Leadership for 2023-2024
President
Sophia George
Husch Blackwell LLP
sophia.george@huschblackwell.com
(713) 525-6242
Sophia defends business and real estate clients in complex commercial litigation, with an eye toward business goals and future needs.
Sophia was six years old when her father decided to start his own business, and she spent her life watching him build a successful enterprise from the ground up. She saw first-hand the hard work, energy and capital it took to make a business profitable and help it reach its goals. With a love for public speaking and advocacy, Sophia knew that she would become an attorney and help serve people just like her father.
A five-time regional and national moot court champion, Sophia developed her advocacy skills in law school, winning multiple best speaker and best brief awards along the way. She finds joy in advocating for clients and developing effective litigation strategies, as well as the fast pace of litigation and trial work. Most importantly, Sophia believes that a lawyer is very much a part of a business’s team. She takes pride in her role on the litigation team, supporting clients in a way that serves their needs and matches their corporate values.
Sophia has been described as a juggernaut when approaching client problems: whatever the issue, she is ready to find a solution that serves the client’s needs. She is a strategic attorney who plans precisely and meticulously, staying far ahead of the opposition. However, what clients value most is her personalized approach to their cases. Sophia cares deeply about clients and their businesses and aims to develop a personal relationship with each one, drawing on her own life experiences. Her goal is always to match her strategy to the client’s goals and business needs, and she takes a long-term view of matters, ensuring that her approach to a case positions the client for future success.
In her free time, Sophia enjoys serving as a guest legal analyst for various local and national news outlets, boxing, and exploring Houston’s vibrant art scene.
Sophia George
Husch Blackwell LLP
sophia.george@huschblackwell.com
(713) 525-6242
Sophia defends business and real estate clients in complex commercial litigation, with an eye toward business goals and future needs.
Sophia was six years old when her father decided to start his own business, and she spent her life watching him build a successful enterprise from the ground up. She saw first-hand the hard work, energy and capital it took to make a business profitable and help it reach its goals. With a love for public speaking and advocacy, Sophia knew that she would become an attorney and help serve people just like her father.
A five-time regional and national moot court champion, Sophia developed her advocacy skills in law school, winning multiple best speaker and best brief awards along the way. She finds joy in advocating for clients and developing effective litigation strategies, as well as the fast pace of litigation and trial work. Most importantly, Sophia believes that a lawyer is very much a part of a business’s team. She takes pride in her role on the litigation team, supporting clients in a way that serves their needs and matches their corporate values.
Sophia has been described as a juggernaut when approaching client problems: whatever the issue, she is ready to find a solution that serves the client’s needs. She is a strategic attorney who plans precisely and meticulously, staying far ahead of the opposition. However, what clients value most is her personalized approach to their cases. Sophia cares deeply about clients and their businesses and aims to develop a personal relationship with each one, drawing on her own life experiences. Her goal is always to match her strategy to the client’s goals and business needs, and she takes a long-term view of matters, ensuring that her approach to a case positions the client for future success.
In her free time, Sophia enjoys serving as a guest legal analyst for various local and national news outlets, boxing, and exploring Houston’s vibrant art scene.
President Elect
Shahmeer Halepota
AZA Law
shalepota@azalaw.com
(713) 655-1101
Shahmeer Halepota is a commercial litigator with mediation, international arbitration, and state and federal trial experience. His trial experience includes a 16-day federal jury trial and post-trial appellate work. Mr. Halepota’s previous clients have included various multinational corporations as well as the Republic of South Sudan. As an associate for the global law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP in New York, he assisted in representing clients in ICC, UNCITRAL, and ICSID arbitrations and helped secure a $700 million dollar award for a satellite and telecommunications company against the Indian space agency in a Delhi-seated ICC arbitration concerning the repudiation of a long-term lease agreement. His jury trial experience includes a favorable verdict for an estate in a federal trial against a U.S. bank involving fraud and RICO claims. He has also worked on a number of pro bono asylum claims, including obtaining Special Immigration Juvenile Status for three children from El Salvador.
As a law student at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Mr. Halepota was the Co-President of the Boalt Hall Student Association, a member of the moot court team, and a member of the admissions committee. While an undergrad at Emory University, he met with U.S. House subcommittee chairmen on behalf of the advisory board of a political action committee.
Shahmeer Halepota
AZA Law
shalepota@azalaw.com
(713) 655-1101
Shahmeer Halepota is a commercial litigator with mediation, international arbitration, and state and federal trial experience. His trial experience includes a 16-day federal jury trial and post-trial appellate work. Mr. Halepota’s previous clients have included various multinational corporations as well as the Republic of South Sudan. As an associate for the global law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP in New York, he assisted in representing clients in ICC, UNCITRAL, and ICSID arbitrations and helped secure a $700 million dollar award for a satellite and telecommunications company against the Indian space agency in a Delhi-seated ICC arbitration concerning the repudiation of a long-term lease agreement. His jury trial experience includes a favorable verdict for an estate in a federal trial against a U.S. bank involving fraud and RICO claims. He has also worked on a number of pro bono asylum claims, including obtaining Special Immigration Juvenile Status for three children from El Salvador.
As a law student at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Mr. Halepota was the Co-President of the Boalt Hall Student Association, a member of the moot court team, and a member of the admissions committee. While an undergrad at Emory University, he met with U.S. House subcommittee chairmen on behalf of the advisory board of a political action committee.
Secretary
Vaibhavi "Avi" Parmar
Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP
vparmar@mehlaw.com
(713) 609-9503
Vaibhavi Parmar (“Avi”) is a civil litigation associate with a focus on fiduciary, trust, and will contests. Vaibhavi was born and raised in Mumbai and moved to Texas in 2016 to attend Baylor Law School. She graduated from law school in 2019. At Baylor, she was a semi-finalist and one of the Top Ten Speakers in the Dawson and Sodd Moot Court Competition. In her third year, she was an extern for Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske. She was also a member of Baylor Barrister Society, a volunteer at the Immigration Clinic and Vice President of the Baylor Women’s Legal Society.
She has a degree in Economics from Mumbai University. She is licensed to practice in Texas and is a member of the Houston Young Lawyers Association.
Vaibhavi "Avi" Parmar
Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP
vparmar@mehlaw.com
(713) 609-9503
Vaibhavi Parmar (“Avi”) is a civil litigation associate with a focus on fiduciary, trust, and will contests. Vaibhavi was born and raised in Mumbai and moved to Texas in 2016 to attend Baylor Law School. She graduated from law school in 2019. At Baylor, she was a semi-finalist and one of the Top Ten Speakers in the Dawson and Sodd Moot Court Competition. In her third year, she was an extern for Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske. She was also a member of Baylor Barrister Society, a volunteer at the Immigration Clinic and Vice President of the Baylor Women’s Legal Society.
She has a degree in Economics from Mumbai University. She is licensed to practice in Texas and is a member of the Houston Young Lawyers Association.
Vice President of Fundraising and Sponsorship
Maryam Gaffar
Beck Redden LLP
mghaffar@beckredden.com
(713) 951-6208
Before attending law school, Maryam taught middle school for three years in the Houston Independent School District. Her ability to empathize, listen, and serve were transferred into her work throughout law school while serving on the Houston Law Review. The same traits translated effortlessly into her role as a law clerk at both the Texas Supreme Court and the Southern District of Texas. All these experiences have taught her that each client has unique needs, and a true advocate understands the nuances of every situation.
Maryam continues to hone her skills regularly by the meticulous practice of baking French Macarons.
Maryam Gaffar
Beck Redden LLP
mghaffar@beckredden.com
(713) 951-6208
Before attending law school, Maryam taught middle school for three years in the Houston Independent School District. Her ability to empathize, listen, and serve were transferred into her work throughout law school while serving on the Houston Law Review. The same traits translated effortlessly into her role as a law clerk at both the Texas Supreme Court and the Southern District of Texas. All these experiences have taught her that each client has unique needs, and a true advocate understands the nuances of every situation.
Maryam continues to hone her skills regularly by the meticulous practice of baking French Macarons.
Treasurer
Raj Duvvuri
OmniBridgeway
rduvvuri@omnibridgeway.com
(713) 965-7920
Raj manages every aspect of the litigation funding process for Omni Bridgeway: He sources and evaluates potential matters, recommends appropriate matters for funding to the Investment Committee, negotiates investment deal terms and structures, and guides funded matters through to resolution.
In doing so, Raj is well-served by his 16+ years of prior experience in high-stakes litigation, executive advising, and commercial deal-making. Before joining Omni Bridgeway in 2021, Raj was the General Counsel of Atlas Operating LLC, a privately held energy and real estate conglomerate, where he advised the C-suite on all aspects of the company’s legal affairs. Prior to that, he served for many years as a senior litigator at BHP Group Ltd. and Marathon Oil Company, where he ran large commercial litigation dockets spanning multiple domestic and international jurisdictions. And before going in-house, Raj worked as a first-chair litigator at Baker Botts LLP and elite litigation boutique Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, LLP, where he successfully tried multiple cases to verdict and won numerous victories on summary judgment.
In all, Raj’s experience prior to joining Omni Bridgeway includes successfully prosecuting and defending over 300 lawsuits and arbitrations across the United States and abroad, involving a total of over $3 billion in controversy and a broad range of subject matters including contract, real property, intellectual property, securities, fraud, insurance, employment, and wrongful death claims.
Raj earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was a Senior Editor at the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, following which he completed a judicial clerkship for the Hon. W. Royal Furgeson at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. He received his B.A. from Stanford University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and earned University Distinction.
Raj Duvvuri
OmniBridgeway
rduvvuri@omnibridgeway.com
(713) 965-7920
Raj manages every aspect of the litigation funding process for Omni Bridgeway: He sources and evaluates potential matters, recommends appropriate matters for funding to the Investment Committee, negotiates investment deal terms and structures, and guides funded matters through to resolution.
In doing so, Raj is well-served by his 16+ years of prior experience in high-stakes litigation, executive advising, and commercial deal-making. Before joining Omni Bridgeway in 2021, Raj was the General Counsel of Atlas Operating LLC, a privately held energy and real estate conglomerate, where he advised the C-suite on all aspects of the company’s legal affairs. Prior to that, he served for many years as a senior litigator at BHP Group Ltd. and Marathon Oil Company, where he ran large commercial litigation dockets spanning multiple domestic and international jurisdictions. And before going in-house, Raj worked as a first-chair litigator at Baker Botts LLP and elite litigation boutique Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, LLP, where he successfully tried multiple cases to verdict and won numerous victories on summary judgment.
In all, Raj’s experience prior to joining Omni Bridgeway includes successfully prosecuting and defending over 300 lawsuits and arbitrations across the United States and abroad, involving a total of over $3 billion in controversy and a broad range of subject matters including contract, real property, intellectual property, securities, fraud, insurance, employment, and wrongful death claims.
Raj earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was a Senior Editor at the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, following which he completed a judicial clerkship for the Hon. W. Royal Furgeson at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. He received his B.A. from Stanford University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and earned University Distinction.
Vice President of Community Outreach
Lakshmi Achari
Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P.
lachari@shb.com
(713) 546-5663
Lakshmi practices product liability litigation, focusing on the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. During law school and as an undergraduate, Lakshmi perfected her advocacy skills by participating in moot court teams, and she won multiple speaker awards including Best Speaker at the Saul-Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition Dallas Regional. Lakshmi is dedicated to understanding and meeting each of her client’s unique legal needs.
Lakshmi Achari
Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P.
lachari@shb.com
(713) 546-5663
Lakshmi practices product liability litigation, focusing on the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. During law school and as an undergraduate, Lakshmi perfected her advocacy skills by participating in moot court teams, and she won multiple speaker awards including Best Speaker at the Saul-Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition Dallas Regional. Lakshmi is dedicated to understanding and meeting each of her client’s unique legal needs.
Vice President of Events
Rahul Rao
Andrews Myers, P.C.
rrao@andrewsmyers.com
(713) 351-0335
Rahul Rao’s practice focuses on advocating for general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and project owners in various capacities, including litigation, negotiations, contract review, and appeals.
Prior to joining the firm as a summer law clerk in 2021, Rahul also served as a summer intern for the Honorable Mike Engelhart in the 151st Harris County District Court.
Rahul Rao
Andrews Myers, P.C.
rrao@andrewsmyers.com
(713) 351-0335
Rahul Rao’s practice focuses on advocating for general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and project owners in various capacities, including litigation, negotiations, contract review, and appeals.
Prior to joining the firm as a summer law clerk in 2021, Rahul also served as a summer intern for the Honorable Mike Engelhart in the 151st Harris County District Court.
Vice President of Communications
Nima Farzaneh
Platt Cheema Richmond PLLC
nfarzaneh@pcrfirm.com
(346) 353-2400
Nima Farzaneh is a Partner with Platt Cheema Richmond PLLC, and concentrates his practice primarily on assisting businesses with domestic and international tax planning and corporate matters, including entity structuring and governance, choice of entity (including partnerships, limited liability companies, S corporations and C corporations), finance, tax optimization, reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity sales and executive compensation, employee benefit matters, as well as assisting numerous clients with forming and investing in Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds and cryptocurrency/DeFi. Nima also assists clients with federal and state tax controversy matters, including examinations and appeals.
Nima Farzaneh
Platt Cheema Richmond PLLC
nfarzaneh@pcrfirm.com
(346) 353-2400
Nima Farzaneh is a Partner with Platt Cheema Richmond PLLC, and concentrates his practice primarily on assisting businesses with domestic and international tax planning and corporate matters, including entity structuring and governance, choice of entity (including partnerships, limited liability companies, S corporations and C corporations), finance, tax optimization, reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity sales and executive compensation, employee benefit matters, as well as assisting numerous clients with forming and investing in Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds and cryptocurrency/DeFi. Nima also assists clients with federal and state tax controversy matters, including examinations and appeals.
Liason to SABA National
Raj Mahadass
Paranjpe Mahadass Ruemke LLP ("PMR Law")
rmahadass@pandmllp.com
(832) 667-7700
Raj Mahadass is a Managing Partner and Shareholder at Paranjpe Mahadass Ruemke LLP ("PMR Law") and represents plaintiffs in complex civil/commercial litigation, class actions, and personal injury litigation. While working with the team at PMR Law, Mr. Mahadass has represented radiation exposure victims, employment discrimination victims, those injured in automobile accidents, cyber bullying victims, students injured by their school, and many others, against insurance companies and other types of corporations.
Mr. Mahadass is a proud member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, where he serves as Chair of the Diversity Committee. Recently, the Houston Trial Lawyers Association named Mr. Mahadass its board member of the year. Mr. Mahadass additionally serves as a member of the Houston Bar Association’s Membership Committee as well as its Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Mr. Mahadass is also on the board of the Tulane University Alumni Association of Houston, where he serves as President for over 5,000 alumni in the Houston area. Mr. Mahadass has spent over 6 years on the SABA Houston board, including past President. In his spare time, Mr. Mahadass enjoys playing golf, watching a variety of sports, exploring the Houston restaurant scene, and spending time with his family and friends.
Raj Mahadass
Paranjpe Mahadass Ruemke LLP ("PMR Law")
rmahadass@pandmllp.com
(832) 667-7700
Raj Mahadass is a Managing Partner and Shareholder at Paranjpe Mahadass Ruemke LLP ("PMR Law") and represents plaintiffs in complex civil/commercial litigation, class actions, and personal injury litigation. While working with the team at PMR Law, Mr. Mahadass has represented radiation exposure victims, employment discrimination victims, those injured in automobile accidents, cyber bullying victims, students injured by their school, and many others, against insurance companies and other types of corporations.
Mr. Mahadass is a proud member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, where he serves as Chair of the Diversity Committee. Recently, the Houston Trial Lawyers Association named Mr. Mahadass its board member of the year. Mr. Mahadass additionally serves as a member of the Houston Bar Association’s Membership Committee as well as its Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Mr. Mahadass is also on the board of the Tulane University Alumni Association of Houston, where he serves as President for over 5,000 alumni in the Houston area. Mr. Mahadass has spent over 6 years on the SABA Houston board, including past President. In his spare time, Mr. Mahadass enjoys playing golf, watching a variety of sports, exploring the Houston restaurant scene, and spending time with his family and friends.
