Michael Choate brings a wealth of legal and varied industry experience to Linebarger. Mr. Choate joined the Linebarger team in May of 2024 and provides a range of legal responsibilities in the Austin, Texas office.

Prior to joining Linebarger, he served as a Certification Manager at Hart InterCivic. There he led certification initiatives in 23 states, collaborating with Secretaries of State and Election Boards to certify voting systems across varied jurisdictions. As Co-Founder and General Counsel at Plateau Brewing Company in San Angelo, TX, since June 2018, he led licensing, regulatory functions, business strategy, and community outreach with a $500,000 budget and a team of 10. His strategic planning efforts resulted in 15% revenue growth and expanded distribution to 23 accounts. At Coleman Business Law, where he served as Of Counsel from April 2021 to July 2022, he led a regulatory and compliance practice focused on data privacy laws like CCPA, GDPR, and CPRA. As the Director of Texas Water Program at the National Wildlife Federation from June 2019 to March 2020, he led a team with a $1 million budget through the Texas water regulatory framework. He also managed coalitions to achieve regulatory changes and secured over $100 million for green infrastructure projects post-Hurricane Harvey. Further, Mr. Choate was Policy Manager at the South Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency and was an Associate Attorney at McElroy Sullivan Miller & Weber.

Mr. Choate is admitted to practice in the State of Texas and is a Certified Information Privacy Manager. He received his Juris Doctor from Texas Tech School of Law and a Bachelors of Arts in Government and English from the University of Texas at Austin.

John Thomas is an attorney in Linebarger’s Tyler office and serves clients throughout Northeast Texas.

Mr. Thomas has more than 30 years of litigation experience. His past experience includes heading up the personal injury department at Packard LaPray in Beaumont, TX, and Thomas Firm PLLC, focusing on personal injury law and Hurricane/Freeze cases, respectively. His extensive background includes almost 20 years at Brent Coon & Associates, where he handled mass tort cases, refinery incidents, and served as the attorney liaison for 10,000 BP oil spill clients. Beginning his legal career at Holmes and Harris, P.C., Mr. Thomas worked to defend asbestos and silica defendants. He left this firm to switch to the plaintiff’s personal injury side with Vincent A. Lannie P.C., where he handled everything from automobile accidents, chemical leaks and workers compensation injuries. He later joined Foster & Sear, where he oversaw asbestos dockets in several Texas counties.

He actively engages in pro bono work, and holds a certification as a mediator since 2007.

Mr. Thomas is licensed to practice law in Texas. He earned his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas, Austin, TX.

Lana Choy supports Linebarger’s northeast Texas clients from our Longview and Tyler offices, where she regularly communicates with them on firm collection activities.

Before joining the Linebarger firm, Ms. Choy practiced criminal defense and family law. She represented criminal defendants and family law clients from 2011 to 2023. Ms. Choy is well-versed with the Texas Criminal Code and Family Code and the relevant case law.

Ms. Choy is a member of the Texas State Bar, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, the Gregg County Bar Association, the Gregg County Texas Exes Board, and the Longview Advisory Committee for Longview PAWS. She served on the Longview Dog Park Board and volunteered with Gregg County ZONTA and Rotary Midtown,

The State Bar of Texas admitted her to practice in all Texas State courts in 2010.

Ms. Choy received a Bachelor of Political Science from the University of Texas in Austin in 2006 and her Juris Doctor from the Syracuse College of Law in 2009.

Mr. Dutton is an integral member of Linebarger’s dedicated team, providing attentive support to the firm’s northeast Texas clients from our Tyler office. With a keen focus on effective communication and diligent attention to firm collection activities, Mr. Dutton ensures that clients receive the highest standard of service.

Bringing a wealth of experience to his role, Mr. Dutton served as District Attorney for the State of Texas 1st Judicial District from 2009 to 2022, earning a reputation for his unwavering commitment to the legal system over his impressive 34-year legal career.

Admitted to practice in the State of Texas, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court, Mr. Dutton’s expertise extends across various levels of the legal system.

Mr. Dutton’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, obtained in 1987, and a Juris Doctor from Texas Tech School of Law in 1990. These credentials underscore his dedication to excellence in both legal theory and practice.

Karalyssa Casillas works in the bankruptcy department in our San Antonio office and previously provided litigation services for many of our Bexar County clients, including Bexar County, the city of San Antonio, and the majority of the school districts.

Before joining Linebarger, Ms. Casillas reviewed closing memoranda and reviewed and researched new state and federal legislation for the Office of Equal Opportunity Services/Title IX at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Ms. Casillas is actively involved in various civic and charitable functions in the counties where she works.

Ms. Casillas was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 2022.

Ms. Casillas earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology/Minor in Museum Studies and Public Health from Texas A&M University in 2018 and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2021.

Nicola Mitchell currently works on matters involving civil tax litigation on behalf of the firm’s Corporate Trust client and the City of Philadelphia where she handles state court matters and appellate court litigation for both of these clients.

She is a former Trial Commissioner, Forfeiture Coordinator at the Court of Common Pleas and a Legal Consultant, Judicial Fellow for the 2015 Day Forward, Major Jury Program, directed by the Honorable Jacqueline F. Allen at the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. Ms. Mitchell also worked as a contract attorney for various law firms in the Philadelphia area, assisting clients with e-discovery requirements and ensuring the protection of data subject to privacy laws during the document production phase.

Ms. Mitchell is a Certified Civil Litigation Arbitrator for the Compulsory Arbitration Program, Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. She is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association as well as the National Bar Association, Women Lawyers Division (Philadelphia Chapter).

She was admitted to the Pennsylvania and Bar in 1998.

Ms. Mitchell received a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics from Pennsylvania State University in 1993 and her law degree from Widener University School of Law in 1997.

Derek J. Soltis assists with regulatory compliance and litigation management and provides general support for the clients served by Linebarger’s New York City law office. 

He also practices law before the U.S. District Courts in the Eastern and Sothern Districts of New York. Before joining Linebarger, Mr. Soltis had performed pro bono work related to immigration with Catholic Charities in New Jersey, and New Jersey’s Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. Mr. Soltis grew up in Minnesota before joining the Army where he was stationed as a Tanker in Killeen, Texas.  

Mr. Soltis received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Systems from the University of Houston in 2003, an MBA and Master of Science in Information Systems from Fordham University in 2009. Mr. Soltis received his Juris Doctor from Rutgers in 2012 and was admitted to practice law in the State of New York in 2014.  

Timothy O’Reilly provides legal advice and representation for select legal matters and various administrative law proceedings throughout Nevada for the firm.

Prior to joining Linebarger, he served as President of O’Reilly Law Group and was a founding board member of Lexicon Bank. Prior to joining O’Reilly Law Group, he worked for the Clark County District Attorney Criminal Appeals Division and the Nevada Attorney General, Department of Transportation.

Mr. O’Reilly is active in several community service organizations. A sampling of his involvement includes: Mentor in the State Bar of Nevada’s Transitioning into Practice Program, youth Little League, basketball coach, and football organizations; UNLV Alumni Association; Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl; Henderson Development Association Member; Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce; and Easter Seals of Southern Nevada Board of Directors.

He is admitted to practice in Nevada, California, U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, U.S. District Court District of Nevada, Supreme Court of Nevada, and Supreme Court of California.

Mr. O’Reilly received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nevada, William S. Harrah College of Hotel Administration and his Juris Doctor from the University of Nevada, William S. Boyd School of Law.

Cinthya Reade supports the Harris County Tax Docket and manages research for legal documentation for the preparation of tax suites and foreclosure proceedings.

Before Mrs. Reade joined Linebarger, she worked in both corporate law and personal injury law. She joined Linebarger’s Houston office in 2020.

Mrs. Reade is a member of multiple nonprofit organizations such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Latin Women’s Initiative, Mexican American Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, and Houston Young Lawyers Association, to name a few.

Mrs. Reade was licensed by the Texas State Bar in 2018.

Mrs. Reade holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Texas, Pan American, and a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law Houston.

John Turner joined Linebarger’s Dallas office in 2022, supporting the Firm’s bankruptcy operations for clients in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcies and receivership proceedings.

Before joining Linebarger, Mr. Turner held various positions as an attorney practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and creditors’ rights. He managed his own law office in Florida for several years. He also served as in house counsel managing litigation, real estate workouts and foreclosure, bankruptcy reorganization, title claims, and lender liability matters for loan servicers.

Mr. Turner is actively involved in various civic and charitable functions in the counties where he works.

Mr. Turner was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 1993 and the Florida Bar in 2017. He is licensed to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas and the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida.

Mr. Turner holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Texas. He also has an MBA in Corporate Finance from the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management and a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University School of Law.