Darlene Payne Smith
About Darlene Payne Smith
Darlene Payne Smith is a lawyer based in Houston, TX and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2024. Darlene Payne Smith is recognized in the following practice areas:
- Houston, Texas
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Trusts and Estates
Current Firm: Crain Caton & James A Professional Corporation
Education: University of Houston Law Center, J.D., graduated 1987
Location: Houston, TX
It takes just a few minutes to optimize your profile for clients looking to engage and lawyers who are ready to refer.
Activate your profile and highlight why your peers recognized in Best Lawyers today.
Nearby Lawyers
Foster C. Johnson is a trial lawyer who focuses on complex commercial litigation. He has represented Fortune 100 companies in a variety civil actions, including contract disputes, oil and gas matters, non-compete claims, intellectual property litigation, and consumer and employment class actions. His recent successes include a six-week trial that ended in a $41.6 million jury verdict against Lloyd’s of London. The case was one of the top 100 2017 verdicts in the nation according to the ...
Over the course of his career, Tom Ganucheau has earned the trust and respect of his peers. He has regularly represented lawyers and law firms in sensitive legal malpractice matters, and is often engaged to protect the intellectual property and trade secrets of his clients. In short, Tom has made a career out of preserving his clients’ most valuable assets: their reputations, their ideas, and their brands. Tom has been recognized in Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers Texas magazine and as on...
Adrian's practice focuses on public finance and public law matters. In public finance matters, he serves as bond counsel, underwriters counsel and disclosure counsel for bonds for cities, counties, school districts, state agencies, university systems, transit authorities and special districts. He also has experience acting as counsel to banks providing credit and liquidity support for tax-exempt financing for municipal, healthcare and school district borrowers. In public law matters, Adrian r...
Susan McLerran’s practice encompasses a broad array of family law matters, with a focus on complex divorce proceedings involving marital property characterization, valuation and division, business valuation, taxation, issues related to retirement assets, stock options, restricted stock and employee benefits, and conservatorship, visitation and child support matters, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, and suits regarding modification and enforcement of court orders. Susan’s e...
Christopher C. Wan is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. His practice focuses primarily on resolving complex commercial and industrial construction disputes through litigation and arbitration. Chris’s experience covers a variety of disputes involving refineries, chemical plants, pipelines, water treatment plants, high-rise condominiums, and university buildings, among other commercial and industrial projects. Chris graduated from the South Texas College of Law, where ...
Derrick Carson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Arbitration, International Arbitration - Commercial and Litigation - Construction. Derrick, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Derrick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Matt Veech joined BoyarMiller's Litigation Group in July 2005. His practice is devoted to representing a vast array of clients, from individuals to large corporations, in a variety of employment and business-related disputes. Matt represents clients in matters relating to enforcement of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary information, breach of fiduciary duties and breach of contract, shareholder oppression, and related business t...
Michael D. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Litigation - Insurance. Michael D., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nestor A. Rosin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. Nestor A., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nestor A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
C. Brannon Robertson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. C. Brannon, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which C. Brannon is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Explore and Learn
The Family Law Loophole That Lets Sex Offenders Parent Kids
by Bryan Driscoll
Is the state's surrogacy framework putting children at risk?
Unenforceable HOA Rules: What Homeowners Can Do About Illegal HOA Actions
by Bryan Driscoll
Not every HOA rule is legal. Learn how to recognize and fight unenforceable HOA rules that overstep the law.
Best Lawyers 2026: Discover the Honorees in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain
by Jamilla Tabbara
A growing international network of recognized legal professionals.
Holiday Pay Explained: Federal Rules and Employer Policies
by Bryan Driscoll
Understand how paid holidays work, when employers must follow their policies and when legal guidance may be necessary.
Can a Green Card Be Revoked?
by Bryan Driscoll
Revocation requires a legal basis, notice and the chance to respond before status can be taken away.
New Texas Family Laws Transform Navigating Divorce, Custody
by Bryan Driscoll
Reforms are sweeping, philosophically distinct and designed to change the way families operate.
US Tariff Uncertainty Throws Canada Into Legal Purgatory
by Bryan Driscoll
The message is clear: There is no returning to pre-2025 normalcy.
How Far Back Can the IRS Audit You?
by Bryan Driscoll
Clear answers on IRS statutes of limitations, recordkeeping and what to do if you are under review.
The 2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Chile, Colombia and Puerto Rico
by Jamilla Tabbara
The region’s most highly regarded lawyers.
Can You File Bankruptcy on Credit Cards
by Bryan Driscoll
Understanding your options for relief from overwhelming debt.