Hogan Thompson Schuelke LLP

Hogan Thompson LLP is a litigation boutique located in Houston, Texas. We focus on representing plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court and arbitration proceedings, with a focus on energy-industry disputes. We combine Big Law credentials with a boutique firm approach to give clients the best opportunity for success at the courthouse. With attorneys licensed to practice in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, and licensed in federal courts in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Colorado, we represent clients across the United States. We have experience in resolving commercial disputes of all sizes for Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized businesses and individuals.

We have the capabilities and expertise to secure justice on behalf of our clients. Our partners, Christopher Hogan, Samantha Thompson and James Schuelke, all graduated from top-ranked law schools, served as law clerks for federal appellate court judges, and have significant experience in state and federal court and arbitration proceedings.
Energy litigation focus

Hogan Thompson exclusively handles commercial litigation, with a focus on representing energy companies in commercial disputes. Our partners have worked on disputes across oil and gas-producing regions in the United States, including the Permian and Delaware Basins, the Eagle Ford Shale, the Haynesville Shale, the DJ Basin, and offshore Gulf of Mexico. Our energy clients include prominent Fortune 500 energy companies like BP, EOG and Marathon Oil, along with other significant oil and gas companies such as Callon Petroleum and Escondido Resources. The firm also represents real estate companies such as the Moody National Companies and MetroNational.
Our attorneys
From left to right: Allie Hale, Samantha Thompson, Christopher Hogan, James Schuelke, and Melissa Hurter Esterholm

From left to right: Allie Hale, Samantha Thompson, Christopher Hogan, James Schuelke, and Melissa Hurter Esterholm

Founding partner Christopher Hogan has served as first-chair counsel in state and federal court trials, receiving favorable jury verdicts in each of these venues. He has also served as first-chair counsel in numerous arbitration final hearings. Hogan is licensed to practice in Texas, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Pattern Jury Charge - Oil and Gas Committee for the Texas Bar Association, and an Officer serving on the Institute for Energy Law - Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Committee. He received his law degree from Columbia University Law School after which he clerked for the Honorable Jerry E. Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before founding Hogan Thompson, he was a trial attorney at Reynolds Frizzell LLP and Susman Godfrey LLP.

Founding partner Samantha Thompson views each case as a chapter in the intricate story of her clients' businesses and is energized by helping clients reach a favorable resolution. She graduated with honors from Rice University and Harvard Law School. After graduating law school, she clerked for the Honorable Claire V. Eagan of the Northern District of Oklahoma and the Honorable Robert E. Bacharach of the U.S Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Prior to founding Hogan Thompson, she was a trial attorney at Reynolds Frizzell LLP.

Partner James Schuelke brings extensive trial experience in construction, midstream and petrochemical disputes to Hogan Thompson. He is known for his ability to handle every stage of a case, from pre-suit negotiations through jury verdicts and final appeals. Both as lead counsel and in key roles on multi-member trial teams, he has represented clients across a broad range of industries in complex litigation and arbitration matters. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School and The University of Texas at Austin, James served as a law clerk to the Honorable Edith Brown Clement of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit before becoming a trial lawyer.

Melissa Hurter Esterholm is a skilled litigator with an amazing academic pedigree. With a Masters in English, she drafts smart, incisive briefs and motions that have helped her clients prevail in a variety of disputes in state and federal courts. Melissa graduated Order of the Coif from Vanderbilt Law School, where she served as Articles Editor for the Vanderbilt Law Review. Following law school, she served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Catherina Haynes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Allie Hale has represented clients across the country in state and federal courts, as well as in mediations and arbitrations. Her work focuses on complex business litigation and spans a variety of legal issues, including tort liability, intellectual property matters and complex contract issues. Allie received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she received the Virginia Trial Lawyers Trial Advocacy Award and the National Association of Women Lawyers Award.