Attorneys
Anthony B. James was born in Harlingen, Texas. Mr. James was admitted to the Texas bar in 1983. On June 1, 1994, he founded his solo practice and then joined with Mr. Bruce Hodge to form Hodge & James L.L.P. in January, 1995.
Mr. James has been preparing and trying civil lawsuits throughout Texas since 1983 and has tried over 150 cases to a verdict in District Courts throughout Texas thus far in his career. Mr. James is AV rated preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and A.M. Best.
Mr. James is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas. He is also admitted to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. He graduated from Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas, (B.A.,1980); University of Houston Law School (J.D., 1983). Member: State Bar of Texas,the Cameron County Bar Associates, Hidalgo County Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel. He is a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He is a former director of the Cameron County BarAssociation. He is a former member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee. Mr. James is fluent in Spanish.
Mr. James is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas. He is also admitted to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. He graduated from Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas, (B.A.,1980); University of Houston Law School (J.D., 1983). Member: State Bar of Texas,the Cameron County Bar Associates, Hidalgo County Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel. He is a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He is a former director of the Cameron County BarAssociation. He is a former member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee. Mr. James is fluent in Spanish.
Marco A. Jilpas was born in Weslaco, Texas; Admitted to the bar, 2010, Texas. He graduated from Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas, (B.A. 2006); University of Houston (J.D., 2010). Member: State Bar of Texas, Cameron County Bar Association, Hidalgo County Bar Associates. Mr. Jilpas is fluent in Spanish.
Bryan D. Nichols was born in Houma, Louisiana; Admitted to the bar, 2003, Texas. He graduated from Baylor University, summa cum laude (B.A., Philosophy 2000); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2003). He is admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. Member: Cameron County Bar Association, Healthy Communities of Brownsville, Inc., Brownsville Literacy Center, Cameron County Young Lawyers Association, Houston Young Lawyers Association, State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section, the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival, and the Baylor 1845 Society.
Of Counsel
Bruce W. Hodge was born in Greenville, Texas. Admitted to the bar 1983, Texas. He joined the Harlingen law firm of Johnson and Davis where he enjoyed a civil trial and appellate practice predominately on the defense side of the docket. He was a partner in the firm of Johnson and Davis until leaving December 31, 1994 to form Hodge & James, L.L.P. with Mr. James. Mr. Hodge is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Hodge served in the United States Navy 1971-1975. He graduated from East Texas State University (B.A., 1980); Texas Tech Law School (J.D., 1983). He was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Fraternity. He received the American Jurisprudence Award in torts. Member: Cameron County Bar Association, Hidalgo County Bar Association, State Bar of Texas and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Mr. Hodge delivered a paper to the State Bar Convention, Agricultural Law Section, in June of 1994 on the tort liability aspects of a business owner’s decision to opt in or our of the Texas Workers’ Compensation scheme.
Lisa M. Ellis was born in Iowa City, Iowa; Admitted to the bar, 1991, Texas; also admitted to practice before U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, U.S. District Court, Southern and Western Districts of Texas. Preparatory Education, Austin College (B.A., 1988); Texas Tech University (J.D., 1991). Board of Barristers, Texas Tech University, 1990; 1991. Speaker, “Ethics and Conflicts of Interest in Governmental Litigation,” Texas Municipal League Workshop for Attorneys, 1995. Member: Cameron County Bar Association, Hidalgo County Bar Association, State Bar of Texas.
Krista E. Guiter was born in West Union, Iowa; Admitted to the bar, 2006, Texas; also admitted to practice before U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. She graduated from Harlingen High School South in Harlingen, Texas, May 1995, She graduated from the University of Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas, summa cum laude, (B.A., Government, 2002); University of Houston Law Center, cum laude, (J.D. 2005). Order of Barristers, University of Houston, 2005. Member: Cameron County Bar Association, Hidalgo County Bar Association, State Bar of Texas.
