Law Firm Overview

Mr. Smith has handled several high-profile cases in his 40 year career in the areas of family law, probate and general civil litigation, which have involved large estates and precedent setting legal results. However, he has always strived to keep his clients from receiving adverse media publicity while representing their legal interests while advocating their cases.

We are dedicated to providing excellent service to our clients. Our concentration to detail, communication skills and commitment to excellence sets us apart. We keep each other well versed and are able to communicate punctually and knowledgeably with our clients. We are spirited and always willing to go that extra mile for our clients.

Our declaration of commitment to clients

• To treat you with respect and courtesy.
• To handle your legal matter competently and diligently, in accordance with the highest standards of the profession.
• To exercise independent professional judgment on your behalf.
• To charge you a reasonable fee and to explain in advance how that fee will be computed and billed.
• To respect the Texas objectives to be pursued in your case, as permitted by law and the Rules of Professional Conduct, including whether or not to settle your case.
• To preserve the client confidences learned during our lawyer-client relationship.
• To value the confidential information that is related to our attorneys.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law
• Adoption
• Child Support
• Mediation & Collaborative Law
• Divorce
• Probate & Estate Administration
• Wills

Honors and Awards

• Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Life Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation, 1992
• Charter Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Published Works

• "The Subsequent Treating Physician: Whose Witness?" (Co-Author with Steven P. Lindamood), Vol. 23, No, 2, Trial Lawyers Forum, P. 11, 1989
• Psychiatric and Legal Aspects of Automobile Fatalities, (Co-Author with John R. Finch, M.D., Charles C. Thomas), Charles C. Thomas Publishers, Springfield, Ill, 1970
• "Not Unlike a Felon", Baylor Medicine, January, 1968
• Current Problems in Labor Law, Chapter Seven, "The Union Power to Discipline Under the Taft-Hartley and Landrum-Griffin Acts: Two Gaps", University of Houston, PP 58-73, 1966

Classes and Seminars

• Faculty Member, Texas College of Trial Advocacy, 1993 - 1998
• Adjunct Law Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, 1970 - 2001
• Clinical Professor of Law, University of Houston College of Law, 1973 - 1976
• Assistant Professor of Medical Law, Baylor College of Medicine, 1967 - 1970
• "Pros and Cons of Alternative Dispute Resolution", Comparative Law Seminar, Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, Ireland, November 9, 2004
• "Alternative Dispute Resolution in Texas", Irish/American Comparative Law Seminar, Dublin, Ireland, July 30, 1996
• "Effective Techniques in the Use of Evidence", South Texas College of Law CLE Program, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, April 28, 1995
• "Post-Daubert: The Current Status of Opinion Evidence Under Tex. R. Civ. E. 702," Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 1994
• "Doctors and Nurses on Trial", The Texas Medical Legal Association, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, April 23, 1994
• "The Barrister - Solicitor Distinction - A U. S. View," Aspects of Commercial Litigation, Conference of Irish and American Lawyers, Kings Inn, Dublin, Ireland, June 8, 1993 - June 10, 1993
• "Over View of Recent Developments in Texas Evidence Law," Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 1990
• "Preparing the Expert Witness for Deposition and Trial," Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence, South Texas College of Law, Houston/Dallas, Texas, 1989
• "The Current Status of Psychiatric Malpractice in the United States", Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 1989
• "How Clergy can try to avoid a Law Suit", Galveston Convocation, Friendswood, Texas, 1989
• "Preparing Witnesses For Deposition: Plaintiff's Perspective," Pretrial Tactics and Techniques for the Experienced Litigator: A Performance Enhancement Course, State Bar of Texas, Houston, Texas, 1987
• "Psychological Evidence In Probate Cases", National College of Probate Judges, Naples, Florida, 1987
• "Insurance and the Texas Tort System: Where will the Crash Occur?", Texas Bar Foundation, Austin, Texas, 1986
• Effective Utilization of Legal Assistants, Houston Bar Association, Houston, Texas, 1985
• Lectures in Law, University of Houston College of Law, 1967 - 1970

West Practice Categories

Mediation, Family Law, Adoption, Child Support, Collaborative Law, Divorce, Probate & Estate Administration, Wills