Quentin Smith

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Quentin L. Smith 
Quentin Smith
Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston
HoustonTX

Quentin is a commercial litigator who focuses on business, petrochemical, and energy disputes.

He represents clients in a wide array of disputes, including complex contract disputes, shareholder disputes, disputes arising out of fiduciary duties, property tax valuations, and condemnation actions. 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.

Quentin is a Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), Texas Bar Foundation, and Houston Bar Foundation. He also serves as General Counsel for the Theatre Under the Stars and as a Trustee for the Houston Symphony. At Vinson & Elkins, Quentin serves as the Talent Lead for the Complex Commercial Litigation group in Houston and as a member of the Diversity Executive Committee and Houston Recruiting Committee.

Credentials

Education

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)

Professional Background

Judicial clerk to The Honorable Lavenski R. Smith, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2011–2012

Recognition

Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial (Houston), 2023

Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2023

Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023

Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2023

Texas Lawyer, Texas Legal Awards, “On the Rise,” 2022

Bloomberg Law, Top 40 Under 40, 2021

National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, 2015, 2019–2022 (Texas)

Lawyers of Color (On Being A Black Lawyer), Hot List Honoree, 2014

Activities

Board Member and General Counsel: Theatre Under the Stars

Trustee: Houston Symphony

Member: Houston Symphony, Young Associates Council

Steering Committee Member: Texas Minority Counsel Program

Fellow: Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)

Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation, Membership Committee

Fellow: Houston Young Lawyers Foundation

Board Member: Houston Bar Association, Houston Lawyer Referral Service

Board Member: Houston Bar Foundation

Co-Chair: Houston Bar Association, Communities in Schools Committee (2016–2017 bar year); Member: (2014–2020 bar years)

Member: Houston Bar Association, Membership Committee Houston Bar Association (2017–2018 bar year)

Ambassador: Houston Bar Association (2019–2020 bar year)

Member: University of Michigan Alumni Association

Member: Morehouse College Alumni Association

Admitted to Practice

Texas

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of Texas


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