Attorneys

Xerxes (Zak) K. Patel is Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a founding member of The Zak K. Patel Law Firm, PLLC (formally Patel Hammond PLLC). He has been practicing law for nearly 15 years.  He was previously a senior associate for over 7 years at a firm specializing in real estate and civil matters whereby he worked on those subject specific legal matters including litigation involving the sale of six hotels, in multiple states, which were valued in excess of $45 million dollars. He also worked as in house counsel for American Tower, Inc. where he was the lead attorney responsible for the highest producing region in the Southwest. Zak’s primary areas of practice include general civil matters and real estate being corporate formation; drafting, reviewing, explaining contracts; litigation; collections; buying, selling, leasing property (both residential and commercial); landlord/tenant matters; homeowner association matters; liens; deeds; foreclosure and loan workouts; and, construction/home repair matters. He is also a credentialed mediator and arbitrator.

Zak is admitted to practice in Texas, before the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, American Bar Association and is involved in multiple community and Texas A&M affiliated organizations. Zak earned his law degree from Oklahoma City School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the Texas A&M University.

Publications

• Honored by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Financial Crimes Division, as a presenter of a continuing legal education class related to fraud actions regarding real estate.
• Co-author of the book: Credit Pure, Take Control of Your Financial Freedom: A do-it-yourself guide to fixing your credit. (2003)

Memberships

• Arab-American Cultural & Community Center – Parliamentarian and Board of Directors
• Texas Aggie Bar Association - Board of Directors
• Houston Bar Association - Member of the Real Estate, Probate & Trust of the State Bar of Texas
• Texas Mediator Credentialing Association - Candidate for Membership
• Association for Conflict Resolution - Houston Chapter - Member
• Certified Mediator by the Oklahoma Supreme Court
• Credentialed Mediator for Texas
• Texas Association of Mediators - Candidate for Membership
• Frequent lecturer for mediation and arbitrator credentialing in Texas on the topics of ethics in mediation and ethics in arbitration
• Houston A&M Club - Board of Directors
• Reveille Club of Houston - Texas A&M: President ‘08, V.P. ‘07, Treasurer ‘06 & Secretary ‘05
• Caring Aggies Mentor Program (C.A.M.P.), A mentoring program for underprivileged children in Houston.