Quentin L. Smith
Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
Quentin is a commercial litigator who focuses on business, energy, and petrochemical disputes.
He represents clients in a wide array of disputes, including complex contract disputes, complex multi-district litigations, energy disputes, disputes arising out of fiduciary duties, and property tax valuations. Quentin is a versatile advocate, having represented clients in various forums: state court, federal court, domestic arbitration, and international arbitration. He has tried cases to finality in state court, federal court, and arbitration. He has shown a keen ability to adapt to his audience, whether it be a judge, jury, or an arbitrator.
Quentin has developed unique experience with Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), having litigated and advised clients on various UCC Article 2 matters, including disputes over gas supply agreements, NAESB contracts, industrial equipment contracts, and contracts involving produce.
Quentin serves as General Counsel for the Theatre Under the Stars, as a Trustee for the Houston Symphony, a member of the Texas Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee, and as board member for the Houston Lawyer Referral Service. He is also a Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), Texas Bar Foundation, and Houston Bar Foundation. At Vinson & Elkins, Quentin serves as the Co-Head of Training for the global Litigation and Regulatory Department and as a Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Executive Committee.
Experience Highlights
(La. Dist. – Orleans Parish) — Secured $125 million judgment following a jury verdict for Huntsman Corporation in its contract dispute with gas supplier, Praxair, Inc.
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Secured $17 million (net) verdict in a breach of contract dispute
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — As plaintiff’s counsel for a major petrochemical company, won partial summary judgment on contractual interpretation issues under the Texas UCC and won a plaintiff’s verdict as second chair lawyer in a three-week jury trial
(S.D. Tex.) — As counter-plaintiff’s counsel, represented an aviation company in a suit brought by its former maintenance service provider in a breach of contract case; in a bench trial, successfully defeated plaintiffs’ claims and prevailed on a counterclaim, winning $1 million dollars (net) on the counterclaim
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — Representing transmission and distribution utilities (TDUs) in over 100 cases in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving various claims arising from Winter Storm Uri
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — Representing various natural gas related entities and financial institutions in a dozen cases in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving various claims arising from Winter Storm Uri
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) – Representing a transmission and distribution utility in lawsuits arising out of Hurricane Beryl
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — Representing mineral interest owners in a multi-million dollar commercial dispute
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — Representing commercial property owners in ad valorem tax litigation
(Tex. Dist. – Fort Bend Cnty.) — Represented a civil contractor in a theft of trade secrets dispute; won a motion to dismiss the opposing party’s claims under the Texas Citizen’s Participation Act (TCPA) with prejudice and obtained six figures in attorneys’ fees
(S.D. Tex.) — Obtained a partial summary judgment victory for a publicly traded consumer goods company in a breach of contract dispute with an international distributor, leading to a favorable settlement
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — As plaintiff’s counsel, represented various commercial property owners in property tax litigation, obtaining millions of dollars in refunds
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — As lead plaintiff’s counsel, prosecuted a breach of contract claim for failure to pay for services on various construction projects that led to a favorable settlement for a construction company client
(S.D. Tex.) — As plaintiff’s counsel, prosecuted breach of warranty claims under Article 2 of the Texas UCC concerning the failure of a warranted good that led to a favorable settlement for the client
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — Achieved favorable resolution on breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims asserted against a publicly traded energy company by a former employee
(Tex. Dist. – Harris Cnty.) — Obtained settlement where client received exact dollar amount of requested relief after drafting and filing a Rule 91a motion to dismiss the opposing party’s counterclaim
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Argued and prevailed on a motion for summary judgment, winning a full judgment in favor of a client defending against libel per se and invasion of privacy claims
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Obtained dismissal of a lawsuit in Texas state court based on improper venue
Advised private equity company on litigation risks arising from portfolio company
Represented a large construction company in matters involving alleged Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations
(American Arbitration Association [AAA]) — Representing publicly traded upstream energy company in a contractual dispute with its raw materials provider
Achieved favorable resolutions for gas marketing companies on force majeure and Article 2 UCC disputes under NAESB gas supply agreements arising from Winter Storm Uri
(Del. Ch.) — Drafted motions and pleadings on behalf of a midstream energy company in merger challenges in Delaware Chancery Court
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Prompted the voluntary dismissal of a lawsuit, without any subsequent refiling, in Texas state court by drafting and filing a Rule 91a motion
(International Centre for Dispute Resolution [ICDR]) — As respondent’s counsel, represented a major oil and gas company in a breach of contract arbitration arising from oil and gas interest in Papua New Guinea
(International Chamber of Commerce [ICC]) — Represented an international drilling company in a multi-million dollar dispute involving claims for breach of contract and breach of warranty related to drilling rigs in an arbitration; the arbitration team’s filings caused the opposing party to file for bankruptcy on the eve of the tribunal hearing and drop its claims against our client
(International Chamber of Commerce [ICC]) — Represented an international oil and gas company as the claimant in a breach of contract case involving oil and gas interests in Argentina; helped to guide the client to a favorable confidential settlement
(International Chamber of Commerce [ICC]) — Represented an international construction company in a breach of contract case involving a services contract stemming from a multi-billion-dollar construction project in Qatar; obtained a favorable settlement for the client
Credentials
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D. cum laude, 2010 (Phi Kappa Phi; Executive Editor, Michigan Journal of Race & Law; Student Tutor, Administrative Law and Enterprise Organizations)
- Morehouse College, B.A., Political Science magna cum laude, 2007 (Phi Beta Kappa)
- Judicial clerk to The Honorable Lavenski R. Smith, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2011–2012
- Chambers USA, “Up and Coming” in Litigation: General Commercial (Houston), 2023 and 2024
- Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2023 and 2024
- Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023 and 2024
- Selected to the 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon, 2023–2025
- Texas Lawyer, Texas Legal Awards, “On the Rise,” 2022
- Bloomberg Law, Top 40 Under 40, 2021
- National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, 2015, 2019–2023
- Lawyers of Color (On Being A Black Lawyer), Hot List Honoree, 2014
- Board Member and General Counsel: Theatre Under the Stars
- Trustee: Houston Symphony
- Member: Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee
- Member: Houston Symphony, Young Associates Council
- Steering Committee Member: Texas Minority Counsel Program
- Fellow: Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
- Life Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation
- Fellow: Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
- Board Member: Houston Bar Association, Houston Lawyer Referral Service
- Former Co-Chair and Board Member: Houston Bar Foundation
- Former Co-Chair: Houston Bar Association, Communities in Schools Committee (2016–2017 bar year); Member: (2014–2020 bar years)
- Former Member: Houston Bar Association, Membership Committee Houston Bar Association (2017–2018 bar year)
- Former Ambassador: Houston Bar Association (2019–2020 bar year)
- Member: University of Michigan Alumni Association
- Member: Morehouse College Alumni Association
- Texas
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of Texas
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 19, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 12, 2024
- InsightJune 18, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- InsightJune 4, 2024
Published by Bloomberg Law
- Deals & CasesApril 19, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 26, 2024
- InsightSeptember 26, 2023
Published by Law Business Research Ltd
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 11, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 27, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 17, 2023
- Vinson & Elkins Selects Counsel and Associates for Leadership Council on Legal Diversity InitiativesPress ReleaseFebruary 27, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 4, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 3, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJuly 26, 2022
- Deals & CasesMay 5, 2022
- Press ReleaseMarch 30, 2022
- Press ReleaseDecember 15, 2020
- “Here’s What Texas Attorneys Are Expecting From the State’s New Business Courts,” The American Lawyer, September 12, 2024 (quoted)
- “The Transition To Renewable Energy Will Fuel New Disputes In The Energy Industry,” JDSupra, March 9, 2021
- “Removing Securities Act Class Actions to Federal Court,” V&E Securities Litigation Insights, October 2, 2012 (co-author)