Paul W. Smith

Paul W. Smith

Commercial Litigation

5.0 (1 reviews)
Houston, Texas
35+ years experience
Ware, Jackson, Lee, O'Neill, Smith & Barrow LLP
Updated:

Contact Information

America Tower, 39th Floor, 2929 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019
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Bio

For over twenty-eight years, Paul Smith has been very successful trying many different types of cases to juries. He has also tried numerous bench trials and argued in federal and state appellate courts. Paul has tried a variety of cases on both sides of the docket, including oil & gas, environmental, commercial, personal injury, products liability, professional liability and employment cases. Paul started his career in the Tort section at Vinson and Elkins before joining Ware Jackson. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating from the preeminent standard in attorney ratings.Early in his career, Paul learned that the keys to winning a case are knowledge of the law and sustained, relentless and focused preparation. Paul has been fortunate enough to work both with and against some of the best trial lawyers in the country. This experience has allowed him to develop the skills in advocacy and good judgment he uses to represent his clients. Paul gives honest and straightforward evaluations to clients, directly answering their questions and advising them on what work needs to be done to consistently meet or exceed goals. He is always available for his clients — early, late, weekends and holidays. His talent for advocacy, persuasion skills and judgment allows him to ethically, efficiently and successfully represent clients with diverse types of issues and cases.Paul’s sincere belief in the American civil judicial system is what ultimately drove him to choose his profession. He believes in the jury system, and he believes that if (i) attorneys are advocates, (ii) judges are guardians of the law and (iii) jury members are fact finders, our legal system works better than any other legal system in the world.Paul enjoys spending his free time with his wife, son and twin daughters. The family regularly enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and golf. Paul has been a board member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and remains active in trying to find a cure to Type 1 diabetes. For over twenty-eight years, Paul Smith has been very successful trying many different types of cases to juries. He has also tried numerous bench trials and argued in federal and state appellate courts. Paul has tried a variety of cases on both sides of the docket, including oil & gas, environmental, commercial, personal injury, products liability, professional liability and employment cases. Paul started his career in the Tort section at Vinson and Elkins before joining Ware Jackson. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating from the preeminent standard in attorney ratings.Early in his career, Paul learned that the keys to winning a case are knowledge of the law and sustained, relentless and focused preparation. Paul has been fortunate enough to work both with and against some of the best trial lawyers in the country. This experience has allowed him to develop the skills in advocacy and good judgment he uses to represent his clients. Paul gives honest and straightforward evaluations to clients, directly answering their questions and advising them on what work needs to be done to consistently meet or exceed goals. He is always available for his clients — early, late, weekends and holidays. His talent for advocacy, persuasion skills and judgment allows him to ethically, efficiently and successfully represent clients with diverse types of issues and cases.Paul’s sincere belief in the American civil judicial system is what ultimately drove him to choose his profession. He believes in the jury system, and he believes that if (i) attorneys are advocates, (ii) judges are guardians of the law and (iii) jury members are fact finders, our legal system works better than any other legal system in the world.Paul enjoys spending his free time with his wife, son and twin daughters. The family regularly enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and golf. Paul has been a board member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and remains active in trying to find a cure to Type 1 diabetes. For over twenty-eight years, Paul Smith has been very successful trying many different types of cases to juries. He has also tried numerous bench trials and argued in federal and state appellate courts. Paul has tried a variety of cases on both sides of the docket, including oil & gas, environmental, commercial, personal injury, products liability, professional liability and employment cases. Paul started his career in the Tort section at Vinson and Elkins before joining Ware Jackson. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating from the preeminent standard in attorney ratings. Early in his career, Paul learned that the keys to winning a case are knowledge of the law and sustained, relentless and focused preparation. Paul has been fortunate enough to work both with and against some of the best trial lawyers in the country. His talent for advocacy, persuasion skills and judgment allows him to ethically, efficiently and successfully represent clients with diverse types of issues and cases. Paul’s sincere belief in the American civil judicial system is what ultimately drove him to choose his profession. He believes in the jury system, and he believes that if (i) attorneys are advocates, (ii) judges are guardians of the law and (iii) jury members are fact finders, our legal system works better than any other legal system in the world. Paul enjoys spending his free time with his wife, son and twin daughters. The family regularly enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and golf. Paul has been a board member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and remains active in trying to find a cure to Type 1 diabetes.

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Houston (2023)
  • Recognized: Commercial Litigation
  • Recognized: Litigation - Construction
  • Recognized: Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  • Practice Area: Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Practice Area: Oil and Gas Law

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018

Education

  • The University of Texas, J.D., graduated 1990
  • The University of Texas, B.A., graduated 1987

Reviews

J

Jason Roberts

2 weeks ago

A consummate professional who delivers results

When a complex construction dispute escalated into a full-blown lawsuit, our company was facing significant financial exposure. We turned to Paul Smith at Ware, Jackson, Lee, O'Neill, Smith & Barrow, and it was the best decision we could have made. Paul’s 35 years of experience, particularly his deep knowledge in litigation-construction matters, were immediately apparent. He didn’t just understand the legal intricacies; he grasped the practical realities of our business and the project itself. His strategic approach was methodical and unflappable. Paul leveraged his extensive trial background, having successfully argued before both state and federal appellate courts, to build an overwhelmingly strong position that compelled a favorable settlement just before trial. His recognition as a Lawyer of the Year is well-deserved. Beyond his formidable expertise, Paul is a direct and communicative counselor who demystified each step of the process. He provided clear, candid advice that empowered us to make informed decisions. We felt genuinely represented and protected throughout. For any serious commercial or civil litigation in Houston, Paul W. Smith is the attorney you want in your corner.

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