Renowned legal directory Chambers USA 2026 names nine Gibbs & Bruns trial lawyers to its elite litigation rankings, in both the Texas and Nationwide categories. An impressive 47% of the firm’s partners are ranked in the areas of:
General Commercial Litigation – Texas: Houston & Surrounds
Trial Lawyers – Texas & Nationwide
Antitrust – Texas
Securities Litigation – Texas & Nationwide
Appellate Litigation – Texas
Gibbs & Bruns LLP provides superbly accomplished representation on both sides of the docket in a range of headline commercial disputes. The firm has particular expertise in the securities and energy arenas, with additional capability in relation to environmental litigation. It possesses an impressive client list including industry giants, as well as small and midsized companies across numerous sectors. The group is particularly noted for its representation of clients in the banking and finance, energy and technology sectors.
General Commercial Litigation – Texas
Every year since 2003 – for 24 consecutive years – Chambers has ranked our firm “Band 1” for General Commercial Litigation – Texas. Gibbs & Bruns is one of only two firms ranked “Band 1” for this category.
Gibbs & Bruns handles the biggest matters in this space and has done so historically. You know that it’s a matter for the big guns when you see the firm as counsel.
Gibbs & Bruns has tremendous expertise in complex bet-the-company litigation.
Gibbs & Bruns is a premier litigation firm in Houston. It is laser-focused on litigation and very creative in its arguments. The firm is always prepared.
Gibbs & Bruns has terrific trial lawyers and significant trial experience. Its attorneys have a great ability to take the complexities of a case and make a jury understand them at trial.
Robin Gibbs – Band 1
Ranked for 24 years
Robin Gibbs is a leading trial lawyer who deftly handles a wide array of commercial disputes, with noted specialty in representing energy and natural resources companies.
Robin is a perfect mix of strategic and tactical when dealing with complex issues. He always delivers
Kathy Patrick – Band 1
Ranked for 21 years
Kathy Patrick is widely recognized as one of Texas’ preeminent litigators and is capable of handling significant antitrust matters. She has experience representing clients in the energy, technology and financial services sectors.
Kathy Patrick is often called upon to handle the most complex commercial disputes, and is especially accomplished in securities litigation.
Kathy is a bulldog in the courtroom and super-aggressive in the best way. She is a litigator who studies really hard and becomes an expert in whatever the case involves quickly. She is go-to for significant litigation and is truly phenomenal.
Kathy has a national reputation as a trial lawyer. She is a great writer and oral advocate and brings gravitas to her representation of clients.
Kathy is a go-to attorney for significant litigation. She is truly phenomenal.
Barrett Reasoner – Band 1
Ranked for 21 years
Barrett Reasoner is vastly experienced in handling business-critical disputes, including a particular emphasis on representing energy companies. He is widely praised for his considerable trial skill.
Barrett is a consummate trial lawyer with deep skills and a well-deserved reputation for excellence.
Barrett has a very strategic touch. He expresses a lot and negotiates well with opposing counsel. He is an outstanding trial lawyer, one of the best.
Barrett is very strong at whatever he turns his hand to.
Ayesha Najam – Band 2
Ranked for 7 years
Ayesha Najam has a growing reputation for her adept handling of a broad array of commercial disputes, including matters in the energy, construction and real estate sectors.
Sam Cruse – Band 3
Ranked for 5 years
Sam Cruse is an experienced litigator who works on securities, trade secrets and contract breach cases alongside his substantial oil and gas litigation experience.
Sam is thoughtful, strategic and understands our needs.
Sam Cruse has stepped in and helped us get through some very tough matters in a great way. He gets great results in stressful, complicated and high-stakes matters.
Ashley Kleber – Band 4
Ranked for 6 years
Ashley McKeand Kleber is a strong performer across a breadth of commercial disputes, with notable experience in energy and finance disputes.
Brian Ross – Band 5
Ranked for 3 years
Brian Ross is well regarded for his commercial litigation and arbitration abilities. He has noteworthy expertise in complex energy-related disputes.
Brian is an excellent strategist who quickly grasps highly complex issues and distills them into understandable and persuasive arguments.
Securities Litigation – Nationwide & Texas
Our premier securities litigation practice is recognized in two categories: Nationwide Securities Litigation: Mostly Plaintiff “Band 3” and Texas Litigation: Securities “Band 2.”
Gibbs & Bruns is an established Texas-based litigation boutique with notable securities disputes expertise. The firm is recognized for its particular experience handling complex litigation involving residential mortgage-backed securities as well as other financial products. It counts institutional investors and investment managers among its client base. The team has additional strength in market manipulation cases.
Gibbs & Bruns has a deep bench of excellent lawyers dedicated to securities litigation, and in particular, complex securities such as residential mortgage-backed securities. Gibbs & Bruns often takes leading roles in precedent-setting cases in this area.
I was impressed with the quality of work they did. I value them being able to come up with a good understanding of a case. They were crisp and did an excellent job in the courtroom.
They are detail-oriented, which I appreciate, and they are also timely.
Kathy Patrick – Band 1
Ranked for 21 years
Kathy Patrick is often called upon to handle the most complex commercial disputes, and is especially accomplished in securities litigation.
Kathy is incisive, thinks on her feet and is exceptionally talented in litigation. She does not take the client lightly and is just amazing at managing a case.
Kathy has a national reputation as a trial lawyer. She can take complex ideas and reduce them to a jury so they can understand. She brings great skill in that area. Kathy is a great writer and oral advocate and she brings gravitas to her representation of her clients.
Kathy is incredibly smart and her name commands so much respect. She is a powerhouse.
Caitlin Halpern – Up and Coming
Ranked for 3 years
Caitlin Halpern is praised for her assistance in complex commercial litigation and securities-related disputes.
Caitlin is substantively strong and on top of her game.
Caitlin is fantastic. She is strategic, tough when she needs to be and very intelligent.
Caitlin is a rising star and incredibly hard-working.
Antitrust – Texas
Gibbs & Bruns LLP is a highly-regarded boutique litigation firm with a notable antitrust offering. The firm counts energy, technology and financial services companies among its clients and is equally capable of supporting plaintiffs and defendants.
Kathy Patrick is widely recognized as one of Texas’ preeminent litigators and is capable of handling significant antitrust matters. She has experience representing clients in the energy, technology and financial services sectors.
Kathy is a go-to attorney for significant litigation. She is truly phenomenal.
Kathy is a very prepared lawyer in terms of her arguments.
Litigation Trial Lawyers – Nationwide & Texas
Robin Gibbs and Barrett Reasoner are ranked on the elite “Band 1” shortlist for Texas Litigation Trial Lawyers. Robin is also listed on the exclusive “Band 1” Nationwide shortlist for Trial Lawyers – a ranking he’s held for 18 years.
Appellate Litigation – Texas
Denise Lambert Drake – Up and Coming
Ranked for 3 years
Denise Lambert Drake of Gibbs & Bruns is noted for her skill in handling appeals relating to complex oil and gas and intellectual property disputes.
Denise is a rockstar brief writer, oral advocate and appellate attorney
Denise is detail-oriented and incredibly thoughtful and her advice reflects that. Her recommendations and strategy always provides great reasoning and she provides real honest advice and feedback. It is refreshing and very valuable that she will tell us things we sometimes don’t want to hear.
Chambers USA is the world’s leading legal data and analytics provider, highlighting the top lawyers and law firms across the USA for over two decades, so that buyers of legal services are equipped to make the best choice for when it matters.
