A Professional Corporation

Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

Joseph Peña

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: jpena@raylaw.com

Years of Experience: 13

Admitted

• Texas, 2006
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

Prior to joining Ray Peña McChristian, Mr. Peña was an attorney in the San Antonio office of a well established San Antonio civil litigation firm. Mr. Peña has trial experience in transportation, construction defect, product liability, and commercial claims. Mr. Peña serves as general counsel to several non-profit organizations and serves on the board of directors of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Alumni Volunteer Corporation.

Education:

• St. Mary's University, B.A., 2001
• St. Mary's University School of Law, J.D., 2005

Jeff Ray

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: jray@raylaw.com

Years of Experience: 37

Admitted

• Texas, 1982
• New Mexico, 1993
• U.S. District Court, Southern and Western Districts of Texas, 1982
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Ninth Circuits, 1982
• U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas
• U.S. Supreme Court

Additional Biographical Details:

Texas Super Lawyer, 10 Consecutive Years

Jeff is known as a trial lawyer who is one of the few lawyers who spends much of his time in court and in front of juries throughout the Southwest. He has tried or has been lead counsel in cases in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Ohio.

During his career, a number of Jeff's cases have received national recognition for defense verdicts in pipeline explosion, tire defect, automobile defect, product defect, oil field accident, refinery explosion, transportation accident, and liquor liability cases (reported by various news sources including CNN, USA Today, Business World and ABC News).

Memberships:

• American Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas
• State Bar of New Mexico
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel
• Defense Research Institute

Certifications:

• Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Education:

• The University of Texas at Austin, B.A. (with honors), 1979
• St. Mary's University School of Law, J.D. (with honors), 1982

Born: 1957

Merritt Clements

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: mclements@raylaw.com

Admitted

• Texas, 1987

Education:

• The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., 1983
• The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1987

Jennifer Kaufman

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: jkaufman@raylaw.com

Admitted

• Texas, 2012

Education:

• Southern Methodist University, B.A., 2007
• South Texas College of Law, J.D., 2012

Harold "Buddy" Socks

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: bsocks@raylaw.com

Years of Experience: 33

Admitted

• Texas, 1986
• U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal and Fifth Circuits

After graduating from Southern Methodist University School of Law Mr. Socks practiced for three years in Dallas, Texas handling commercial litigation matters for both plaintiffs and defendants. Mr. Socks moved to San Antonio in 1989 where he continued to handle commercial litigation matters as his primary practice area with insurance defense matters as his secondary practice area in state and federal courts throughout Texas. In the past twenty-two years, Mr. Socks has represented plaintiff and defendant clients in a wide variety of commercial matters including suits based on contracts, partnership agreements, the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, fraud and business torts over subject matters as diverse as financial services, real estate, oil & gas, and aircraft modifications and sales. While Mr. Socks' primary focus is litigation involving commercial disputes, he has continued to represent insureds throughout his career. Mr. Socks' representation of insureds includes the defense of claims arising out of major vehicle/truck accidents, aviation related injuries, and a variety of general negligence claims.

Education:

• Washington University in St. Louis, B.A., 1986
• Southern Methodist University Law School, J.D., 1986

Noemi V. Lopez

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: nlopez@raylaw.com

Years of Experience: 8

Admitted

• Texas, 2011
• New Mexico, 2021

Noemi has trial and appellate litigation experience. Her experience includes claims analysis, investigation, discovery, motion practice, and handling or assisting in all phases of trial and appeals in a variety of complex matters.

Noemi's legal career began as a law clerk and then a Staff Attorney for the Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals. As a staff attorney, she produced highly advanced appellate work requiring in-depth analysis and preparation of legal memoranda/opinions and extensive research of applicable law in civil and criminal appeals. She also participated in pre- and post-submission conferences and made recommendations to the appellate court. Noemi later worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas in El Paso investigating and prosecuting federal criminal offenses.

During law school, Noemi served as a certified legal intern for Penn State Law's Children Advocacy Clinic. She also interned at MidPenn Legal Services, The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (Healthcare section), and a large civil litigation firm in El Paso. Noemi performed pro bono work for the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center and was involved in various community service projects, including Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, Wills for Heroes, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Today, Noemi continues her commitment to community service by participating in professional and non-profit associations that serve our greater community.

Education:

• Penn State University, J.D., 2011

Gabriel Pytel

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: gpytel@raylaw.com

Admitted

• Texas, 2016

Education:

• Texas State University, B.A., 2013
• St. Mary's University School of Law, J.D., 2016

Jonathan Chaires

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: jchaires@raylaw.com

Admitted

• Texas, 2018

Additional Biographical Details:

Legal Advocate Member: International Association and Texas Association of Special Investigation Units; Commercial Member: North American Spine Society; Member, Texas Pain Society

Education:

• University of the Incarnate Word, B.S., 2015
• St. Mary's University School of Law, J.D., 2018

Katherine P. Estrada

San Antonio, TX

• E-Mail: kestrada@raylaw.com

Admitted

• Texas, 2019

Education:

• Clemson University, B.S., 2016
• Texas Tech University School of Law, J.D., 2019