Department profile
Baker Botts L.L.P.

Litigation: General Commercial

USA Guide 2026 : Texas: Austin & Surrounds


Baker Botts L.L.P.

Rankings

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

Band 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

Provided by Chambers

  • 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

  • Baker Botts deals with complex matters well. I think very highly of its client service, and its communications are strong. The team is very responsive, practical and really works to understand clients and their industries. It is a strong overall commercial litigation practice which can pull in a lot of resources from across the firm and find the right team for each matter.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Baker Botts' team drafts excellently, prepares persuasive arguments and communicates well.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Baker Botts has an exceptional legal team with invaluable knowledge across numerous legal matters and global experience. The firm has exceptional follow-up and service levels. It is extremely knowledgeable about the client's company and business.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Baker Botts is full of brilliant attorneys who are collaborative and easy to work with. The firm has deep expertise globally and comprehensive experience, and it knows how to marshal this to deliver desired results and to realize strategies. It is expert in managing the most complex and highest-stakes controversies and meets timelines with high-quality work. Its attorneys deliver comprehensive guidance that helps us prepare for every likely scenario.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Baker Botts' proactive approach and ability to understand the company's goals set it apart. Even in crisis, it is not reactive. It will help you through those immediate issues but is also laser-focused on improving processes to avoid issues arising. Its attorneys are very good at being proactive and helping you spot issues that may be coming on the horizon.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 4Amy Hefley
    Band 4Amy Hefley

    Amy Hefley

    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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Amy is smart, responsive and a terrific writer, and she has a brilliant legal mind.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 4Danny David
    Band 4Danny David

    Danny David

    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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Danny is a cool hand providing guidance and is very artful at seeing the big picture. He is very knowledgeable, responsive and communicative.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Danny is a top-notch lawyer doing very sophisticated and interesting litigation. I regard him very highly.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Danny is a very smart and really effective attorney.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 1David Sterling
    Band 1David Sterling

    David Sterling

    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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • David is incredible in this space.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • David is extremely strong and one of the primary statesman of securities in Texas.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 1Gavin R Villareal
    Band 1Gavin R Villareal

    Gavin R Villareal

    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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 1John Lawrence
    Band 1John Lawrence

    John Lawrence

    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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • John is very good at coming up with novel solutions to difficult securities problems. He is a creative thinker.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • John is an excellent attorney and a thoughtful partner. He is calm under pressure and gives the client confidence.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 2Scott D Powers
    Band 2Scott D Powers

    Scott D Powers

    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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Scott is an excellent lawyer. He is responsive, a great communicator and never misses a beat. He leads a very strong team effectively.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 4Tom O'Brien
    Band 4Tom O'Brien

    Tom O'Brien

    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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Tom is a high-quality, client-focused and hard-working attorney. He is a pleasure to work with.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • 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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Tom is a great trial lawyer, provides really helpful guidance and is wonderful in front of a jury.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Up and ComingCharles Strecker
    Up and ComingCharles Strecker

    Charles Strecker

    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.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Charles is particularly good at digging into financial and accounting issues and understands them very deeply.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Charles is an exceptional legal professional.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

Ranked Individuals at Baker Botts L.L.P. (10)

Texas

Texas: Austin & Surrounds

Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds

Texas: Houston & Surrounds

Members

Provided by Baker Botts L.L.P.

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