With an impressive tenure exceeding 35 years, Stephen Ray Smith stands as a distinguished figure in the multifaceted realms of complex civil litigation and transactional expertise. His diverse portfolio encompasses an array of legal landscapes, including commanding roles in commercial construction disputes, insurance matters, corporate securities, corporate start-ups, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate. Recognized for his unwavering commitment to legal excellence, Stephen has been honored with the prestigious AV Peer Review Rating of Preeminent by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
Stephen embarked on his academic journey at Texas A&M University, culminating in the achievement of a Bachelor of Science in Economics with Honors in 1983. Subsequently, he pursued his legal education at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1986. After completing his legal studies, Stephen embarked on an impactful trajectory, beginning as an associate attorney and later ascending to founding partner status at various distinguished law firms. Most notably, he is a founding partner of the esteemed Legist.
Intriguingly, Stephen's familial background as the son of a forty-year contractor and entrepreneur in the greater Houston area has endowed him with a unique perspective and deep-seated empathy for contractors and small business proprietors of diverse backgrounds. This exceptional insight has notably informed his specialized expertise in real estate and construction matters, representing a plethora of contractors and business owners over three decades. Furthermore, Stephen's firsthand experience as an owner and developer of commercial and residential real estate projects lends a profound depth to his legal counsel.
Exemplary Showcases of Client Engagements
Stephen's illustrious career spans over 350 business and construction-related legal matters, with an impressive 50 first-chair trial experiences, the majority of which were jury trials. His representative accomplishments include:
Business Litigation Matters:
• Litigating deceptive trade practices cases involving the sale of new and used equipment.
• Advocating in real estate development and partnership dispute litigation.
• Representing clients in multifaceted cases concerning trade secrets, their misuse, and theft.
• Exhibiting substantial proficiency in stock fraud cases, addressing issues of market manipulation, short selling, and fraudulent financing.
• Successfully navigating a partition action as a court-appointed receiver, culminating in the sale of separate tracts totaling approximately $35 million.
• Defending an oil field services company against fraudulent investor attempts through a disputed reverse merger.
• Pursuing wrongful death cases due to inadequate workplace security, asserting negligence and gross negligence.
• Victoriously representing creditors and prior owners in complex state court and bankruptcy litigation involving oil field environmental waste subsidiaries.
• Steadfastly representing publicly traded clients in multi-dimensional stock fraud cases encompassing allegations of short selling, fraud, RICO, and credit facility violations.
• Achieving settlements exceeding eight figures for surviving family members asserting wrongful death claims against a major international oil company.
• Securing a seven-figure verdict in a high-stakes trucking case involving a prominent diesel engine manufacturer and tractor truck manufacturer.
Construction Related Litigation:
• Garnering a seven-figure verdict for a contractor in a breach of contract and warranty case for the construction of a new manufacturing facility.
• Advocating for a general contractor in a $14 million damages case arising from a bulkhead replacement project.
• Defending a contractor against a concrete plasticizer additive manufacturer in a case involving a failed tank wall.
• Asserting claims for damage to work due to differing site conditions and faulty geotechnical studies.
• Litigating improper design and testing claims in cases involving asphaltic concrete degradation.
• Championing mechanic's and materialmen's lien issues in government and private work contracts.
• Navigating disputes related to OSHA violations and equipment-related fatalities.
• Representing clients in cases of construction failure caused by owner, general contractor, and subcontractor delays.
• Advocating for clients in work interference claims asserted by subcontractors.
• Asserting owner damage claims arising from contractor deviations from plans and specifications.
• Successfully representing an owner in an arbitration concerning a contractor's mid-project abandonment.
• Advocating for numerous subcontractors in claims of non-payment and rights assertion under mechanic's lien, trust fund, and prompt payment statutes.
Professional Affiliations:
• State Bar of Texas
• Houston Bar Association
Stephen Ray Smith's legacy is etched with remarkable accomplishments in intricate legal landscapes, from construction litigation to diverse business arenas. His dedication, profound insight, and relentless pursuit of justice stand as a testament to his enduring impact in the realm of law.
