About Us
Christina Lesher
Founder/Owner, Attorney at Law,
Christina Lesher provides comprehensive legal advice on Elder Law, Medicaid and Special Needs Planning, Veteran’s Benefits, and other legal issues confronting seniors and persons with disabilities.
Christina is a 2003 graduate from the University of Houston Law Center. In 1997 she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (Summa Cum Laude) from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
She serves on the board of directors for the Texas Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and is a member of the board of directors of Alzheimer’s Association Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter.
Christina is a frequent speaker to local professional and community groups. Past engagements include: Marathon Oil, KBR, the FBI, and regular appearances on the Houston’s Local Fox station “Wake Up Money” segment.
Prior to becoming an attorney, she was a caregiver for her grandfather who had dementia. Christina has dedicated her career to assisting older adults and persons with special needs. A native of Huntsville, Texas, she now resides in Houston with her husband, Kirby, her mother Lois, and sons Luke and Max.
Bar Admissions: Texas, 2003
Education:
- University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 2003, J.D.
- Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, 1997, B.S.W., Bachelor of Social Work, Honors: Summa Cum Laude
Honors and Awards: Top Lawyer–Best Lawyers Houston Chronicle, 2008
Nora Fuentes
Nora Alegria-Fuentes is a graduate of the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a Bachelors Degree in History. Nora’s paralegal/legal assistant background includes personal injury, employment law, civil trial, and administrative law. She was employed with the State of Texas, in varying positions, including being a legal secretary for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and a paralegal for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. She was with the State of Texas for thirteen years prior to joining the Law Office of Christina Lesher, PC, in November 2012, as a Paralegal. She has experience in Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, and Long Term Care issues and loves to work with the elderly as well as special needs clients. Nora has lived in Houston, Texas since 1982 and continues to reside here with her family and their two dogs, Mickey and Jenny.
Mayte Alvarez
Mayte Alvarez, Paralegal, joined the Law Office of Christina Lesher, PC, in April 2015. She has earned her BBA in Marketing from the University of Houston-Downtown. Mayte has extensive experience in matters related to Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and VA Benefits. She settled in Houston, Texas in 2013 and continues to reside here with her husband, Jose Luis, her two special needs children, Cecilia and Alex, and their mixed Australian Cattle dog, Marlo. She has been an active member of both the Autism Society Texas Gulf Coast Chapter and Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) Houston Chapter since 2013 and is a volunteer for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto.
Erika Villarreal
Erika Villarreal grew up in Jacinto City the eastside area of Houston with her parents, a younger brother and sister. She graduated from San Jacinto College in 2007 with an Associate of Applied Science degree. She has gained a strong interest and knowledge in different aspects of the law over the years before elder law. Erika has been part of the Law Office of Christina Lesher, PC, since December 2018. She spends her time with communicating with a wide variety of guests and clients to assist them in what can be a difficult time. Erika lives in the Katy area with her husband, Ray, and three sons, Nathan, Jacob, and Mason.
Caroline Carlson
Caroline Carlson grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her parents and twin sister. She graduated from the University of New Haven in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Investigative Services. She gained an interest in law during her senior year and applied for a Master of Law program in human rights law at the University of Nottingham, England. There she learned of the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) program that converted her bachelor’s degree into a British law degree. After graduating with a GDL from the University of Law, London in 2018, she went on to complete her Legal Practice Course for Solicitors with an added Master of Law. Caroline became a part of the Law Office of Christina Lesher, PC, in January 2021. She spends her time assisting the care management side of cases. Caroline is just moved to Houston, Texas with her cat, Tigger, after working remotely for a year.
Robert Pierce
Care Manager
Robert Pierce is currently a care manager at the Law Office of Christina Lesher, P.C. where he assists on special needs and long-term care cases for the past eight years.
Before working with Ms. Lesher, he earned his B.A. in Psychology from Texas State University. While completing his degree he worked directly with clients with Traumatic Brain Injuries, special needs, and mental health diagnoses for fifteen years. During that time was the program director for residential facilities that focused on long-term and behavioral care.
He is a frequent speaker at local senior organizations, NASA, and Houston Headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and has spoken at UT Law’s Annual Special Needs Trust conference, Stetson Law National Conference on Special Needs Trusts and Special Needs Planning, and at the Texas Bar Conference. Robert is also a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and a certified case manager.
Marilyn Miller
JD, Of Counsel
Marilyn G. Miller is a solo practitioner, maintaining offices in Austin and Dripping Springs, Texas. She received her JD from the University of Kansas in 1981 and an LLM in Taxation from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1983.
Ms. Miller is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is a founding member of the Texas Chapter of NAELA. Currently she serves as a Director of the National Elder Law Foundation. She is recognized as a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as recognized by the State Bar of Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1996) and is also board certified as a specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy Law by the State Bar of Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1992).
She is licensed to practice in Texas and Missouri, and is admitted to practice in the Western, Northern and Southern federal District Courts in Texas, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Tax Court. She is also a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, and the Special Needs Alliance.
She has served as a panelist and presenter at conferences for legal and financial professionals. From 2002 through 2005 she was a lecturer in Estate Planning and Business law in the Finance Department at Southwest Texas State University.
Her community activities include, among others, the YMCA of Austin, where she served as Chair of the Southwest Branch Committee of Managers from 1992-1994, and on the Metropolitan Board of Directors from 1995 – 2004, and as the first Chair of the new Springs Family Branch; board member United Way of Hays County (1994-2009); former member of the Board of Directors of Helping Hands, a food and financial resource center for those in need in Dripping Springs (1996-2009); Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hill Country Cottages, Inc. in Dripping Springs, a provider of affordable housing for the elderly. Ms. Miller currently sits as the Municipal Judge in Dripping Springs and as a Commissioner of the Hays County Emergency Services District #6.
Bonnie G. Brown
JD, Of Counsel
Bonnie Brown is a solo practitioner in Houston, Texas, and is Of Counsel with the Law Office of Christina Lesher. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston School of Law in December, 1972, and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in April, 1973. Before attending law school Bonnie received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration in 1969, from Rice University.
Bonnie served as in-house counsel and regional attorney for the Texas Department of Human Services for thirty years where she provided advice and counsel regarding benefit programs and protective services for both children and adults. She has been a solo practitioner since September of 2003 at the Law Office of Bonnie G. Brown, and has provided of-counsel services for the Law Office of Christina Lesher since 2012. For five years, beginning in 2006, she also served part-time as regional attorney for the Texas Commission on Health and Human Services where she provided advice and counsel regarding benefit programs.
Bonnie speaks to local community groups in the area of wills, probate, and advance directives, including the annual Interfaith Caregiver Conference in the Woodlands, the Lavaca County Retired Teachers’ Association, and the Glazier Senior Center.
A Houston native, Bonnie currently resides in the Lindale Park area with her two rescue Golden Retrievers, Belle and Shiner. Bonnie participates in the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Will-a-thon, has been active in Golden Retriever rescue, and is a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo volunteer.