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Hicks Thomas LLP is a premier Texas-based litigation boutique committed to delivering high-impact, practical solutions for complex disputes. Founded in 1997, the firm has built a reputation for strategic advocacy, deep trial experience, and a client-centered approach.
Hicks Thomas serves clients in sectors such as energy, construction, environmental, healthcare, insurance, intellectual property, labor & employment, real estate, and corporate business disputes. The firm handles both plaintiff and defense matters, offering appellate and trial services tailored to each client’s objectives.
What distinguishes Hicks Thomas is its philosophy of blending legal rigor with business insight. Rather than treat litigation as a detached adversarial exercise, the attorneys take time to learn each client’s goals and constraints. They ask two guiding questions: “What can we do to help?” and “What can we do better?” This mindset enables them to frame disputes not just legally, but strategically, aligning litigation pathways with commercial imperatives.
The firm’s credentials reflect widespread recognition. Its attorneys have been honored in publications such as Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, and Lawdragon's 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Hicks Thomas prides itself on being “Houston’s Top Litigation Attorneys” while maintaining nimble responsiveness and hands-on client service. Whether navigating high-stakes appeals, trade secret disputes, environmental claims, or employment controversies, the firm brings a sophisticated, results-oriented mindset. In the courtroom or at the bargaining table, Hicks Thomas positions clients for success through rigorous advocacy and tailored strategy.
Updated Oct 2025
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John B. Thomas
Commercial
E: jthomas@hicks-thomas.com
Represented Zachry Group as Lead Counsel in $3 Billion claim for fraudulent conveyance in connection with the EPC contract for the construction of Golden Pass Terminals, LLC (owned jointly by Quatar Energy, Inc. and Exxon Mobil Corporation). Litigation of claims paved the way for the Zachry entities to structure a plan of reorganization to emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
Represented Mattress Firm, Inc. as national counsel for real estate disputes resulting from business shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Represented Occidental Petroleum in international arbitration against BP following its $3.6 billion acquisition of Permian-based assets
Stephen M. Loftin
Commercial
E: sloftin@hicks-thomas.com
Loftin was the trial counsel for Siemens and defended claims that arose from damage to gas powered electrical generators that occurred in transit from manufacturing facility in Korea. Some of the issues included applicability of international shipping (INCO) terms, risk of loss terms, apportionment of insurance obligations, and force majeure provisions.
Loftin represented a railroad company in numerous service interruption lawsuits in state and federal courts arising out of a merger with Southern Pacific Railroad. He was successful in resolving all claims satisfactory to the client, including his service as lead trial counsel in state and court cases where he defended fraud and breach of contract claims. He successfully defeated the fraud claim in a ten-day trial. On a subsequent appeal, Loftin obtained a take-nothing judgment on all claims. Subsequently he obtained a pretrial dismissal of a separate federal court lawsuit alleging claims of negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract.
- Loftin served as the lead trial counsel for a pipeline company in dispute over alleged inability to provide sufficient natural gas for the customer due to force majeure. He obtained findings that the pipeline’s allocation of limited supply was reasonable despite plaintiff’s firm commitment for gas. Loftin successfully affirmed this case after a successful appeal.
Courtney E. Ervin
Commercial
E: cervin@hicks-thomas.com
Represented an exploration and production MLP in a shareholder dispute in Delaware Chancery Court seeking to unwind a multi-million-dollar transaction including claims for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of the unitholder agreement.
Lead counsel for an above-ground tank company in a construction dispute alleging faulty welding and asserting claims of subrogation, breach of warranty and breach of contract. Suit was pending in federal court in the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana.
- Represent a national retail company in a massive, multi-year fraud, bribery, and kickback scheme involving its senior officers and multiple real estate developers in Harris County
Austin
111 Congress Ave., Ste. 1010
78701, United States
T: 512-827-7990Amarillo
619 S. Tyer St., Ste. 80B
79101, United States
T: 806-310-9990Beaumont
2615 Calder Ave., Ste. 720
77702, United States
T: 409-241-7252- Sacramento
701 University Ave., Ste. 106
95825, United States
T: 916-447-4900
