Introducing the best small law firms in Texas

Chambers is on a mission to uncover and champion the best legal talent across the United States, wherever it exists, starting with shining a spotlight on Texas.

The state of Texas, home to five of the top fifteen US cities by population, is a thriving market with a number of distinct and growing legal centers.

We sought to identify the leading small to medium-sized law firms offering a credible alternative to Big Law. The ranked firms were selected based on independent and in-depth market analysis, coupled with an assessment of their experience, expertise and calibre of talent.

We have awarded a Chambers Regional Spotlight ranking to 85 firms across 15 tables in 6 cities within Texas, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio.

The ranked firms are recognized for their strengths in dispute resolution, corporate/commercial, labor & employment and intellectual property matters.

To learn more about the Chambers Regional Spotlight click here.

Austin

Austin Corporate / Commercial

Austin’s strong technology focus and resurgence of energy related transactions is encapsulated by many of the firms here handling local aspects of significant matters. We also list firms that demonstrate particular skill acting for venture capital funds and emerging growth businesses, as well as organizations in the healthcare sector.

• Dwyer Murphy Calvert LLP

• Gjerset & Lorenz LLP

• Huggins Reddien LLP

• Kastner Gravelle LLP

• Kruger Carson PLLC

• Potts Blacklock Senterfitt PLLC

• Queen Saenz & Schutz PLLC

• Stahl, Davies, Sewell, Chavarria & Friend LLP

Austin Dispute Resolution

Austin’s vibrant litigation market is maturing with household name corporates settling into the city. Matters handled include general business disputes, intellectual property, fraud, construction and contentious work in the oil and gas space. These small and medium-sized firms also frequently cater for clients in the construction and technology sectors.

• Cain & Skarnulis PLLC

• Jackson, Sjoberg, McCarthy & Townsend LLP

• Lehotsky Keller LLP

• Thomas Williams McConnell PLLC

• Weisbart Springer Hayes LLP

Austin Intellectual Property

Industry acceleration in tech and energy transition has created myriad opportunities in the Austin market. The spotlight firms handle a variety of IP matters ranging from patent prosecution and patent litigation to trademark and copyright work.

• Armond Wilson LLP

• Parker Highlander PLLC

• Slayden Grubert Beard PLLC

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Corporate / Commercial

In Corpus Christi’s distinctive market, firms frequently handle M&A and private equity transactions for a range of individual and corporate clients. Branscomb Law is singled out for its comprehensive work in the lower mid-market.

• Branscomb Law

Dallas

Dallas Corporate / Commercial

The recent increase in transaction volume largely driven by macro-economic trends is reflected in the range transactional related work handled by the listed firms. Work includes corporate M&A, private equity matters and real estate acquisitions.

• Block & McNeill LLP

• Braumiller Law Group PLLC

• ByrdAdatto

• Cherry Petersen Landry Albert LLP

• Egan Nelson LLP

• Patel Law Group PLLC

• Wick Phillips

Dallas Dispute Resolution

Dallas’ diversified litigation market is reflected here, with boutiques operating across a range of industries spanning energy, life-sciences, environment, financial services and banking. These Texas Spotlight firms handle a range of litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as assisting with domestic arbitration.

• Arcadi Jackson LLP

• Bailey Brauer PLLC

• Beckham Portela

• Brown Fox PLLC

• Carter Arnett PLLC

• Diamond McCarthy LLP

• Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC

• Figari + Davenport LLP

• Godwin Bowman PC

• Hallett & Perrin PC

• Hedrick Kring Bailey PLLC

• Kessler Collins PC

• Koning Rubarts LLP

• Padfield & Stout LLP

• Reese Marketos LLP

• Tillotson Johnson & Patton

Dallas Intellectual Property

Increasing activity in the IP space in Dallas has allowed many local firms to take on significant mandates for a broad range of domestic and international clients. These firms handle an array of transactional and contentious matters including trade secrets, copyright and patent work.

• Bragalone Olejko Saad LLP

• Buether Joe & Counselors LLC

• Grable Martin Fulton PLLC

• Hitchcock Evert LLP

• Klemchuk LLP

• Munck Wilson Mandala LLP

• Nelson Bumgardner Conroy PC

• Skiermont Derby LLP

• The Richard Law Group

El Paso

El Paso Corporate / Commercial

El Paso’s distinct legal market means firms are uniquely positioned to advise on international transactions between the US and Mexico. Gordon Davis’ transactional work includes corporate, real estate and bankruptcy matters.

• Gordon Davis Johnson & Shane PC

El Paso Dispute Resolution

This Spotlight firm has taken a sizeable share of El Paso’s litigation work with disputes ranging from real estate, general business matters to product liability and medical malpractice. The group is noted for handling matters at the crossroads of Texas, New Mexico and Mexico.

• Mounce Green Myers Safi Paxson & Galatzan PC

Houston

Houston Corporate / Commercial

Houston’s growth market for capital investment has resulted in an increase of energy-related transactions, real estate development work and mergers and acquisitions of which the firms listed have taken a sizeable share. These spotlight firms regularly work across a range of lower to mid-market transactions.

• Ferguson Braswell Fraser Kubasta PC

• Looper Goodwine PC

• Schlanger Silver LLP

• Wilson, Cribbs + Goren PC

Houston Dispute Resolution

This table captures Houston’s interesting ecosystem of litigation boutiques. The firms listed below handle work across the full spectrum of litigation, with disputes ranging from general commercial, insurance, white-collar to catastrophic injury and mass torts. A sizeable portion of contentious work is fueled by Houston’s energy industry.

• Arnold & Itkin LLP

• Berg & Androphy

• Bissinger, Oshman, Williams & Strasburger LLP

• Burford Perry LLP

• Crain Caton & James

• Drumheller, Hollingsworth & Monthy LLP

• Fogler, Brar, O'Neil & Gray LLP

• Fulkerson Lotz LLP

• Pierce & O’Neill LLP

• Roach & Newton LLP

• Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams LLP

• Rusty Hardin & Associates LLP

• Shannon, Martin, Finkelstein, Alvarado & Dunne PC

• Strawn Pickens LLP

• Ware, Jackson, Lee, O'Neill, Smith & Barrow LLP

Houston Intellectual Property

The spotlight firms for IP in Houston are active in sectors ranging from life-sciences, biotech, medical devices and data security, reflecting the growth of pioneering technology companies in Texas. These firms handle a wide variety of patent and trademark litigation.

• Baker Williams Matthiesen LLP

• Blue Peak Law Group LLP

• Boulware & Valoir PLLC

• Cabello Hall Zinda PLLC

• Cadwell Clonts Reeder & Thomas LLP

• Conley Rose PC

• Fletcher Yoder PC

• Osha Bergman Watanabe & Burton LLP

Houston Labor and Employment

These spotlight firms in Houston have carved out a space in the labor and employment market, representing plaintiffs, executives, employers and labor unions in a range of disputes. They are noted for their sector specific experience pertaining to the energy and healthcare industries, among others.

• Muskat, Mahony & Devine LLP

• Oberti Sullivan LLP

San Antonio

San Antonio Corporate / Commercial

Both Elder Bray and Golden Steves & Gordon have carved out a space for themselves in San Antonio’s tight-knit market. Firms advise individuals, corporate clients and a host of regional developers on a wide range of high-value transactions.

• Elder Bray & Bankler P.C.

• Golden Steves & Gordon LLP

San Antonio Dispute Resolution

The San Antonio firms we’ve highlighted below are disputes specialists who operate in distinct sectors in the San Antonio market, Santoyo Wehmeyer handles a range of oil and gas matters while Prichard Young works on catastrophic injury and product liability.

• Prichard Young LLP

• Ray Peña McChristian PC

• Santoyo Wehmeyer PC