West Mermis PLLC is proud to announce that all three of our partners have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, one of the most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession.
This recognition is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to legal excellence, client service, and our results-oriented approach to construction law and commercial litigation in Texas. We are honored to be recognized year after year, affirming both the strength of our practice and the trust placed in us by our peers and clients.
We are pleased to congratulate the following attorneys on this distinguished achievement:
Lawrence J. West – Recognized for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Construction (Best Lawyers honoree since 2018).
Joshua W. Mermis – Recognized for Construction Law and Litigation – Construction (Best Lawyers honoree since 2018).
Francis D. McWilliams IV – Recognized for Construction Law (Best Lawyers honoree since 2025).
Lawrence West, a founding partner of the firm, has long been recognized as one of Houston’s most trusted voices in complex commercial litigation and construction disputes. His decades of experience have positioned him as a go-to trial attorney for clients facing high-value matters.
Joshua Mermis, also a founding partner, is recognized not only for his legal acumen but also for his contributions to thought leadership in the construction industry. His work in the construction litigation and construction law spaces reflects his ability to navigate disputes while maintaining a client-first, solutions-oriented approach.
Francis McWilliams IV represents the next generation of excellence at West Mermis. Since his first recognition in 2025, he has continued to build a strong reputation for his knowledge of construction law and his dedication to achieving results for clients across Texas.
First published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become widely regarded as one of the most reliable and unbiased resources for identifying top legal talent. Today, the publication covers more than 75 countries and highlights attorneys across virtually every practice area.
Unlike other recognitions, attorneys cannot nominate themselves, pay for inclusion, or influence the process. Instead, the annual list is based entirely on peer review.
The Best Lawyers methodology is designed to capture the consensus opinion of the legal community:
Nomination – Attorneys are nominated by peers, clients, or other professionals.
Peer Review – Confidential surveys allow peers to evaluate nominees based on professional expertise and integrity.
Analysis & Feedback – Data is reviewed, and nominees are vetted for eligibility and good standing with their bar associations.
Publication – Only those receiving consistently strong peer feedback are included in the annual Best Lawyers in America® list.
For clients, recognition in Best Lawyers is more than a professional milestone—it is a meaningful indicator of trust, credibility, and proven performance. This distinction is important because:
Peer Validation: Attorneys are chosen by other respected lawyers who recognize excellence in practice.
Client Confidence: Clients can feel confident knowing they are represented by attorneys consistently regarded among the top in their field.
Depth of Expertise: Multiple practice areas of recognition—construction law, construction litigation, and commercial litigation—demonstrate the breadth of West Mermis’ capabilities.
Consistency: With attorneys recognized in consecutive years, the firm has shown sustained excellence over time.
This recognition affirms that our attorneys are not only skilled advocates but also trusted professionals held in high regard by the legal community.
At West Mermis, we measure our success by the results we achieve for our clients. Recognition by The Best Lawyers in America® affirms what our clients already know: our attorneys bring deep industry knowledge, relentless dedication, and innovative strategies to every matter.
From handling high-stakes construction disputes to navigating complex commercial litigation, our team remains committed to delivering legal solutions tailored to our clients’ business objectives.
We are honored to be consistently recognized by our peers and clients as a go-to construction law firm in Houston and across Texas. As we celebrate this achievement, we remain focused on what matters most: advancing our clients’ interests with integrity, precision, and results.
Congratulations once again to Lawrence West, Joshua Mermis, and Francis McWilliams IV for their well-deserved recognition in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
