Kean Miller Launches Houston Office

Kean Miller is pleased to announce the opening of its first office outside the state of Louisiana. The firm's new Houston office extends the reach of its client service efforts from the Mississippi/Louisiana border to Houston's energy corridor. With offices in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles, and now Houston, the firm is positioned to support client needs across the I-10, I-12, I-49, and I-20 corridors.  The office is dedicated to the efficient representation of Texas-based businesses, especially those with significant Louisiana operations and national clients with legal needs in both states.

Joining Kean Miller as partners in Houston are trial lawyers Bill Ogden, Linda Broocks, Jim Hall and Judith Meyer. Gary Alfred joins as special counsel. All were with the law firm Ogden, Broocks & Hall LLP. Mr. Ogden is well-known in Houston for his business litigation, appellate and constitutional law expertise. Ms. Broocks has an active trial and appellate practice and is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Specialization. Mr. Hall's practice focuses on a variety of business disputes and products and premises liability litigation. Ms. Meyer is experienced in oil and gas and securities litigation as well as personal injury defense. Mr. Alfred represents clients in a wide array of commercial litigation, including oil and gas disputes and catastrophic personal injury defense. All of the new lawyers previously practiced in some of Houston's largest firms, including Liddell Sapp (now Locke Lord LLP), Baker Botts, Fulbright & Jaworski (now Norton Rose Fulbright) and Beirne Maynard & Parsons (now Akerman LLP).

"We are fortunate to partner with lawyers in Texas who share our values, our culture, and our client service philosophy. As a leader in the industrial legal sector, a large number of our energy and petrochemical clients, and their legal departments, are headquartered in Houston. Our new office provides a new foundation from which to serve those clients, and provide cost-effective representation to our Louisiana and national clients who have challenges, and opportunities, in Texas," said Blane Clark, managing partner of the 150-attorney firm. "This combination works because we share a common philosophy about the practice of law, client service, and giving back," added Clark. "In Kean Miller we found a unique partnership that will allow us to serve our clients across the region. Teaming up our two firms makes a lot of sense when there is such demand for smart legal expertise at reasonable rates," added Bill Ogden.

William W. Ogden joins the firm as a partner in the Houston office. He will practice in the litigation, trial, and appellate groups. Bill earned his J.D., with honors from University of Texas Law School, where he was a member of the Texas Law Review and Order of the Coif. He earned his B.A. with honors from the University of Texas. Bill is Board Certified in Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the Houston and Texas State Bar Associations and a trustee for the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society. 

Linda J. Broocks joins the firm as a partner in the Houston office. She maintains an active practice in trials and appeals of complex commercial, real estate, securities, personal injury, and employment cases. Linda is Board Certified in Civil Law and Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She earned her J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas Law School and earned her B.A. from Rice University. Linda is a member of the Houston and Texas State Bar Associations. Linda is the founder and president of the executive committee of the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas.

James M. Hall Jr. joins the firm as a partner in the Houston office. He focuses his practice on commercial, products, and premises liability litigation. Jim earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law and earned his B.A. from Trinity College. He is a member of the Houston and Texas State Bar Associations.

Judith A. Meyer joins the firm as a partner in the Houston office. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation, including real estate, oil and gas, securities arbitration and litigation, premises liability and commercial landlord-tenant disputes, and employment torts. Judith earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law and earned her B.S., magna cum laude, from Louisiana State University. She is a member of the Houston and Texas State Bar Associations. She has served as a volunteer mediator for the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center.

Gary E. Alfred joins the firm as special counsel in the Houston office. He represents clients in a wide array of civil litigation and commercial litigation matters. His practice involves products liability, business litigation, commercial and residential construction matters, oil and gas issues, large personal injury defense, legal malpractice, and labor and employment law matters in state and federal court as well as multiple bodies of arbitration. Gary earned his J.D. from the University of Texas Law School and earned his B.A., summa cum laude, from Texas Southern University. He is a member of the Houston and Texas State Bar Associations. Gary is actively involved in the Houston community with his volunteer and pro bono service.

Kean Miller's Houston office is located at 711 Louisiana on the 19th Floor of Pennzoil Tower South. The office address is South Tower, 711 Louisiana, Suite 1800, Houston, Texas, 77002. The office may be reached at 713.844.3000 or client_services@keanmiller.com

Kean Miller was formed in 1983, based on a foundation of mutual respect among attorneys, meaningful collaboration with and an overarching commitment to serve clients, and a commitment to serve the communities in which we work and live, Thirty-five years later, this fundamental philosophy is stronger than ever-from the people we represent, to the people we employ, from the charitable organizations we serve, to the civic causes we support.

With more than 150 attorneys in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Lake Charles, and Houston, Kean Miller is one of the largest full-service law firms in Louisiana, and the largest in the Capitol Region of Baton Rouge. We have particular dedication to serving Fortune 500 companies with significant operations in the South, providing them with legal resources focused on growth. From the courtroom to the boardroom, our people provide creative solutions, unique strategies, and unparalleled value that allow our clients to perform at the highest level.

For additional information, please contact Steve Boutwell at 225.389.3736 or steve.boutwell@keanmiller.com