Strategic Advocacy at Every Stage
By Michelle Vasquez | Photography by David Teran
When Chiscano Hossa & Calve opened in January 2026, the vision was to create a boutique firm where attorneys with complementary strengths work together to solve clients’ most challenging legal problems.
Founded by partners Steve Chiscano, Nadeen Hossa Montagnino and Billy Calve, the firm brings together three practice areas that often intersect: commercial litigation, appellate advocacy and white-collar defense. Chiscano’s commercial litigation experience supports businesses navigating disputes; Calve provides counsel in complex criminal and government-related matters; and Hossa leads the appellate practice, a specialized area focused on analyzing legal issues, developing arguments, and reviewing decisions made during the trial process.
For clients, the combination creates a comprehensive approach. A business dispute may require courtroom advocacy, strategic guidance throughout litigation and an appellate strategy designed to protect a client’s interests before, during and after trial. “All three of those practices work together,” Hossa said. “They don’t create conflicts.”
The firm’s philosophy is simple: understand the client, understand the problem and determine the best path forward. “We really get close with our clients to figure out what their needs are and try to resolve matters as efficiently as possible,” she said.
Hossa’s path was shaped by a passion for analysis, advocacy and solving complex problems. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and St. Mary’s University School of Law, she discovered early that she was drawn to the research, writing and strategy behind the law. That interest led her naturally toward appellate law, where she found a practice area that combined her strengths in analysis, writing, and courtroom strategy.
After law school, Hossa served as a briefing attorney and later a staff attorney for Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez at the Fourth Court of Appeals. There, she drafted opinions, researched legal issues, and gained experience across a wide range of civil and criminal legal issues. “I like research and writing, but I don’t want to be that appellate lawyer who’s only sitting at their desk writing briefs,” she said. “I also enjoy the part of being in court.” Today, she is building the firm’s appellate practice alongside associates Hannah Mery and Haley Entrop-Ozment, who work across appellate law and commercial litigation. Together, the three attorneys form an all-female appellate team, reflecting Hossa’s commitment to developing the next generation of appellate advocates while serving clients. That combination of talent and shared purpose has helped shape both the firm’s culture and the practice she envisioned.
For Hossa, that vision extends beyond legal services to creating more opportunities for women to build sustainable careers and move into leadership roles.
Today, women are entering the legal profession in record numbers, but Hossa believes the next challenge is ensuring they stay, grow, and lead. “The problem is women are not staying in the practice of law,” she said.
Through the Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation LEAD Academy and the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, Hossa advocates for helping women remain in law and become partners, business owners and leaders.
She also believes women bring perspectives that strengthen outcomes for clients, particularly in areas requiring communication, adaptability, and the ability to bring different perspectives to complex problems. “We need the perspective of women in the room to help with trial strategy, to help with problem solving and creative settlement solutions,” she said.
At the same time, Hossa believes advancing women requires collaboration across the profession. She credits mentors and partners, including Chiscano, for recognizing talent and creating opportunities. “Established attorneys are the bridge between our profession’s past and future,” Chiscano said. “Our job is to use our relationships, reputation, and experience to give emerging leaders real opportunities—serious cases, real client contact, and visible leadership roles—so that talent like Nadeen can flourish and, ultimately, surpass us.”
For Hossa, Chiscano Hossa & Calve represents more than a new law firm. It reflects a collaborative approach where experience and emerging leadership work together, different perspectives strengthen client solutions, and the next generation of lawyers is empowered to lead.
Chiscano Hossa & Calve, PLLC
9601 McAllister Fwy, Ste 401 | San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 560-0006
