Just served in Harris County District Court or Southern District of Texas? You have until the Monday after 20 days (state) or 21 days (federal) to file an answer. The firms below defend Houston businesses, energy operators, federal contractors, and out-of-state companies pulled into Texas against commercial disputes, regulatory enforcement, products liability, and bet-the-company litigation.
A supplier files suit in Harris County District Court alleging $4M in unpaid invoices. A former employee files an FLSA collective action claiming unpaid overtime. A federal regulator opens an enforcement action. A pipeline operator sues for breach of a joint venture agreement. A consumer files a putative class action under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. A competitor sues for tortious interference based on a contract you negotiated last year. Houston's economy generates an unusually high volume of all these case types because of the concentration of energy, healthcare, real estate development, and consumer-facing businesses headquartered in the city.
The first 20 days after service are the most important. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 99 sets the state-court Answer deadline at 10:00 AM on the Monday following 20 days after service. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12 sets the federal deadline at 21 days. Missing either lets the plaintiff move for default judgment. The strategic calls in those first three weeks set the rest of the case: which forum applies, whether arbitration was waived, whether the complaint can survive a TRCP 91a motion to dismiss (Texas's version of Rule 12(b)(6)), whether to assert counterclaims, whether the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA, the state anti-SLAPP statute) applies, and which insurance coverage to tender.
Houston's litigation environment has a few specific features worth knowing. Harris County District Court juries skew defense-favorable on contract disputes and plaintiff-favorable on personal-injury and class actions. The Southern District of Texas (Houston federal court) is a busy general-docket court with experienced commercial judges. Texas created specialized business courts effective September 2024 (Texas Government Code Chapter 25A) for high-value commercial disputes; cases over $5M may be eligible. And the Texas Supreme Court is unusually active on commercial-law issues, which means clean appellate strategy matters more than in most states.
Houston business law and litigation boutique. Commercial litigation, business disputes, partnership and shareholder disputes, breach of contract, business torts, employment defense, healthcare regulatory defense. Strong fit for mid-market Houston businesses needing dedicated litigation counsel without AmLaw billing rates.
Houston trial firm founded by Mark Lanier, best known for plaintiff-side mass tort and pharmaceutical work but with a substantial defense practice on commercial litigation, IP, and complex disputes. Bet-the-company trial bench. Multiple nine-figure verdicts in jury trials.
Houston-headquartered AmLaw 200 firm with a deep commercial litigation bench. Energy disputes, bankruptcy litigation, employment defense, white-collar defense, securities defense, partnership and shareholder disputes. Strong appellate practice in Texas Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit.
Houston trial and appellate boutique. Complex business disputes spanning antitrust, IP, contractual disputes, securities defense, and bet-the-company commercial litigation. Top-tier Texas Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit appellate practice.
Hourly rates: $350-$650/hr at boutique Houston firms, $525-$995/hr at mid-market and AmLaw 200 firms (Porter Hedges, Andrews Kurth-affiliated), $650-$1,200/hr at AmLaw 100 trial firms, $895-$1,700/hr at Vinson & Elkins, Baker Botts, Gibson Dunn, and similar BigLaw.
Motion to dismiss (TRCP 91a in state court or Rule 12(b)(6) in federal): $25,000-$65,000 through ruling. Through summary judgment: $175,000-$650,000. Through jury trial in Harris County: $500,000-$4,000,000+ depending on document volume, deposition count, and expert needs.
Written case assessment (early-stage analysis): $2,500-$7,500 flat at most Houston firms. Often the most useful early spend because it surfaces dispositive arguments, insurance coverage triggers, and TCPA potential.
Insurance defense: Many Texas business policies (CGL, D&O, EPLI, professional liability, cyber) cover defense costs. Texas duty-to-defend law is broad: under State Farm Lloyds v. Fuentes, the duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify, and ambiguities are resolved in favor of coverage. Tender to your carrier within days of service.
First response to a complaint: Texas state court answer due by 10:00 AM on the Monday following 20 days after service (TRCP 99). Federal court: 21 days from service. Extensions of 14-30 days are commonly granted by stipulation.
TRCP 91a / Rule 12(b)(6) motion ruling: 2-6 months from filing in Harris County District Court, 4-9 months in Southern District of Texas.
Discovery cutoff: 8-14 months after the scheduling order in Harris County, 12-18 months in Southern District of Texas.
Time to trial: 12-22 months in Harris County District Court, 18-30 months in Southern District of Texas. Texas business courts (high-value commercial cases) move faster: 12-18 months.
Texas appellate review: 9-15 months in the courts of appeals, plus 9-18 months at the Texas Supreme Court if granted review. Fifth Circuit (federal): 12-24 months.
Just served? Send the complaint and we will route to the best-fit Houston defense firm in our directory within one business day.