About

Provided by Baker Botts L.L.P.

Baker Botts’ trial lawyers combine strong commercial judgment with deep legal, technical, and policy expertise to handle clients’ most critical disputes. Leveraging close knowledge of client needs and the firm’s global resources, the team delivers creative, timely, and strategic guidance aligned with business objectives. Baker Botts' lawyers collaborate closely with clients to develop effective litigation strategies using early case assessment methods and then implement them efficiently using the latest technology. The firm organizes client‑centric teams to pursue objectives not only in court, but also in boardrooms and other strategic settings. Clients benefit from pragmatic, industry‑informed solutions as well as value‑added improvements in technology, staffing, and litigation processes.

To learn more about our practice, visit: www.bakerbotts.com/services/practice-areas/litigation

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: General Commercial - Texas: Austin & Surrounds

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Baker Botts LLP provides an excellent standard of representation in a wide range of commercial disputes, with a particularly robust reputation in energy and securities litigation. The firm is able to draw on a strong geographic footprint in litigating cases across the country, offering expertise in antitrust and environmental disputes. The team is also highly acclaimed for its capacity to take on an array of disputes at appellate level. It is also well equipped to handle merger objection cases brought by shareholders.

Work Highlights

  • Baker Botts continued to represent AT&T and its current and former senior executives in a high-profile securities class action involving allegations of over $8 billion in class losses following a sharp decline in AT&T’s stock price during the summer of 2023 after a series of Wall Street Journal articles asserting that lead‑sheathed telecommunications cables posed public health and environmental risks across the United States.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Amy Hefley
1
Amy Hefley
1
Band 1
Amy Hefley has an impressive securities practice, which includes assisting clients with class actions and breach of fiduciary duty cases. She is further skilled in a wide range of commercial disputes.

Amy is detail-oriented and a go-getter. She is a very smart attorney but is able to put her counsel into layman's terms very well too.

Amy is smart, responsive and a terrific writer, and she has a brilliant legal mind.

Amy is terrific and I think the world of her; she is a go-to for me. She is incredibly bright and really good at client handling. She is also experienced at trial and fabulous on her feet.

Amy is a pleasure to work with. She is an excellent, consummate team player and is a valued adviser on all of our legal issues. She also displays strong commercial awareness.

Amy is phenomenal at everything. She is a very strong writer and I never have to change anything. She is the complete package as a lawyer.

Danny David
1
Danny David
1
Band 1
Baker Botts managing partner Danny David regularly counsels clients on securities class actions and shareholder derivative suits, with particular strength in merger challenges and breach of fiduciary duty cases. He offers additional experience in commercial disputes.

Danny is fantastic. He is a leader in securities litigation and across a variety of other areas.

Danny is a cool hand providing guidance and is very artful at seeing the big picture. He is very knowledgeable, responsive and communicative.

Danny is a top-notch lawyer doing very sophisticated and interesting litigation. I regard him very highly.

All I have to do is think of something and it’s already done. Danny is the rare mix of strategist, storyteller and steady hand under fire. He masters the facts so completely that he turns complexity into clarity for the judge and the jury. He listens hard, speaks well and reads the room. His questions are surgically precise, economical and devastating, without theatrics. He sees around corners and develops insightful strategies at trial.

Danny is a very smart and really effective attorney.

David Sterling
1
David Sterling
1
Band 1
David Sterling is a preeminent litigator with vast experience handling securities class actions and derivative suits.

David is a top-notch lawyer doing very sophisticated and interesting litigation. I regard him very highly.

David is incredible in this space.

David is extremely strong and one of the primary statesman of securities in Texas.

David is one of the best lawyers and legal minds in the country. He has a pristine track record and his ability to argue cases in front of the court is unparalleled.

David is a brilliant lawyer who is fast on his feet and has excellent vision. He reads judges and situations well and achieves practical, efficient and effective results for clients.

Gavin R Villareal
1
Gavin R Villareal
1
Band 1
Gavin Villareal leads Baker Botts' Austin-based litigation offering. He represents clients in a range of commercial disputes including trade secrets misappropriation and securities class actions.

Gavin is responsive, extremely helpful and knowledgeable. He has good knowledge of us as a business and weaves commercial concerns into his counsel.

Gavin is among the most sophisticated, articulate and capable attorneys I have ever met. He has extensive knowledge and excellent technical legal skills. He is also very easy to work with and fosters a relaxed, thorough and confident approach to problem assessment and resolution.

John Lawrence
1
John Lawrence
1
Band 1
Based in Baker Botts' Dallas office, John Lawrence is noted for representing clients in securities litigation, including class actions and M&A challenges.

John is a pleasure to work with. He is an excellent, consummate team player and is a valued adviser on all of our legal issues. He also has strong commercial awareness.

John is very good at coming up with novel solutions to difficult securities problems. He is a creative thinker.

John is an expert in his practice area and knows our company inside and out as a business in a way that no other firm does.

John is an excellent attorney and a thoughtful partner. He is calm under pressure and gives the client confidence.

John is a terrific lawyer. He has a unique ability to think through problems in a creative and structured way, allowing for convincing and clear communication.

Scott D Powers
2
Scott D Powers
2
Band 2
Scott Powers offers clients deep experience in a range of commercial litigation matters, including complex contractual disputes and trade secrets cases.

Scott is extremely smart, incredibly knowledgeable and strategic.

Scott is an excellent lawyer. He is responsive, a great communicator and never misses a beat. He leads a very strong team effectively.

Tom O'Brien
4
Tom O'Brien
4
Band 4

Tom O'Brien is chair of Baker Botts' Dallas litigation department. He is well versed in representing clients across a wide variety of industries in complex commercial litigation, including professional liability cases.

Tom is an excellent, well-rounded attorney. He is well connected in Texas and has solid expertise in terms of complex litigations. He also has strong appellate expertise.

Tom is a high-quality, client-focused and hard-working attorney. He is a pleasure to work with.

Tom strikes the perfect balance between business-minded advocacy and fierce legal counsel. He knows the facts of all of our cases so well and is exceptional at turning around work quickly. Tom handles our bespoke issues flawlessly. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.

Tom is a great trial lawyer, provides really helpful guidance and is wonderful in front of a jury.

Charles Strecker
U
Charles Strecker
U
Up and Coming

Charles Strecker is noted for his breadth of experience in securities litigation, which sees him regularly represent corporates and individuals across a range of sectors.

Charles is a fantastic lawyer. He is incredibly knowledgeable of the law and very responsive to any questions or requests.

Charles is particularly good at digging into financial and accounting issues and understands them very deeply.

Charles is an exceptional legal professional.

Ranked Lawyers at
Baker Botts L.L.P.

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Texas

Litigation: Securities

Amy Hefley
1
Amy Hefley
1
Band 1
Danny David
1
Danny David
1
Band 1
David Sterling
1
David Sterling
1
Band 1
John Lawrence
1
John Lawrence
1
Band 1
Charles Strecker
U
Charles Strecker
U
Up and Coming

Texas: Austin & Surrounds

Litigation: General Commercial

Gavin R Villareal
1
Gavin R Villareal
1
Band 1
Scott D Powers
2
Scott D Powers
2
Band 2

Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds

Litigation: General Commercial

Tom O'Brien
4
Tom O'Brien
4
Band 4

Texas: Houston & Surrounds

Litigation: General Commercial

Amy Hefley
4
Amy Hefley
4
Band 4
Danny David
4
Danny David
4
Band 4

Members

Provided by Baker Botts L.L.P.

Amy Hefley

Amy Hefley

Head of Department

Anthony Lucisano

Ariel D. House

Bridget Moore

Bridget Moore

Head of Department

Danny David

Danny David

Head of Department

Kevin T. Jacobs

Kirstie Mellon

Maddy Dwertman

Monica H. Smith

Russell Lewis

Ryan T. Ward

Susan Kennedy

Tina Q. Nguyen