(TEXAS) – In a significant expansion, Vartabedian Katz Hester & Haynes LLP (VKHH) has added three elite trial lawyers to the firm. Gary Cruciani, Travis DeArman, and Scott Hejny join VKHH from McKool Smith, bringing deep expertise in high-stakes commercial and intellectual property disputes on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants nationwide.
“Gary is a recognized bet-the-company trial lawyer with nearly forty years of trial experience,” said Conrad Hester, VKHH managing partner. “He has a national practice and has served as first-chair counsel in numerous cases in state and federal courts. He will be a significant addition to the firm’s trial capabilities and will support the courtroom needs of our clients across all of our practice groups. Travis and Scott bring a wealth of experience in both IP and commercial litigation and are the foundation of the firm’s plans to provide a robust intellectual property practice.”
- Gary Cruciani will serve as co-leader of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group alongside Daniella Main. Gary represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex disputes spanning antitrust, fiduciary duty, partnership, trade secret, copyright, fraudulent transfer, tax, oil and gas, and other commercial claims. He has tried numerous cases to judgment and argued appeals in state and federal courts nationwide, often serving as first-chair counsel.
- Travis DeArman will lead VKHH’s new Intellectual Property Practice Group. Travis handles complex commercial and intellectual property litigation in federal and state courts and arbitration, including patent, copyright, trade secret, and diverse commercial disputes. He previously clerked for Judge J. Rodney Gilstrap of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
- Scott Hejny is an experienced trial lawyer and registered patent attorney who focuses on high-stakes patent litigation and complex commercial disputes involving technologies ranging from wireless communications and integrated circuitry to oilfield tools, drilling and completions systems, software, and pharmaceuticals. Before practicing law, Scott worked as a patent agent and design engineer at a major oilfield services company.
The addition of these partners is the latest chapter in the firm’s history of strategic growth. In recent years, VKHH has expanded its capabilities in employment, white-collar defense and investigations, and corporate restructuring, while continuing to grow its oil and gas and commercial litigation practices. Gary, Travis and Scott expect to be joined by additional partners and associates, as VKHH continues to deepen its intellectual property expertise and strengthen its commercial litigation bench.