George Edwards III has been involved in complex commercial cases for the last 17 years. He focuses his practice on business litigation and commercial construction litigation. After obtaining a degree in Chemistry from Rice University, he attended Howard University School of Law, where he became editor-in-chief of the law school’s legal newspaper. He started his career at The Gallagher Law Firm, which has a large toxic tort and environmental litigation practice. He continued his career at Phillips Akers, P.C., a litigation boutique in Houston, where Mr. Edwards represented large companies like Kroger and HEB. Mr. Edwards is a former member of the State Bar Web Services and Grievance Committees. He is currently a member of the State Bar of Texas Professionalism Committee. He is a former director of the Board of Directors of the Houston Young Lawyers Association and is a fellow on the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation. He is also an inaugural member of the Texas State Bar’s Leadership SBOT, which was designed to increase diverse leadership participation within the legal community through the nomination of lawyers who possess both the desire and the potential to assume leadership roles in their communities and the State Bar of Texas. Mr. Edwards is a Sustaining Member of the Harris County Democratic Party. He is also a member of the Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association. He is a civil rights activist and frequently represents victims of excessive force and violations of their Constitutional rights. He also serves as guardian ad litem to support the Harris County District Courts in resolving cases involving injuries to minors. Mr. Edwards is an outspoken advocate for children who have suffered abuse at the hands of others. He spends his free time traveling the world and reading novels. Mr. Edwards has given advice and prepared legal strategies for a variety of corporate entities, such as joint ventures, LLC’s, and LP’s. QUALIFICATIONS, ADMISSIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS SCOTUS Bar Member State Bar of Texas, 2006 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit U.S. District Court for the Western, Northern, Southern, Eastern District of Texas U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Washington D.C. U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts The National Black Lawyers Houston Young Lawyers Association Houston Bar Association Houston Trial Lawyers Association Leadership State Bar of Texas, Inaugural Member Former Harris County Grievance Committee Member State Bar of Texas Professionalism Committee 2020 – 2025 Harris County Democratic Party, Sustaining Member Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association National Bar Association Houston Lawyers Association Editor-in-Chief, The Barrister Houston Museum of Fine Arts Group 5A: African American Art Advisory Association Holocaust Museum Houston
PRACTICE AREAS Wrongful Death Tractor Trailer Collisions Personal Injury Civil Litigation Products Liability
BAR ADMISSIONS: South Carolina, 1995 U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, 1996
EDUCATION: University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina, 1994 J.D. Florida State University, 1991 B.S.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES: Graham v. State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Co., 459 S.E.2d 844 (S.C. 1995) Johnson v. Collins Entertainment, et al, 349 SC 613, 564 SE 2d 653 (S.C. 2002) Olvera v. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co., WL 107731 (D.S.C. 2007) Jackson v. Swordfish Investments, L.L.C., 620 S.E.2d 54 (S.C. 2005) Curtis Shell v. Richland County School Dist. One, 608 S.E.2d 428 (S.C. 2005)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS: Richland County Bar Association, Member American Bar Association,Member South Carolina Bar, Member (2010-2011 President) South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Member (2010 Chair of Motor Vehicles Section) American Association for Justice, Member Columbia Lawyers Association, Member (Past President) National Bar Association, Member
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION: Super Lawyers 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Best Lawyers 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 AV Peer Review Rating for Martindale-Hubble Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum Litigation Counsel of America™ (LCA)
FRATERNITIES: Omega Psi Phi Phi Delta Phi Disclaimer: Past results do not indicate or guarantee future success. Many settlements are subject to confidentiality agreements.
AWARDS/ VERDICTS: Olvera v. Norfolk Southern (Served as member of Class Counsel) (Train Derailment) Class Received Final Certification – June 2007 $10,500,000.00 plus paid to claimants at the time of certification. Vernell Williams, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Carnell Alford v. Marlboro County Marlboro Squad, Inc., and Robert Anthony Tryon (Automobile Accident/Emergency Vehicle) $ 2,000,000.00 April 2007 (Jury Verdict) Octavia Jackson v. Dance, Inc., Up Top Management, Inc., and Swordfish Investments (Premises Liability/Third Party Criminal Act) $2,031,034.06 December 22, 2003 (Damages Award) Bryant v. Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Inc. (Employment/Race Discrimination) $ 300,000.00 March 2002 (Jury Verdict)
Aleah Severin was born and raised in Chicago. She is a dedicated Associate Attorney focusing Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Nursing Home cases. With a fervent commitment to advocating for victims and their families, Aleah has devoted her career to ensuring their loved ones receive the justice they deserve.
Aleah’s academic journey began at DePaul University, where she graduated in 2010. She further pursued her passion for law and graduated from The John Marshall Law School in 2015. In law school, she focused on medical malpractice, taking a course in Medical Negligence and receiving a Health Law certificate. Aleah’s dedication to her profession is reflected not just in her impressive academic credentials but also in her active memberships with the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), the Black Women Lawyer’s Association, and the Chicago Bar Association.
Before setting her sights on law, Aleah’s interest in the medical realm began while serving as a pharmacy technician at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Her legal journey led her through various internships and externships, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and most notably with a judge at the Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division. During her judicial externship, she was captivated by a birth injury trial igniting her passion for birth injury law.
Aleah is an Attorney at Levin & Perconti. She recognized that minorities are disproportionately affected by birth injury trauma and nursing home abuse. With the firm’s powerful birth injury and nursing home practice backing her, Aleah can advocate for and stay connected with families throughout their legal journey.
Jessica Heath's practice focuses on providing legal representation to individuals, families, institutions, and companies in matters involving medical negligence, personal injury, and family and education law throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia. With a strong background as both defense counsel and an advocate for those harmed by negligence, she employs comprehensive and innovative approaches to effectively navigate complex legal matters.
Ms. Heath earned her Bachelor of Arts from Howard University, graduating magna cum laude, before obtaining her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law. Throughout her legal education, she demonstrated a deep commitment to public service, actively participating in and leading various community initiatives and organizations.
Before entering private practice, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the current Administrative Judge for the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland. She is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Ciera Gainey is a Florida native and Co-founder of The Law Offices of Gainey & Gainey. She practices general civil litigation and specializes in premises liability and motor vehicle negligence cases. She also handles a variety of civil litigation cases, including, but not limited to, breach of contract, collection cases, landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, and homeowners' association disputes. Before founding The Law Offices of Gainey & Gainey, Ciera held the title of Senior Partner at a notable trial law firm, where she managed a high-volume caseload, supervised a team of legal staff, and oversaw associate attorneys. She was also the lead attorney in client acquisition. As a result, client satisfaction, ethics, and efficiency are of the utmost importance in her legal practice.
Ciera has significant experience as both a civil Plaintiff’s and Defense attorney. Ciera’s prior experience provides her with keen insight into evaluating claims, injuries, and treatment in personal injury cases. Her elite skills permit her to negotiate aggressively, which often leads to early claim resolution. While early resolution is always the goal, Ciera also possesses impressive trial skills and does not shy away from the courtroom.