Dispute resolution
Craig Smyser at Steptoe LLP is a versatile trial lawyer with a broad commercial disputes practice that includes MDL leadership and international work. Routinely acting for healthcare companies in relation to opioid litigation, and currently represents defendants in the Astroworld Festival litigation concerning personal injury and wrongful death claims. Smyser also advises the City of Houston on complex tax issues and brings deep experience in high-stakes matters, including bankruptcy and financial fraud.
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Work Department
Commercial Trials & Litigation | Energy Litigation | Financial Services Litigation | Insolvency & Restructuring | State Attorney General | Crisis Management
Position
Partner
Career
Craig Smyser tries a broad range of complex business and personal injury cases. He has tried more than 50 cases to a jury verdict, with trials in state and federal courts; arbitrated dozens of domestic and international cases; and recovered verdicts and settlements in excess of half a billion dollars. Craig has been lead counsel in some of the largest, most important, and heavily publicized matters in Houston and the United States. Craig has briefed and argued appeals in the United States Supreme Court, 5thCircuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Texas.
Craig is a member of the American Law Institute and the International Society of Barristers. He has served as the president of the Houston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. The US District Court for the Southern District of Texas appointed Craig to the SDTX Attorney Admissions Committee in 2012 and reappointed him twice to serve as chair.
Craig has authored numerous articles on contracts and commercial litigation, and co-authored a text book on Texas contract law with professor David Dow. Prior to law school, he was a reporter at the Houston Chronicle, where he became the youngest political editor in Chronicle history, and was part of the team that won national UPI and AP awards for outstanding coverage of a major crime story.
Memberships
- Chair, Attorney Admissions Committee for the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- American Law Institute (2017-2021)
- International Society of Barristers
- Past president, Texas Association of Board Certified Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law
- Past president Houston Chapter, American Board of Trial Advocates
- Board of directors, Houston Urban Debate League
- Board of directors, Houston Tennis Association (2007 Board of Directors)
- Past chair of the Board of Directors of the Houston City/Harris County Cultural Arts Council
- Past president of the Board of Directors of Inprint
- Texas Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American Bar Foundation
- Houston Bar Association
Content supplied by Steptoe LLP
Key clients
- City of Houston
Work highlights
Serving as defense counsel in multidistrict personal injury, negligence, and wrongful death litigation following the November 5, 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy, involving over 2,000 plaintiffs and hundreds of millions in damages.