Commercial Litigation

Schmidt & Hoffer represents companies in a broad range of commercial litigation and arbitration, including complex contract and antitrust litigation and business tort cases of all kinds, including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and unfair competition claims against companies and their directors and officers, and intellectual property and technology litigation.  The firm has significant experience in litigating partnership and shareholder disputes, as well as trade secret and covenant not to compete litigation.

The Firm's expertise in business litigation has been recognized statewide.  Tom Schmidt has consistently been chosen as a Texas Super Lawyer, recognizing him as one of the top business litigation lawyers in Texas in a statewide vote by peers coupled with a blue ribbon panel review, an honor given to 5% of the licensed attorneys in the state. The list of "Texas Super Lawyers" is published in the November edition of Texas Monthly Magazine.

Employment Law

Schmidt & Hoffer's labor and employment practice is successful and diversified, having represented individuals as well as Fortune 500 corporations in a vast array of employment disputes. From traditional employment discrimination and wage and hour cases under federal and state law, to rare issues that have arisen under the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Protection Act and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), our lawyers have been at the forefront of emerging issues in labor and employment law. We have represented clients in industries as diverse as chemicals, energy, health care, foods, technology, aerospace, private investigation, and industrial manufacturing, and we appear on behalf of these clients before a variety of courts at both the state and federal level in trials and appeals and before numerous state, local and federal administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Texas Commission on Human Rights and the Texas Workforce Commission. Although our employment lawyers have amassed a list of recent trial victories, they are also adept at helping clients avoid disputes, which often starts with appropriate training, policy development and implementation.

Issues our employment lawyers can and have recently handled include:

  • Employment and class action litigation
  • Race, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, religious, national origin and worker’s compensation discrimination/retaliation
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act and background checks
  • Family & Medical Leave Act issues
  • Trade Secrets, Noncompetition and Protection of Company Information
  • Workplace privacy issues
  • Employee discipline and terminations
  • EEOC Charges and Workplace Investigations
  • Drafting, Negotiating and Interpreting Employment Contracts and Severance Agreements for Employers and High Level Executives
  • Employment policies and handbooks and employment practice audits
  • Arbitrations
  • Wage and hour disputes, compliance and Department of Labor investigations
  • Employee Benefits Compliance and Litigation
  • Unemployment Compensation Issues and Appeals
  • Unfair Competition
  • Employment Torts
  • Employee Theft and Recovery
  • Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Protection Act
  • Employment Rights of Military Reservists

As a testament to the Firm’s capabilities in this area, Stewart Hoffer has consistently been chosen as a Texas Super Lawyer, recognizing him as one of the top labor and employment lawyers in Texas in a statewide vote by peers coupled with a blue ribbon panel review, an honor given to 5% of the licensed attorneys in the state. The list of "Texas Super Lawyers" is published in the November edition of Texas Monthly Magazine.

Corporate Matters

Schmidt & Hoffer represents both new and established businesses in a number of corporate matters. The firm provides corporate formation services to new businesses. We routinely assist entrepreneurs in formulating and documenting their business plans and in seeking start-up capital for their companies. For established businesses and newly formed companies, we provide advice related to shareholder and director issues, organization and maintenance of corporate books and records, negotiation and drafting of corporate documents and contracts, and counseling regarding liquidation, workout, and Bankruptcy issues.

Personal Injury

Schmidt & Hoffer helps its personal injury clients determine the best course of action for their personal injury case. In pursuing personal injury claims, we work with investigators and experts in specialized areas, who can skillfully investigate the technical and medical aspects of your case. There are several factors that affect the potential success and value of a personal injury claim. Such factors include the ability to prove the fault of another for your injury and the nature and extent of your injuries. Ultimately, through careful evaluation, Schmidt & Hoffer will determine at the outset whether it is worthwhile to pursue legal action. If you are unlikely to prevail, or the likely recovery will not justify the costs of pursuing a claim, we will tell you so upfront, so that you can avoid a waste of time and resources.

Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.