Banking and Finance
- Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights
Admitted to the Bar:
- Texas (1979)
Court Admissions:
- All State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Education:
- Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., with Honors, 1979 – Law Review, Comments Editor)
- Phi Delta Phi
- Texas Tech University (M.S., Agricultural Economics, 1972)
- Texas Tech University (B.S., Agricultural Economics, 1969)
Honors & Distinctions:
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Professional Memberships:
- Lubbock Area Bar Association (Director, 1993–1994; Secretary, 2004–2005; President, 2006–2007)
- West Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association (President, 1988–1989)
- State Bar of Texas (Member Bankruptcy and Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Sections)
- Agricultural Law Committee of State Bar (Chairman, 2001–2002)
- Farm, Ranch and Agri–Business Bankruptcy Institute (Co–Chairman, 1986–1987)
- Rotary Club of Lubbock (Paul Harris Fellow)
Classes & Seminars Taught:
- Planning Committee – Advanced Real Estate Course, State Bar of Texas (2000)
- Planning Committee – University of Texas Bankruptcy Seminar (2000)
- Planning Committee – Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Seminar, State Bar of Texas (1996)
- Co–Chair of the Farm, Ranch and Agri–Business Bankruptcy Seminar Sponsored by Texas Tech University and West Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association (1985, 1986; on Planning Committee Annually)
- “Representing Creditors in Bankruptcy, the Top 10 Questions That Creditors Ask About Bankruptcy,” State Bar Agricultural Law Seminar (1999)
- “Statutory Liens Affecting Agriculture,” State Bar Agricultural Law Seminar (1998)
- “Texas Collection Law and Strategies,” Heritage Professional Education (1998)
- “Collecting from Tenants in Texas,” Heritage Professional Education (1998)
- “Farm Landlord–Tenant Issues,” State Bar Agricultural Law Seminar (1997)
- “A Few Things Every Ag Lawyer Should Know About Liens, Collections, Repossessions and Foreclosure,” State Bar of Texas Agricultural Law Seminar (1996)
- “Asset Protection for Farmers,” State Bar of Texas Agricultural Law Seminar (1995)
- “Boundary Law in Texas,” National Business Institute, Inc. (1992)
- “Basic Bankruptcy in Texas,” National Business Institute, Inc. (1992)
- “Protecting Creditors’ Rights in Bankruptcy,” CPM Systems, Inc. (1992)
- “Legal Issues in Problem Collections,” National Business Institute, Inc. (1991)
- “Repossession and Foreclosure of Personal Property,” National Business Institute, Inc. (1990)
- “Basic Bankruptcy in Texas,” National Business Institute, Inc. (1990)
- “Repossession and Foreclosure of Personal Property,” Lomar Business Center, Inc. (1989)
- “Serving Farmers in Financial Trouble,” Texas Agricultural Extension Service (1988)
- “Serving Farmers in Financial Trouble,” Texas Agricultural Extension Service (1987)
- “Creditors’ Claims in Agricultural Bankruptcy Cases,” Farm, Ranch and Agri–Business Bankruptcy Institute (1985)
- “Bankruptcy Laws and Procedures for Agricultural Firms and Lenders,” New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service (1983)
Personal:
- Born Slaton, Texas, 1946
- Served in U.S. Army (1969–1970) with Tour in Vietnam
Attorney At Law
Leena Al-Souki
Attorney At Law
Leena Al-Souki has built a practice on business and real estate transactions, starting businesses, estate planning, and probate since joining the McCleskey Law Firm in 2023. She graduated from the Texas Tech University School of Law. A Lubbock native, Leena is an alumna of Lubbock High School and worked in real estate and at a local tax and accounting firm before starting her law career. Leena enjoys using her education and experience to help clients with all of their needs.
Areas of Practice
- Business and Commercial Law
- Estate Planning and Probate
- Real Estate and Natural Resources
Admitted to the Bar
- Texas (2023)
Court Admissions
- All Texas State Courts
Education
- Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D. with a concentration in Business Law, cum laude, 2023)
- Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business (M.B.A., 2018)
- College of William & Mary (B.S., 2014)
Honors & Distinctions
- Texas Tech University School of Law
- Distinction Award for Academic Achievement in Academic Legal Writing
- Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society
- Texas Tech Board of Barristers, Director of Judges, 2022–2023
- Texas Tech Law Review, Vol. 54 and 55, 2021–2023
- Top Grade Award in Tax Clinic II and Texas Land Titles
- Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business
- Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society
Professional Memberships
- American Inn of Courts, Pupil, 2022–2023
- Lubbock Area Bar Association
- Lubbock County Young Lawyers Association
Attorney At Law
Garrett Oates
Attorney At Law
Garrett Oates has appeared in thousands of trials across a wide spectrum of areas of practice such as: divorce cases, paternity cases, breach of contract claims, wrongful death, contract disputes, collections cases, juvenile law, criminal law, property disputes, adoptions, probates, mental health hearings, guardianships, etc. Garrett was born in Plainview, graduated from the Texas Tech University School of Law, but spent most of his youth moving for his father’s career. He spent the longest time in Lawton, Iowa, where he graduated high school. After college and law school, Garrett started practicing law in the Northwest Oklahoma town of Woodward, where he got extensive experience in all areas of the law.
Areas of practice:
- Family Law
- Civil Litigation
- Estate Planning
Admitted to the Bar:
Oklahoma (2018)
Texas (2025)
New Mexico (2026)
Court Admissions:
All Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma state courts
Education:
Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., 2018)
University of Minnesota, Moorhead (B.A., Criminal Justice, 2015)
Honors & Distinctions
- Attorney of the Year for Woodward County, Oklahoma
- Woodward County Bar President, 2019-2020
Personal:
I’m a small-town guy who likes to make personal connections with clients.