Atty. Howard L. Close

Atty. Howard L. Close

Howard is a trial lawyer. He has tried and arbitrated complex personal injury, commercial and intellectual property cases all over the state.

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Profile Summary

About Howard L. Close at a glance

Howard L. Close is a personal injury, business, and litigation attorney based in Houston, Texas, practicing at Wright Close Barger & Guzman. Admitted to practice in United States, State Bar of Texas. Educated at The University of Texas (J.D., 1981) and Louisiana State University (B.A., 1978). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Houston, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Howard is a trial lawyer
  • He has tried and arbitrated complex personal injury, commercial and intellectual property cases all over the state
  • From patent and trade secret litigation in northeast Texas to multiple death and burn cases along the Texas-Mexico border, to massive coverage cases in Beaumont, he and his trial team have handled the difficult assignments
  • He has tried state and national class actions, medical device, oil & gas, nursing home, insurance coverage and intellectual property matters in both state and Federal Court in the toughest jurisdictions in Texas
  • He also has extensive appellate experience, having argued at all levels of the Texas Appellate system and in the U.S
  • Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • Howard is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of peer rated professional excellence
  • Every year since 2003, Howard has earned selection to Thomson Reuters’ list of Texas Super Lawyers® (2003-present) in Civil Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Intellectual Property Litigation, as published in Texas Monthly
  • In 2008-present, Howard was listed among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Houston
  • In addition, since 2005, Howard has been included on BL Rankings, LLC’s list of Best Lawyers in America® (2005-present) in the categories of Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation-Defense
  • Howard was also named to the list of “Top Rated Lawyers” in Texas (2010-present) in the area of Intellectual Property Law, by ALM and Martindale-Hubbell
  • Howard is also a Fellow of the prestigious Litigation Council of America
  • In 2023, Howard was named one of the top 500 litigators in America in the field of Commercial Litigation by Law Dragon

Practice Areas Explained

Howard L. Close's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Howard L. Close handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Personal Injury

Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.

Howard L. Close is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Texas →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Howard L. Close is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Texas →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Howard L. Close is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Texas →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Texas

Practicing law in Texas. Legal matters in Texas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Houston are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Texas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Texas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Texas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Texas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Houston or all attorneys in Texas.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Howard L. Close

Where is Howard L. Close's law office located?
Howard L. Close's law practice is located in Houston, Texas. The firm is Wright Close Barger & Guzman. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Howard L. Close handle?
Howard L. Close focuses on personal injury, business, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Texas.
Where did Howard L. Close go to law school?
Howard L. Close earned their education at (J.D., 1981); (B.A., 1978).
How can I contact Howard L. Close for a consultation?
You can contact Howard L. Close directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Howard L. Close received?
Howard L. Close's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Insurance; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property.

Education

J.D.
The University of Texas
- 1981
B.A.
Louisiana State University
- 1978

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Insurance
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Oil and Gas Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Civil Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2025
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2023 to present
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Best Law Firms in 2018-2026 with a National Tier 1 ranking in Appellate, by
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — U.S. News
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 100 Super Lawyers in Houston, 2008-2010
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Fellow of the prestigious Litigation Council of America
- 2026

Bar Admissions

United States, State Bar of Texas

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