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Craig Smyser
About Craig
Biography
Craig Smyser tries and appeals a broad range of complex business and personal injury cases. Since founding SKV, Mr. Smyser has been consistently recognized for his and the firm’s litigation skills. Sources in Chambers USA have designated him as a “remarkably impressive lawyer,” “extremely efficient, smart and very selective,” and possessing the ability to “explain to the client what the issues are and what the best way to approach them is.”
Mr. Smyser is a member of the American Law Institute, the International Society of Barristers, and has been designated as a Super Lawyer every year since 2003, making the list of Top 100 Houston Super Lawyers 2007 through 2014 and the Top 100 in Texas in 2008. He has also served as the President of the Houston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates as well as the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. In 2012, Mr. Smyser was appointed to the Attorney Admissions Committee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and reappoionted for a second 3 year term in 2015. Mr. Smyser has authored numerous articles on contracts and commercial litigation and co-authored a text book on Texas Contract Law with Professor David Dow.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Texas for 45 years
State: Texas
Acquired: 1980
No misconduct found
Location
Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, LLP
700 Louisiana St Ste 2300, Houston, TX, 77002-2740
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Experience
Honors
2016
Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Plaintiff
2015
Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Plaintiff
2014
Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
2014
Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
2014
Best Lawyers in America, Texas Best Lawyers
2014
America's Leading Lawyers, Chambers USA
2014
Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Plaintiff
2013
Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
2013
Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
2013
Best Lawyers in America, Texas Best Lawyers
2013
Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Plaintiff
2013
America's Leading Lawyers, Chambers USA
2012
Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
2012
Best Lawyers in America, Texas Best Lawyers
2012
America's Leading Lawyers, Chambers USA
2012
Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
2011
Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
2011
America's Leading Lawyers, Chambers USA
2011
Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
2010
Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
2010
America's Leading Lawyers, Chambers USA
2010
Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
2009
Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
2009
America's Leading Lawyers, Chambers USA
2009
Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
2008
Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
2008
America's Leading Lawyers, Chambers USA
2007
Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine
Work Experience
1995 - Present
Founding Partner, Smyser Kaplan & Veselka
1988 - 1995
Partner, Vinson & Elkins
1980 - 1987
Associate, Vinson & Elkins
Associations
American Law Institute
Member
International Society of Barristers
Member
American Bar Association
Member
American Board of Trial Advocates
Member and Past President
American Bar Foundation
Member
Houston Bar Association
Member
Houston Philosophical Society
Member
Houston Urban Debate League
Member, Board of Directors
Texas Association of Board Certified Trial & Appellate Specialists
Past President
Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Board Member
Texas Bar Association
Member
2012 - 2015
Attorney Admissions Committee for the SDTMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Physician Shareholder Derivative Jury Verdict for Shareholder
Complete Victory
Dismissal of Shareholder Derivative Action on Behalf of $4B Public Company
Complete Victory
Dismissal of Trade Secret Case Brought by Major Oil Field Services Company
Dismissal of all charges
Jury Verdict in Real Estate Fraud/Environmental Contamination Case
Favorable Jury Verdict
Insurance Policy Coverage Dispute
Awarded all damages
Election Contest
Summary Judgment
Major LNG Terminalling and Breach of Contract Dispute
Complete Victory
Personal Injury Legal Malpractice
Summary Judgment
Environmental Tort
Settled
Securities Fraud
Settled
Non-Profit Hospital Personal Injury
Summary Judgment
Candidate for Congress
Toyota Center Construction Dispute
Confidential Settlement
City of Houston "Safe Clear"
International Hotel and Time-Share Group
Andrew Fastow
Yukos Oil International TRO & Injunction
TRO & Preliminary Injunction
City of Houston Injunction
Mandatory Injunction
City of Houston Injunction
Reversal of Injunction
Insurance Arbitration
Settled
International Hotel and Time-Share Group
Dismissal
Russian Government's Seizure
Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Breach of Contract and Fraud Against Health Insurers
Settled
Idigenous Inhabitants of the Ecuadorian Amazon
Education
1980
University of Texas School of Law
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
1973
The University of Texas At Austin
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.),
Speaking Engagements
2012
University of Texas Law School
Federal and State Court Issues
2006
29th Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course
Criminal Issues in Civil Cases
2005
Advanced Medical Malpractice Course
New Chapter 74 and Old 4590i Compared
2004
Advanced Medical Malpractice Course
Caps and Credits: A Comparison of the Old and the New
2004
Advanced Civil Trial Course
Discovery Update and Rule 202 - The Latest on the New Texas Rules
2003
Advanced Civil Trial Course
Discovery Update and Rule 202 - The Latest on the New Texas Rules
2002
Advanced Civil Trial Course
Discovery Update and Rule 202 - The Latest on the New Texas Rules
2001
University of Houston Law Foundation
Advanced Business Litigation - "Fraud and Related Claims"
1999
University of Houston Law Foundation
Advanced Business Litigation - "Fraud and Related Claims"
1998
University of Houston Law Foundation
Advanced Business Litigation - "Fraud and Related Claims"
1998
South Texas College of Law Advanced Litigation
Post Judgment Motions
1997
University of Houston Law Foundation
Advanced Business Litigation - "Fraud and Related Claims"
1997
Houston Bar Association Seminar
Class Actions - Plaintiff's View
1994
State Bar of Texas Seminar
Voir Dire: A Discussion, Demonstration and Workshop
1994
Advanced Civil Discovery Seminar
Advanced Issues in Evidence and Discovery
1993
Medical Malpractice Conference
Cross-Examination of the Enemy Expert
1992
Medical Malpractice Conference
Selected Discovery Problems
1991
Advanced Medical Malpractice Conference
Discovery Issues - Defense Perspective
1990
Piercing the Corporate Veil
Piercing the Corporate Veil
1990
Advanced Settlement Techniques
Advanced Settlement Techniques
1990
Advanced Medical Malpractice Litigation
Summary Judgments - Defense Perspective
1988
Advanced Discovery Seminar
Civil Discovery
1984
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Institute
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death
Publications
2006
State Bar of Texas 29th Annual Civil Trial Course
Criminal Issues in Civil Cases
2005
Thompson Publishing Group/West
Texas Contract Law