Strategies For Texas Business Courts

Texas business courts were created by Chapter 25A of the Texas Government Code and opened for business on September 1. These courts provide specialized venues for complex or large dollar business disputes. Any case filed after September 1 can be removed to or filed in these courts if it meets certain criteria. Strategically planning for using these courts will pay dividends for savvy litigants.

Business courts give qualified litigants the ability to avoid pretrial proceedings in unfavorable venues. Whether filed initially in a business court or removed to it, pretrial proceedings will be held where the business courts sit – initially Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The removal process is analogous to removal to federal courts. The cases will be remanded to standard courts for trial. If the case was removed, it will be remanded back to the original trial court for trial. Where the case was originally filed in the business court the