Atty. Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius

Atty. Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius

Steve Fernelius successfully handles high-profile and complex litigation, especially matters that come under intense public scrutiny. He has a sophisticated understanding of how cases affect his clients’ business, and he does everything he can to resolve his clients’ problems.

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Profile Summary

About Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius at a glance

Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius is a business, class action, product liability, and litigation attorney based in Houston, Texas, practicing at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. Admitted to practice in Texas, State Bar of Texas. Educated at The University of Texas (J.D., 1991) and Georgetown University (B.S., 1988). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Awards: (2026). Serands clients in Houston, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

Steve Fernelius successfully handles high-profile and complex litigation, especially matters that come under intense public scrutiny. He has a sophisticated understanding of how cases affect his clients’ business, and he does everything he can to resolve his clients’ problems.

His work for clients includes representing an international oil and gas company in three separate trials from 2005 to 2009 involving a catastrophic explosion at one of its oil refineries, which ultimately resulted in the favorable settlement of hundreds of personal injury claims. He also obtained a jury verdict in favor of a domestic oil company that was sued for failing to provide adequate security for four employees who were attacked on assignment in Southern Asia.

A self-described people person, Steve wants to know what judges, opposing counsel and jurors are thinking so he can do his job better and achieve the best result for his client.

Notable Matters
  • Represented a Fortune 100 energy company in an arbitration involving a $150 million breach of warranty claim against a product and service provider.
  • Defended a client in federal court in Wisconsin against dozens of claims of personal injuries arising from exposure to lead in residential paint.
  • Obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement for a Houston oil company in arbitration with its bank, one of the largest financial institutions in the world.

Practice Areas Explained

Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

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

Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Texas →

Class Action

Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius is one of 26,424 class action attorneys indexed nationally. Browse class action attorneys in Texas →

Product Liability

Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Texas →

Civil Litigation

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

Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius 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 Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius

Where is Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius's law office located?
Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius's law practice is located in Houston, Texas. The firm is Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius handle?
Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius focuses on business, class action, product liability, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Texas.
Where did Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius go to law school?
Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius earned their education at (J.D., 1991); (B.S., 1988).
How can I contact Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius for a consultation?
You can contact Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius 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 Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius received?
Stephen M. "Steve" Fernelius's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Best Lawyers in America — Awards:; Best Lawyers in America — Martindale-Hubbell: AV Peer Review Rated; Best Lawyers in America — Texas Super Lawyers by Thompson Reuters (2011–present).

Education

J.D.
The University of Texas
- 1991
B.S.
Georgetown University
- 1988

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Martindale-Hubbell: AV Peer Review Rated
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Texas Super Lawyers by Thompson Reuters (2011–present)
- 2026

Bar Admissions

Texas, State Bar of Texas

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