Atty. Stephen Ray Smith

• With an impressive tenure exceeding 35 years, Stephen Ray Smith stands as a distinguished figure in the multifaceted realms of complex civil litigation and transactional expertise
• His diverse portfolio encompasses an array of legal landscapes, including commanding roles in commercial construction disputes, insurance matters, corporate securities, corporate start-ups, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate
• Recognized for his unwavering commitment to legal excellence, Stephen has been honored with the prestigious AV Peer Review Rating of Preeminent by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
• Stephen embarked on his academic journey at Texas A&M University, culminating in the achievement of a Bachelor of Science in Economics with Honors in 1983
• Subsequently, he pursued his legal education at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1986
• After completing his legal studies, Stephen embarked on an impactful trajectory, beginning as an associate attorney and later ascending to founding partner status at various distinguished law firms
• Most notably, he is a founding partner of the esteemed Legist
• Intriguingly, Stephen's familial background as the son of a forty-year contractor and entrepreneur in the greater Houston area has endowed him with a unique perspective and deep-seated empathy for contractors and small business proprietors of diverse backgrounds
• This exceptional insight has notably informed his specialized expertise in real estate and construction matters, representing a plethora of contractors and business owners over three decades
• Furthermore, Stephen's firsthand experience as an owner and developer of commercial and residential real estate projects lends a profound depth to his legal counsel
• Exemplary Showcases of Client Engagements Stephen's illustrious career spans over 350 business and construction-related legal matters, with an impressive 50 first-chair trial experiences, the majority of which were jury trials
• His representative accomplishments include: Business Litigation Matters: • Litigating deceptive trade practices cases involving the sale of new and used equipment. • Advocating in real estate development and partnership dispute litigation. • Representing clients in multifaceted cases concerning trade secrets, their misuse, and theft. • Exhibiting substantial proficiency in stock fraud cases, addressing issues of market manipulation, short selling, and fraudulent financing. • Successfully navigating a partition action as a court-appointed receiver, culminating in the sale of separate tracts totaling approximately $35 million. • Defending an oil field services company against fraudulent investor attempts through a disputed reverse merger. • Pursuing wrongful death cases due to inadequate workplace security, asserting negligence and gross negligence. • Victoriously representing creditors and prior owners in complex state court and bankruptcy litigation involving oil field environmental waste subsidiaries. • Steadfastly representing publicly traded clients in multi-dimensional stock fraud cases encompassing allegations of short selling, fraud, RICO, and credit facility violations. • Achieving settlements exceeding eight figures for surviving family members asserting wrongful death claims against a major international oil company. • Securing a seven-figure verdict in a high-stakes trucking case involving a prominent diesel engine manufacturer and tractor truck manufacturer

Construction Related Litigation

• Garnering a seven-figure verdict for a contractor in a breach of contract and warranty case for the construction of a new manufacturing facility. • Advocating for a general contractor in a $14 million damages case arising from a bulkhead replacement project. • Defending a contractor against a concrete plasticizer additive manufacturer in a case involving a failed tank wall. • Asserting claims for damage to work due to differing site conditions and faulty geotechnical studies. • Litigating improper design and testing claims in cases involving asphaltic concrete degradation. • Championing mechanic's and materialmen's lien issues in government and private work contracts. • Navigating disputes related to OSHA violations and equipment-related fatalities. • Representing clients in cases of construction failure caused by owner, general contractor, and subcontractor delays. • Advocating for clients in work interference claims asserted by subcontractors. • Asserting owner damage claims arising from contractor deviations from plans and specifications. • Successfully representing an owner in an arbitration concerning a contractor's mid-project abandonment. • Advocating for numerous subcontractors in claims of non-payment and rights assertion under mechanic's lien, trust fund, and prompt payment statutes

Professional Affiliations

• • State Bar of Texas • Houston Bar Association Stephen Ray Smith's legacy is etched with remarkable accomplishments in intricate legal landscapes, from construction litigation to diverse business arenas
• His dedication, profound insight, and relentless pursuit of justice stand as a testament to his enduring impact in the realm of law