Key takeaways
- Todd Mensing’s early departure from a large law firm to a trial boutique shaped a career defined by success in court.
- His extensive litigation experience across industries has contributed to rapid professional recognition and rapid leadership growth.
- Peer-reviewed certifications and honors highlight his expertise and reputation in trial law.
- Major jury verdicts in high-stakes cases have solidified his national position as a leading trial lawyer.
- His career reflects the impact of choosing a hands-on, trial-driven environment rather than a traditional large-company route.
Every year, the best law schools in Texas produce graduates who follow the same path: graduate at the top of the class, accept a position at one of the largest law firms in Houston or Dallas, and build a career in that institutional setting. Todd Mensing career as a lawyer started exactly on this track. He earned his undergraduate degree cum laude from Stanford University in 1994, graduated from the University of Texas Law School in the top five percent of his class in 1999 and went straight to Vinson & Elkins, the Houston firm founded in 1917 that today has about 625 lawyers in a dozen global offices.
What’s worth examining his career is what happened less than two years later. Mensing left V&E and helped form the current iteration of Ahmad, Zavitsanos and Mensinga Houston trial shop that was barely eight years old and had only a fraction of its staff. John Zavitsanos and Joseph Y. Ahmad founded AZA in July 1993 around a premise that most large firms recognize in theory but rarely support in practice: prepare each case for trial and bring it there when necessary. Todd Mensing of AZA would spend the next two decades proving that this hypothesis worked.
A large workload from the start
Mensing’s practice at the firm has covered commercial and intellectual property litigation from the outset: energy, technology, healthcare, construction, real estate, executive employment, and finance and lending. He has tried cases in state and federal courts and arbitration proceedings across the country. Early on, he also handled catastrophic personal injury cases, including a medical malpractice case in Houston that resulted in a winning jury verdict.
This vast workload allowed for rapid recognition. The rules appeared on the List of Texas Super Lawyers during his fifth year of practice, much more quickly than the typical accumulation of trial degrees that the designation requires. Since then, he has consistently been named one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Houston and Texas.
Milestones of the decade
A decade into his tenure, things have changed rapidly. A January 2011 firm press release announced that Todd Mensing’s attorney was one of three associates certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He earned a distinction awarded on average by fewer than five attorneys per year statewide. The same year, he became a renowned partner.
An August 2014 press release confirmed his election to the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization requiring significant jury trial experience. At the time, AZA also noted its recognition in the 2014 edition of Best Lawyers and in Chambers USA 2014 for general commercial litigation.
Martindale-Hubbell awarded it its AV Preeminent designation in June 2016, with a rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 based on confidential evaluations from attorneys and judges.
“After observing Todd in action in the courtroom and in his dealings with clients and the careful tasks of trial preparation, I am not at all surprised that he received the highest rating,” Zavitsanos said.
Reviewers described it as “very competent and ethically strong. » Chambers USA respondents provided comparable feedback over several years. One called his work “phenomenal,” adding that he was “a relentless litigator, understanding all the ins and outs of litigation.” Another called him “tenacious” and “extremely hardworking.”
Two verdicts that defined the second decade
Two jury verdicts in consecutive years brought national attention to Mensing’s trial work and made clear the kind of career that V&E’s departure had produced.
Todd Mensing of AZA obtained a $22.32 million federal jury verdict in March 2022 for the Port of Houston Authority against Louis Dreyfus Company in a lease dispute in the Southern District of Texas, Case No. 4:19-cv-00746. Eleven months later, a McMullen County jury unanimously awarded $41.8 million to SilverBow Resources and El Dorado Gas & Oil in an action for oil and gas trespass. Mensing led the trial team alongside partners Taylor Freeman, Jane Robinson and Cameron Byrd.
“It’s great to see the right thing happen. The jury gave our customers the relief they deserve and forced Energy Transfer to take responsibility,” Mensing said.
Chambers USA 2025 ranks Mensing for general commercial litigation in Houston. Lawdragon has named him one of the nation’s Top 500 Litigators and Top 500 Environmental Lawyers for several years in a row. IAM Patent 1000 ranked him among the leading patent litigators and he is regularly recognized by Best Lawyers in America. AZA today has more than 60 lawyers and opened an office in Dallas in January 2026. For Todd Mensing, an attorney with the firm for more than two decades, leaving one of Houston’s largest firms after less than two years for a boutique that went to trial turned out to be the decision that shaped everything that followed.
FAQs
Why did Todd Mensing leave a major law firm early in his career?
He chose to join a trial-focused boutique firm that emphasized litigation rather than settlement. This environment was more in line with his interest in litigation. This decision allowed him to gain hands-on testing experience much earlier in his career.
What types of cases has Todd Mensing handled?
His practice covers commercial and intellectual property disputes in sectors such as energy, technology and healthcare. He has also handled catastrophic personal injury cases. This broad range of work has contributed to his strong litigation experience.
What are some of Todd Mensing’s major career accomplishments?
He has received numerous honors, including the Super Lawyers list and board certification in civil trial law. He is also a member of prestigious legal organizations such as the American Board of Trial Advocates. These achievements reflect his experience and the recognition of his peers.
What notable cases has Todd Mensing been involved in?
He has led trial teams that have obtained multimillion-dollar jury verdicts, including in cases involving the Houston Port Authority and major energy disputes. These results brought national attention to his work. They have also demonstrated its effectiveness in high-stakes litigation.
What can young lawyers learn from Todd Mensing’s professional journey?
His journey shows the importance of choosing opportunities that offer real experience and skills development. Taking a less conventional path can lead to significant professional growth. It highlights the importance of aligning career decisions with long-term goals.
