About SKV:
Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, L.L.P. is a diverse and growing litigation boutique with nationally recognized civil litigation and white-collar criminal defense practices. Based in Houston, Texas, the 27-lawyer firm has significant civil trial experience (and results) in the energy sector, but also has major practices in intellectual property, healthcare, bankruptcy, and general commercial litigation. SKV’s white collar partners—a third of the partnership, and a rarity for a firm of SKV’s size—have become go-to leaders in environmental and FCPA suits/investigations. The firm prides itself on its deep bench—it hires young lawyers nearly exclusively out of federal clerkships and treats them as future partners from the outset—collaborative partnership, and commitment to staffing leanly and providing exceptional outcomes—and value—for clients.
Nearly 25 years ago, three partners at major Houston firms set out to build a different kind of law firm. Their experience forged their beliefs about what they wanted (and didn’t want) at SKV. Rather than provide legal counsel for every conceivable matter, the new firm would focus only on trial work and appeals. SKV would still exhibit the highest commitment to client services, but that commitment would include working with clients to find alternatives to the billable hour. In an era when everyone was scrambling to get bigger, SKV would grow slowly, hiring the most promising young lawyers out of clerkships or early in their careers and then spend time and resources training them to become outstanding lawyers in their own right. And finally, unlike many firms where intra-office relationships are often strained and widespread attrition is actually part of the business model, SKV would strive to create a collegial environment where lawyers enjoyed working together and would measure their tenures in decades, not months.
It’s safe to say our founders’ vision has paid off. SKV never wanted to be like other law firms, we wanted to be better.
SKV attorneys are fluent in a variety of languages including: English, Spanish, Romanian, and Russian. This ensures our ability to serve clients across the globe.
Practice Areas:
Complex Commercial Litigation including, but not limited to:
Commercial Disputes, White-Collar Criminal Defense, Energy, Intellectual Property, Healthcare, Securities, and Appeals.