Attorney Bio Steven Earl - Stilwell, Earl & Apostolakis LLP

Steven C. Earl

Partner

T: 281-419-6200

F: 281-419-0250

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I love solving problems, so the reason I became a lawyer was I realized in that profession that’s pretty much what you can do all day long. We identify problems, we identify mechanisms to solve them. We do this in a competitive environment, meaning sometimes against other lawyers, other parties, against judges and their decisions. And I’m thinking if you want to solve problems for your job, you can either be an astrophysicist or a lawyer.

To be successful in estate planning means you need to have a well-established and durable plan that you have signed off on and you have put in place. You want a plan that’s durable enough to protect you from the things that may well happen in life that would otherwise derail your plan and cause your loved ones lots of problems. For clients who have not succeeded in this, sometimes they want to dig them up and shoot them.

About Steven

Steven is one of the Partners of the law firm. His litigation, business and estate planning knowledge enables him to provide a broad range of legal services to his clients.

Steven prepares estate plans for families of all economic levels, and, also litigates cases related to estates, trusts, wills and guardianships.

For his transactional business clients, Steven handles business formation, franchise start-up and operation, contract drafting, sales, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance issues, buy-sell agreements, employment agreements and contractor agreements.

For his business litigation clients, Steven handles contract enforcement, securities litigation, trade secret litigation, business divorces, and, also other serious business disputes both in court and in arbitration. Steven has assisted with several American Bar Association publications related to employment law and benefits law.

Steven’s work includes advising on or litigating employment issues facing small businesses. This works includes unemployment compensation claims, EEOC/discrimination claims, minimum wage/overtime issues, claims over contractor vs employee status, government audits, non-disclosure agreements, and, non-compete agreements.

Practice Areas

Education

Publications and Presentations

Publications

Chapter Chair, Chapter 15-Retaliation for the 2015 Cumulative Supplement for Debra A. Millenson, Richard J. Gonzalez & Laurie E. Leader, Employment Discrimination Law (5^th) BNA/American Bar Association, Arlington, Virginia
Chapter Chair, Chapter 15-Retaliation for the 2017 Cumulative Supplement for Debra A. Millenson, Richard J. Gonzalez & Laurie E. Leader, Employment Discrimination Law (5^th) BNA/American Bar Association, Arlington, Virginia
Contributing Author for the 2015 Cumulative Supplement Ivelisse Berio LeBeau, Employee Benefits Law (3d Ed.) BNA/American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois
Contributing Author for the 2014 Cumulative Supplement Ivelisse Berio LeBeau, Employee Benefits Law (3d Ed.) BNA/American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois
Contributing Author for the 2010 Cumulative Supplement Jane Kheel Stanley, Employee Benefits Law (2d Ed.) BNA/American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois
Contributing Author for the 2007 Cumulative Supplement Ivelisse Berio LeBeau, Employee Benefits Law (2d Ed.) BNA/American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois
Contributing Author for the 2005 Cumulative Supplement Jane Kheel Stanley, Employee Benefits Law (2d Ed.) BNA/American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois
Contributing Author for the 2004 Cumulative Supplement Jane Kheel Stanley, Employee Benefits Law (2d Ed.) BNA/American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois
Contributing Author for the 2002 Cumulative Supplement Jane Kheel Stanley, Employee Benefits Law (2d Ed.) BNA/American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois

Recent Presentations

Ethics Relating to Fee Agreements (Brown Bag Luncheon, County Court at Law #2, 2017)

Appellate Cases

In the Estate of Paula Hally Tillman; 09-19-00089-CV (Beaumont Court of Appeals, filed 3/26/19).
Swaim v. Nannette Real Estate Holdings, LLC; 01-19-00065-CV (Houston [1^st] Court of Appeals, filed 1/28/2019).
In re Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management; 09-18-00431-CV (Beaumont Court of Appeals, filed 11/19/2018).
Shouldice v. Van Hamersveld; 09-18-00355-CV (Beaumont Court of Appeals, filed 9/13/2018).
Giddens v. Risinger; 01-11-00242-CV (Houston [1^st] Court of Appeals, filed 3/24/2011).
Kramer v. Scott; 03-09-00609-CV (Austin Court of Appeals, filed 10/16/2009).
Campbell v. Auto. Ins. Co. of Hanover; 07-06-00158-CV (Amarillo Court of Appeals, filed 4/17/2006).
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu v. Jurgen; 05-0844 (09-04-00449-CV) (Texas Supreme Court on appeal from Beaumont Court of Appeals, filed 10/7/2005).
In re Standard Fire Ins. Co.; 04-0558 (01-04-00607-CV) (Texas Supreme Court, on appeal from Houston [1^st] Court of Appeals, filed 6/17/2004).
Windham v. Cal-Tim, Ltd.; 09-00-00492-CV (Beaumont Court of Appeals, filed 9/24/2001).
Jones v. Ray Insurance Agency, 13-00-00006-CV (Corpus Christi Court of Appeals, brief filed 2/11/200).
Shike v. Shike; 00-0713 (14-97-00888-CV) (Texas Supreme Court, on appeal from Houston [14^th] Court of Appeals, filed 7/13/2000).
Woodlands Christian Academy v. Logan, 09-97-00348-CV (Beaumont Court of Appeals, brief filed 1/21/1998).

Interests

Steven is also a staunch advocate for orphans and children in the foster system. He puts his beliefs into practice, as Steven and his wife, Mary, adopted four children in addition to raising the two children born to them. Steven served for six years as a member of the Board of Directors of Child Advocates of Montgomery County, an organization which provides advocates for children in the foster care system.