With more than 180 trial lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall, New York, Silicon Valley, and Washington, DC, McKool Smith has established a reputation as one of America's leading trial firms. The firm has won more National Law Journal and VerdictSearch “Top 100 Verdicts” over the last five years than any other law firm. McKool Smith represents leading clients across a broad range of practice areas, including complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, bankruptcy, and white collar defense.        

MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:  

Complex Commercial Litigation:

McKool Smith’s commercial litigators are experienced in all facets of complex commercial litigation, including matters involving antitrust claims, business torts, class actions, complex contract and business tort litigation, fiduciary litigation, information technology and outsourcing disputes, insurance recovery, investment fund and fund advisor litigation, merger and acquisition litigation, oil and gas royalty disagreements, securities litigation, shareholder litigation, whistleblower litigation, and structured finance and derivatives litigation. Our attorneys have represented clients in complex commercial litigation in every available forum, including state and federal trials and appeals, and domestic and international mediations and arbitrations.  

Intellectual Property Litigation:

McKool Smith represents clients in all aspects of intellectual property litigation, including patent infringement, trademarks, trade secrets, patent licensing, and copyright matters. The firm employs skilled and experienced trial attorneys who have the legal and technical expertise to persuade judges and juries who decide technologically complex issues. Several firm attorneys also hold technical degrees and have worked as engineers themselves, providing clients with an enhanced level of experience in complex intellectual property matters. Additionally, the firm’s attorneys include 10 former Federal Circuit clerks. The firm also maintains a practice before the International Trade Commission, and has significant expertise in Section 337 litigation.  The firm was named the South’s top patent litigation firm by Managing IP and received the publication's 2011 “Patent Case of the Year” honor for securing a $290 million judgment for i4i Inc. against Microsoft. The judgment was unanimously affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, and reportedly represents the largest U.S. patent infringement award to be affirmed by the Supreme Court. In 2012, the firm was named intellectual property “Firm of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation, and previously was recognized as “IP Firm of the Year” by Law360.

White Collar Defense:

McKool Smith’s white collar defense practice is led by former federal prosecutors with decades of experience in virtually every type of government investigation and prosecution. The firm’s attorneys have represented both companies and individuals in a variety of white collar matters, including allegations involving securities fraud, insider trading, bank fraud, tax violations, antitrust violations, racketeering, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), environmental violations, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), government procurement violations, insurance fraud, political corruption, and criminal antirust investigations. Our attorneys also effectively guide major corporations, boards, and committees through sensitive internal investigations.   

Bankruptcy Litigation:

McKool Smith's bankruptcy and restructuring practice focuses on the defense and prosecution of complex lawsuits arising under bankruptcy and related state and federal laws on behalf of debtors, creditors’ committees, and other parties. The firm also represents clients in complex reorganization proceedings and out-of-court restructurings. McKool Smith's attorneys have litigated complex multi-party disputes in courtrooms and forums throughout the United States, and were among the first called before congress to provide insights on proposed changes to the Federal Bankruptcy Code.