Hendershot Cowart P.C.
Practice focus: Contracts, business law, healthcare regulatory, IRS audits
30+ years of Texas contract practice. Thousands of contract matters handled annually.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Paid
The contract you sign today is the case you fight tomorrow.
Top 10 Contract Lawyers in Houston
A Houston business contract is rarely just paperwork. It allocates risk between you and the people on the other side of the table — vendors, customers, employees, co-founders, landlords, oil-and-gas partners. A well-drafted contract closes the door on disputes before they start. A poorly drafted one — or one signed without legal review — funds someone else's lawyer when things go wrong.
These 10 Houston firms cover the full life cycle of a business contract: drafting and review, negotiation, breach litigation, and pre-suit demand letters.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
The Weisblatt Law Firm, PLLC
Practice focus: Business contracts, drafting and review, commercial litigation
Andrew Weisblatt has been helping Houston businesses with contracts since 1992. Comfortable with one-person startups and multi-nationals alike.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Free initial
Feldman & Feldman
Practice focus: Contract drafting, negotiation, review, breach litigation
40+ years of Houston contract practice. Multi-generational firm. Strong commercial litigation backstop.
- Fee structure
- Hourly + retainer
- Free consultation
- Paid
The Vastine Law Firm, PLLC
Practice focus: Contract drafting, commercial litigation, transactional
Combined commercial litigation and transactional experience. Strong Texas Business Court awareness.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Free initial
Porter Law Firm
Practice focus: Business contracts, real estate, commercial
Lawyers who are also investors and commercial property owners — practical contract advice for owners.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Free initial
Manfred Sternberg & Associates
Practice focus: Contract drafting and review, business law
Long-established Houston contracts practice. Multiple Best Lawyers attorneys.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Paid
Andrews Myers, P.C.
Practice focus: Business contracts, construction, business litigation
Multi-practice Houston firm with strong contracts and business litigation bench. Heavy construction-industry contracts.
- Fee structure
- Hourly + retainer
- Free consultation
- Paid
Vinson & Elkins LLP — Commercial
Practice focus: Major commercial contracts, M&A, energy, finance
Houston-headquartered global firm. Premier complex commercial contracts practice.
- Fee structure
- Hourly + retainer
- Free consultation
- Paid
Porter Hedges LLP — Transactional
Practice focus: Commercial contracts, M&A, energy, real estate
Major Houston firm with strong transactional contracts practice. Heavy energy-industry expertise.
- Fee structure
- Hourly + retainer
- Free consultation
- Paid
Hayes Hunter PC
Practice focus: Contracts, business law, bankruptcy
Multi-practice firm with strong contract drafting + review for small to mid-market businesses.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Free initial
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Request Free Consultation →What to expect from a Houston contract engagement
Simple contract review (NDA, vendor agreement, lease) often takes 2-5 business days. Drafting a custom contract from scratch takes 1-3 weeks. Negotiating a complex agreement (M&A, software license, oil-and-gas joint venture) can take 4-12 weeks. Contract litigation in Harris County or the new Texas Business Court typically runs 12-24 months.
What does a contract lawyer in Houston cost?
Houston contract review is typically billed at $300-$600/hour for partners, with flat fees of $400-$2,000 common for standard documents. Drafting from scratch usually runs $2,000-$8,000+. Breach litigation is hourly + retainer of $10,000-$50,000+.
Red flags to watch for when picking a contract drafting and review lawyer in Houston
The legal directory you find on Google has thousands of Houston contract drafting and review firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or visa approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Houston lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what's covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most Houston firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
- Who, specifically, will handle my case day-to-day? Get a name. Get an email.
- How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
- What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the answer in writing before you sign.
- What case expenses am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket costs surprise people. Ask now.
- What is the realistic range of outcomes for a case like mine? A good lawyer will give you a range. A bad one will promise the high end.
- How long will it take? Honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
- Who else might be involved? Experts? Co-counsel? Larger cases routinely involve outside experts. Know who's on the team.
- How and how often will I hear from you? Email-only? Calls? Monthly updates? Set the expectation now.
- What happens if I want to change lawyers later? Rules allow it; the fee is sorted between firms. Make sure you understand the mechanics.
- What's the worst-case outcome for my case? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What's specific about a contract drafting and review case in Houston
Houston is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
Local courthouses matter. Harris County District Courts and the Southern District of Texas have judges, calendars, and procedures that shape how cases move. A firm that knows the local courthouse has an advantage.
Filing deadlines are strict. Notice of Claim windows for cases against the City or County, Statute of Limitations periods, and pre-suit certification requirements vary by case type and are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop.
Local procedure rules matter. Each court has its own forms, motion practice, and judge preferences. The right Houston firm will know not just the law, but the unwritten rules of the courthouse you'll be in.
Local plaintiffs/defendants do well in front of local juries. Verdict patterns vary by venue, and a trial-capable firm uses venue strategically.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a lawyer to review a contract?
For high-stakes contracts (employment with stock, partnership, M&A, anything with personal guarantees) — yes. For common, straightforward agreements with low-dollar exposure, a well-drafted template is often enough.
Can I sue for breach of contract in Texas?
Yes. Basic elements: a valid contract, performance by you, breach by the other party, and damages. Texas's statute of limitations: written contracts 4 years, oral 4 years.
What's an indemnification clause and why does it matter?
An indemnification clause shifts risk: one party agrees to pay the other's losses (often including legal fees). Texas's anti-indemnity statute (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ch. 27) limits certain indemnities in oil-and-gas and construction contexts.
Are non-competes enforceable in Texas?
Yes, with limits. The Covenants Not to Compete Act (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ch. 15) requires the non-compete to be ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement and reasonable in time, geography, and scope. Texas courts can reform overbroad non-competes.
What is the new Texas Business Court?
Effective September 2024, Texas created specialized business courts in five regions (including Houston) for high-value commercial disputes. The Business Court will hear cases above certain thresholds with judges experienced in business law.
Related reading
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you taken to verdict in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team