Stephen Barrick is a seasoned litigator and appellate specialist with nearly 30 years of experience handling complex business disputes and high-stakes appeals. A graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, where he earned his J.D. magna cum laude, Stephen began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable John D. Rainey of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, gaining invaluable insight into federal court practice and judicial decision-making. He later spent more than nine years in the litigation department of a leading international law firm, focusing on trial and appellate matters. Since joining Hicks Thomas in 2008, Stephen has concentrated his practice on business and commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on state and federal appeals. He is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been recognized by Texas Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and Lawdragon’s Leading Litigators in America.

Representative Cases

  • Lead counsel for an investor in a closely held company against co-owners in a complex business dispute involving fiduciary duties, ownership rights, and access to business records.
  • Lead counsel on appeal in a multimillion-dollar oil and gas royalty dispute.
  • Lead counsel for international oil and gas company in arbitration to declare the parties’ rights and obligations under a joint operating agreement.
  • Lead counsel on appeal of a final judgment in a multimillion-dollar insurance coverage dispute.
  • Counsel for publicly traded offshore drilling contractor in arbitration of a $160 million breach of contract claim against two of the largest corporations in the world.
  • Counsel for international oil and gas company on appeal of a multimillion-dollar class action judgment.
  • Counsel for nationwide retailer in trademark and trade dress infringement litigation.
  • Counsel for publicly traded internet company in high-stakes dispute over rights to a popular internet domain name.

Example Published Appeals

Texas Supreme Court

  • Tex. Windstorm Ins. Ass’n v. Pruski, 689 S.W.3d 887 (Tex. 2024)
  • WWLC Inv., L.P. v. Miraki, 624 S.W.3d 796 (Tex. 2021)
  • Windrum v. Kareh, 581 S.W.3d 761 (Tex. 2019)
  • Sw. Bell Tel., L.P. v. Emmett, 459 S.W.3d 578 (Tex. 2015)
  • Mut. Ins. Co. v. Ruttiger, 381 S.W.3d 430 (Tex. 2012)
  • Chu v. Hong, 249 S.W.3d 441 (Tex. 2008)

Fifth Circuit

  • Discover Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Blue Bell Creameries, Inc., 73 F.4th 322 (5th Cir. 2023)
  • BP Explor. Libya Ltd. v. ExxonMobil Libya Ltd., 689 F.3d 481 (5th Cir. 2012)
  • Walker Int’l Holdings, Ltd. v. Republic of Congo, 395 F.3d 229 (5th Cir. 2004)

Texas Courts of Appeals

Direct Appeals

  • Gilbreath v. Horan, 682 S.W.3d 454 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2023, pet. denied)
  • MJR Oil & Gas 2001 LLC v. AriesOne, LP, 558 S.W.3d 692 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2018, no pet.)
  • Allen v. Devon Energy Holdings, L.L.C., 367 S.W.3d 355 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, pet. granted, judgm’t vacated by agr.)
  • Lesikar v. Moon, 237 S.W.3d 361 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. denied)
  • TH Inv., Inc. v. Kirby Inland Marine, L.P., 218 S.W.3d 173 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. denied)
  • Citgo Ref’g & Mktg., Inc. v. Garza, 187 S.W.3d 45 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2005, pet. dism’d by agr.)

Interlocutory Appeals

  • Zachry Eng’g Corp. v. Encina Dev. Grp., LLC, 672 S.W.3d 534 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2023, pet. denied)
  • Madison Dev. Grp. LLC v. Mattress Firm, Inc., 608 S.W.3d 376 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2020, no pet.)
  • ERC Midstream LLC v. Am. Midstream Partners, LP, 497 S.W.3d 99 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, no pet.)

Mandamus Proceedings

  • In re Pinnacle Eng’g, Inc., 405 S.W.3d 835 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, orig. proceeding)
  • In re Motor Trike, Inc., 347 S.W.3d 806 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2011, orig. proceeding)
  • In re Helix Energy Sols. Grp., Inc., 303 S.W.3d 386 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, orig. proceeding)
  • In re Lesikar, 285 S.W.3d 577 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009, orig. proceeding)
  • Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America (2020-2026)
  • Named to Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (2012-2026)
  • Section Leadership Council, Houston Bar Association Appellate Practice Section (2014-2017)
  • Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS)
  • State Bar of Texas (Litigation and Appellate Sections)
  • Houston Bar Association (Litigation and Appellate Sections)