Efficient. Effective. Convincing. Clients have repeatedly used these words to describe Stephanie Holcombe’s responsiveness to her client’s needs, her strategic approach to resolving complex issues, and her ability to persuade judges, arbitrators, and jurors to side with her clients. Throughout her advocacy career, she has successfully led trial teams in state and federal courts, as well as in local and international arbitrations, on a variety of complex legal issues including:
- Contractual and related business disputes
- Products liability
- Non-competition and non-solicitation agreements
- Fiduciary duties
- Trade secrets
- Trademark infringement
- Oil and gas contracts
- Oil and gas production equipment disputes
- Landlord/Tenant disputes
In addition to litigating cases, Stephanie often serves as a trusted day-to-day legal advisor to companies, their owners, and senior executives, helping them identify risk, address business disputes, and coordinate legal needs before issues escalate. She provides a practical first point of contact and draws on the firm’s broader full-service capabilities when her clients need more specialized support.
Stephanie serves in leadership roles across the firm including on the firm’s Management Committee and as Chair of the Women’s Initiative. She speaks across North America about leadership and trial tactics. Stephanie is also an active member of several international legal organizations, including TerraLex, Defense Research Institute (DRI), International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), and the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA). Stephanie is the incoming Chair of DRI’s Women in the Law Committee, and she is the lead female vocalist for the DRI Band, Defense Never Rests.
Honors & Recognitions
The Legal 500, Recommended Lawyer in Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas
Texas Rising Stars, Business Litigation, 2017- present
TerraLex, Trailblazing Woman, 2026 (Profiled on the TerraLex Podcast here)
Women in the Fast Lane of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), 2019 Role Model
Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
J.D., South Texas College of Law, magna cum laude, 2009 (recipient of numerous awards for research and writing, in mock trial and moot court competitions, and as best advocate)
Order of the Barristers
South Texas Law Review, member
Board of Advocates, officer and director
B.F.A., University of Oklahoma, manga cum laude, 2006
Harvard Law School Executive Education, Women's Leadership Initiative, 2025
Admissions
Texas
United States Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Texas
United State Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
Experience
- Represented Texas-based trenching company in federal trade secrets trial, obtaining a complete defense verdict, jury finding that the trade secrets at issue were not entitled to trade secret protection, and award of court costs as the successful parties in the case.
- Represented a Texas-based company in an international arbitration in Germany involving manufacturing defects and breach of contract claims.
- Represented a Thailand-based company in an international arbitration in New York involving breach of contract claims.
- Represented a Mexican-based company in an international arbitration in New York involving breach of contract claims.
- Represented a Texas-based company in a federal permanent injunction hearing involving misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of employment agreement allegations.
- Represented a plan agent during a bankruptcy trial involving the Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act.
- Represented a gas processing company during a five-week state trial involving breach of contract claims.
- Represented a manufacturing company in a state court trial involving misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of employment agreement allegations.
- Represented a bank in arbitration concerning a commercial promissory note dispute.
- Represented an international government contracting company at trial in a federal sexual harassment case.
- Represented a manufacturing company in a state court trial involving trade secrets claims.
- Represented a construction company in arbitration concerning commercial construction disputes.
- Represented an individual during a state court trial concerning a lease dispute.
- Represented former employees of pharmaceutical companies in civil matters across the country.
Newsroom
News
Media Mentions
Publications
Speaking Engagements
Affiliations
State Bar of Texas, Member
Houston Bar Association, Member
Litigation Section, Chair, 2020
Houston Bar Foundation, Fellow
American Bar Association, Member
International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), Member
Defense Research Institute (DRI), Member
Women in the Law Committee - 1st Vice Chair (2025-present)
Chair of Women in the Law Engagement Subcommittee, 2023-2025
Chair of the Women in the Law Seminar Subcommittee, 2022-2023
Vice Chair of Women in the Law Seminar Subcommittee, 2021-2022
Chair of Women in the Law Marketing Subcommittee, 2020-2021
Vice Chair of Women in the Law Marketing Subcommittee, 2019-2020
Chair of Women in the Law Community Subcommittee, 2016-2019
Young Lawyers Steering Committee
Chair of Young Lawyers Marketing Subcommittee, 2019-2020
Vice-Chair of Young Lawyers Wellness Subcommittee, 2018-2019
Chair of Young Lawyers Sponsorship Subcommittee, 2017-2018
Co-Chair of Young Women in the Law Subcommittee, 2016-2017
Vice-Chair of Young Women in the Law Subcommittee, 2015-2016
Membership Committee
Annual Meeting Steering Committee
Chair of Member Experience, 2025-2026
Lead Singer, DRI Band: Defense Never Rests
Texas Young Lawyers Association, Member
Association of Women Attorneys, Member
South Texas College of Law, Adjunct Professor of Advocacy (2012 National First Amendment Moot Court Competition Championship Team, 2012 National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Tournament)
Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS), Advisory Board Member
Houston Business Journal, 40 Under 40 Awards Judge, 2019
Nottingham Forest Civic Association, Inc.
President, 2023-2027
Club Committee Chair, 2019-2023
Nottingham Forest Mom’s Club, Board Member, 2016-2020
