Awards & Honors | Varghese Summersett

Overview

The Record

Since 2018, Varghese Summersett has been recognized by national business publications, legal-industry rating organizations, regional readers’ choice programs, and workplace-culture surveys. Our attorneys hold four Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifications across criminal law, family law, and juvenile law, and four are elected Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation.

The awards below are grouped by what they actually measure — growth, workplace, peer review, and public vote — because those are very different things. Every entry names the organization that conferred it and the year, so you can verify any of them yourself.

4×

Inc. 5000, 2018–2026

Consecutive years, Best Company to Work For

Consecutive years, DFW Favorites

Attorneys in Best Lawyers 2027 editions

Part IThe Firm

Firm Awards

Growth & Business

8 programs

Business and entrepreneurship recognition for Varghese Summersett.
Award	Awarding organization	Year	Result
Inc. 5000 — America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies	Inc. Magazine	2026	No. 1,336 nationally · No. 149 in Texas · No. 55 in DFW · No. 40 among law firms, on 263% three-year growth
Inc. 5000 — America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies	Inc. Magazine	2025	Listed
Inc. 5000 — America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies	Inc. Magazine	2024	No. 2,126 nationally · No. 38 among legal companies, on 247% three-year growth
Inc. 5000 — America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies	Inc. Magazine	2018	No. 782 nationally
Excellence in Visionary Leadership Game Changer Award	Crisp Game Changers Summit, Atlanta	2025	Recipients Benson Varghese & Anna Summersett
Firm of the Year, SELECT tier	Crisp Game Changers Summit, Atlanta	2025	Finalist
Richard L. Knight Minority Business Award	Rotary Club of Fort Worth	2025	First place of 125 nominees and 6 finalists; presented by Mayor Mattie Parker
Entrepreneurs of Excellence	Fort Worth Inc.	2025	Winner Finalist in 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2024
Startup Alley — Emerging Technologies	ABA TechShow, American Bar Association	2025	Second place
Small Business of the Year, 21–50 employees	Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce	2023	Winner
Fort Worth’s Fastest Growing Companies	Fort Worth Inc.	2019	No. 6

Workplace & Culture

Five consecutive years

Workplace awards are decided largely by anonymous employee surveys rather than by the firm’s own submissions, which is why we track them separately.

Employer and workplace-culture recognition.
Award	Awarding organization	Years	Result
Best Companies to Work For in Fort Worth	Fort Worth Inc.	2022–2026	Five consecutive years
Best Companies to Work For	Dallas Business Journal	2025	Recognized employer
Best Place for Working Parents	Best Place for Working Parents	2024–2026	Recognized employer
Best Place for Working Parents — Innovator Award	Best Place for Working Parents	2022, 2023	Recipient
DFW Favorites — Best Place to Work	Fort Worth Star-Telegram	2023	Gold
DFW Favorites — Best Place to Work	Fort Worth Star-Telegram	2024	Silver

Legal Industry

8 programs

Recognition from organizations that evaluate law firms specifically — peer review, verified case results, and practice-area rating bodies.

Legal-industry and practice-specific recognition.
Award	Awarding organization	Year	Basis
Best Law Firms — Regional Tier 1, Dallas/Fort Worth, Family Law	Best Lawyers	2026 ed.	Peer review and client feedback
Best Law Firms — Regional Tier 2, Dallas/Fort Worth, Criminal Defense: General Practice	Best Lawyers	2026 ed.	Peer review and client feedback. Also listed in 2024.
The Best Lawyers in America & Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch	Best Lawyers	2027 ed.	11 attorneys 5 in Best Lawyers, 6 in Ones to Watch — family law, criminal defense, and white-collar defense
Top 10 Wrongful Death Settlements in Texas	TopVerdict.com	2025	Verified settlement amounts
Texas Legal Awards	ALM / Law.com	2024	Statewide legal-industry awards
Texas Lawyer Watch List — New Practice Area Launched	ALM / Texas Lawyer	2023	Firm growth and practice expansion
Top Ten	National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys	—	Criminal defense practice
A+ Accredited Business	Better Business Bureau	Current	Complaint history and business practices
Superb 10.0 Rating	Avvo	Current	Experience, peer endorsements, professional conduct

Readers’ Choice & Regional

Public voting

These are decided by public vote in the communities we serve, which makes them a different kind of signal than a peer-review award.

Readers’ choice and regional publication recognition.
Award	Awarding organization	Year	Category
DFW Favorites	Fort Worth Star-Telegram	2023–2026	Four consecutive years See the category breakdown below
Best of Dallas Readers’ Choice — Best DWI Firm	Dallas Observer	2025	Winner Firm
Best of Dallas Readers’ Choice — Best Personal Injury Attorney	Dallas Observer	2025	Winner Ty Stimpson
Best of Dallas Readers’ Choice — Best Trust & Estate Attorney	Dallas Observer	2025	Winner Michael A. Livens
Best of West Houston — Best Attorney	Houston West Chamber of Commerce	2025	First place
Best in DFW	The Dallas Morning News	2025	Personal Injury
Best in DFW	The Dallas Morning News	2025	DUI / DWI
Best in DFW	The Dallas Morning News	2025	Family & Estate Law
Tops in Tarrant — Best in Industry	Society Life	2025	Legal services
Top Lawyers	Southlake Style	2023–2025	Multiple attorneys each year
Top Attorneys	Fort Worth Magazine	2016–present	Multiple attorneys each year
Top Attorneys	360 West Magazine	2016–present	Multiple attorneys each year
Best Law Firm	Fort Worth Star-Telegram	2018	Reader vote

DFW Favorites, Category by Category

23 category placements

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s DFW Favorites program runs a separate public vote in every category. Varghese Summersett has been recognized four consecutive years, 2023 through 2026 — taking Gold in Best Overall Law Firm three times, and placing in all three of our core practice areas every year. Per-category results are shown for the years published below.

DFW Favorites results by category, Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Gold indicates first place in the category vote; Silver, second.
Category	2023	2024	2026
Best Overall Law Firm	Gold	Gold	Gold
Criminal Defense	Gold	Gold	Silver
Personal Injury	Gold	Gold	Silver
Divorce Law	Gold	Gold	Gold
Family Law	Gold	Silver	Silver
DWI / DUI Law	Gold	Silver	Gold
Customer Service	—	Gold	Gold
Civil Litigation	Gold	—	—
Best Place to Work	Gold	Silver	—

Part IICredentials

Certifications & Appointments

Awards are given. Certifications and appointments are earned against a fixed standard, and they are the credentials we would point to first.

Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Four Board Certified Attorneys

Board certification requires substantial trial experience, peer references, and a full-day examination in the specialty. Fewer than 2% of Texas attorneys hold it in any field.

Benson Varghese — Criminal Law
Anna Summersett — Criminal Law
Craig Jackson — Family Law, certified 2004
Mike Hanson — Juvenile Law, certified 2025

Texas Bar Foundation

Four Elected Fellows

Fellowship in the Texas Bar Foundation is by nomination and election. Membership is limited to one third of one percent of Texas attorneys.

Benson Varghese
Anna Summersett — elected 2023
Ty Stimpson — elected 2024
Mike Hanson

Gubernatorial Appointments

Appointed to State Boards & Commissions

Appointments made by the Governor of Texas to bodies overseeing public safety and child welfare.

Christy Jack — Chair, Governing Board of the Texas Civil Commitment Office; appointed by Gov. Rick Perry and reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, 2011–present
Letty Martinez — Child Fatality Review Team Committee, 2018–present
Letty Martinez — Protect Our Kids Commission; appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, 2014

Bar Leadership & Academic

Statewide Service and Teaching

Elected and appointed positions in the State Bar of Texas and local bar associations, and law school faculty appointments.

Christy Jack — Past Chair, Criminal Justice Section, State Bar of Texas
Ty Stimpson — State Bar of Texas Court Rules Committee, appointed 2024
Tiffany Burks — Elected Director, Tarrant County Bar Association; Board of Regents, Midwestern State University
Mike Hanson — Vice President and Director, District 21, Texas Young Lawyers Association
Benson Varghese and Letty Martinez — Adjunct Faculty, Baylor Law School
Anna Summersett — Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Part IIIThe Attorneys

Attorney Honors

Individual recognition earned by the attorneys who will actually handle your case. Each name links to that attorney’s full biography.

Benson Varghese

Managing Partner · Board Certified, Criminal Law

Honors

Entrepreneur of Excellence, Fort Worth Inc., 2025
500 Most Influential People, Fort Worth Inc., 2025
400 Most Influential People, Fort Worth Inc., 2024
Best of Fort Worth: Up & Comer, Fort Worth Magazine, 2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2022–present
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2017–present
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2016–present
Top Attorney, Southlake Style, 2024–2025
Texas Lawyer Watch List, 2023
Top 100 Rising Star in Texas, Super Lawyers, 2020–2021
Outstanding Young Lawyer, Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, 2019
Minority Leader in Business, Fort Worth Business Press, 2017
Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2016–2022
Client Champion Award, Martindale-Hubbell, 2017
Top 100, National Trial Lawyers
Premier 100 Trial Attorney, American Academy of Trial Attorneys

Christy Jack

Partner

Honors

Best Lawyers in America, 2025, 2026
Super Lawyers, Texas, 2019–present
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2016–present
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2016–present
Top Attorney, Southlake Style, 2024–present
Best Lawyer in Dallas, D Magazine, 2017–2018
Great Woman of Texas, Fort Worth Business Press, 2017
Daniel H. Benson Public Service Award, Texas Tech Law Alumni Association, 2017
Chris Marshall Award for statewide training, co-recipient, 2014
Go-To Lawyer for Criminal Prosecution, Texas Lawyer, 2011
Rising Star, Texas Super Lawyers, 2005

Anna Summersett

Partner · Board Certified, Criminal Law

Honors

Rising Star, ALM / Law.com Texas Legal Awards, 2024
Fort Worth Woman of the Month, Fort Worth Woman, 2024
Top Attorney, Southlake Style, 2024, 2025
Top Forty Under Forty, Fort Worth Business Press, 2023
Top Women Attorneys in Texas, Texas Monthly, 2023
Entrepreneur of Excellence finalist, Fort Worth Inc., 2019, 2023
Top Texas Women Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2019
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2017–present
Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2016–present
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2016–present
Top 10 Under 40, National Academy of Criminal Defense, 2016

Ty Stimpson

Partner

Honors

Best Personal Injury Attorney, Dallas Observer Best of Dallas Readers’ Choice, 2025
Man on a Mission, 360 West, 2026
Best Of: Up & Coming, Fort Worth Magazine, 2026
Strong Man Honoree, inaugural, Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, 2025
40 Under 40, Fort Worth Inc., 2025
Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2025
Top Lawyer, Southlake Style, 2023–present
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2023–present
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2018–present
Young Professional of the Year, Fort Worth Chamber, 2023
Legend in the Making for Law, Beta Tau Lambda Charitable Foundation and Alpha Phi Alpha, 2023
Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers

Leadership

LeadershipSBOT, State Bar of Texas, Class of 2022–2023
Leadership Fort Worth, Class of 2019

Mike Hanson

Partner · Board Certified, Juvenile Law

Honors

Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2025
Merit Award, Texas Young Lawyers Association, 2025
Award of Merit, Texas Young Lawyers Association, 2023–2024
Texas House of Representatives Service Award, 2021
One of roughly 70 attorneys in Texas board certified in juvenile law

Military service

Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps, 2024–present
Judge Advocate, Texas Army National Guard, 2020–2024
Army Commendation Medal, 2022
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, 2022
Armed Forces Reserve Medal, 2022

Tiffany Burks

Attorney

Honors

L. Clifford Davis Legal Excellence Award
Trailblazer Award
Extraordinary Minorities in Law, Texas Lawyer
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2024–present
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2023–present
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2023–present
Top Attorney, Southlake Style, 2024–present
Past President, L. Clifford Davis Legal Association

Alex Thornton

Senior Associate

Honors

One to Watch in America, Best Lawyers, 2025
Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2019–present
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2017–present
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2022–present
Top Lawyer, Southlake Style, 2025
Eldon Mahon Inn of Court

Letty Martinez

Attorney

Honors

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2022–present
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2017–present
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2016–present
Top Lawyer, Southlake Style, 2025
Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2005, 2006, 2008
Hats Off to Mothers honoree, Easter Seals North Texas, 2019
Adjunct Faculty, Baylor Law School, 2023–present

Kristen Carr

Attorney

Honors

Best Lawyers in America, 2024, 2025
Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2021–2024
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2022–present
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2022–present
Top Lawyer, Southlake Style, 2025

Craig Jackson

Partner · Board Certified, Family Law

Honors

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
Superb 10.0 rating, Avvo
Board Certified in Family Law since 2004 — held by under 1% of Texas lawyers
Former Associate Judge, 360th District Court, Tarrant County

Michael A. Livens

Attorney

Honors

Best Trust & Estate Attorney, Dallas Observer Best of Dallas Readers’ Choice, 2025
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine, 2025
Top Lawyer, Southlake Style, 2025
Member, Texas Bar College

Taylor Brumbaugh

Attorney

Honors

Outstanding Brief Award, Conrad B. Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition
Certified Mediator
Director of Wellness, Student Bar Association, Texas Tech University School of Law

Cassidy Terrazas

Attorney

Honors

Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas
Member, National Native American Bar Association
Member, Tarrant County Family Bar Association

Meet the Full Team

Varghese Summersett Awards, Honors & Recognition

Talk With Our Team

Award-Winning Legal Excellence

The Record

Firm Awards

Growth & Business

Workplace & Culture

Legal Industry

Readers’ Choice & Regional

DFW Favorites, Category by Category

Certifications & Appointments

Attorney Honors

Put This Experience to Work

Our Offices

Fort Bend

Practice Areas

Firm

Site

Search