Stephen Crain has spent his career advocating for clients in high-stake and complex commercial disputes in the United States and internationally. He is the chair of the firm’s litigation section and serves on the firm’s management committee.
Stephen’s approach has been summarized by sources quoted by Chambers USA: “he’s diligent, he’s on top of things, he’s pragmatic; he takes complex situations and boils them down to their fundamentals and provides practical advice on how to move forward.” Other sources say he is “one of the smartest” and have highlighted Stephen’s courtroom presence: “His understanding of the law and how receptive judges will be to different arguments is uncanny” (Chambers USA).
Stephen focuses predominately on disputes in the energy sector. His diverse energy practice ranges from oil and gas royalty class actions to power trading disputes to claims involving carbon capture credits. He has litigated numerous cases involving NAESB and ISDA contracts. Stephen also represents officers, directors, and corporations in securities matters.
Stephen has appeared and tried cases in courts throughout the United States and has handled domestic and international arbitrations under every significant arbitration regime. In the last two years, Stephen has argued appeals before the Fifth Circuit, the Third Circuit, and the Texas Supreme Court.
Stephen is identified as one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America and one of the 500 Leading Litigators in America (Lawdragon, Inc.). He is ranked in Chambers USA in Nationwide: Oil & Gas Litigation (2021–2024) and in General Commercial Litigation in Texas (2012–2024). In The Legal 500 United States, Stephen is recommended in General Commercial Disputes (2017–2024); Commercial Litigation (2015–2016); Energy Litigation: Electric Power (2017–2024); Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas (2017–2024); Energy: Litigation (2012–2016); and Securities Litigation: Defense (2018). Stephen is also listed by Who’s Who Legal and Benchmark Litigation (Texas Litigation Star, 2010–2025).
