- GuardianshipOBT assists families with adult guardianships and elder law legal services. Our lawyers are knowledgeable, experienced and compassionate.
- Wrongful DeathWhile at Tulane, he was only the second, second year law student, to receive the highest rating in the Trial Advocacy Clinic. Since graduating from law school he has exclusively represented clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases across the Texas. In addition to being licensed to practice in all courts in Texas by the State Bar of Texas, he is also licensed to practice in the Eastern, and Southern Federal District Courts.
- Restraining OrderCommercial litigation represents one of the other broad areas of my practice. I have tremendous respect for the time, energy, and money that businesses invest in their brand, customer relationships, and know-how. As such, I help clients defend and enforce their rights regarding covenants not to compete, trademark infringement, and disclosure and use of trade secrets. I also frequently help clients enforce their rights as creditors. My cases range from standard trade debt collections to complex transactions like equipment leases and commercial loans. Sometimes these cases require quick action, and I am experienced using extraordinary procedures such as temporary restraining orders (TROs), injunctions, attachments, writs of sequestration, and turnover orders when appropriate to bring immediate relief and preserve valuable assets for my clients. I regularly help clients navigate the complex world of mechanics’ liens and mineral liens to secure payment or fend off bogus claims. Mechanics’ liens and mineral liens involve a mind-numbing system of short deadlines and multiple notice requirements, and through years of experience I have developed the ability to recognize the potential pitfalls and opportunities.
- Business DisputesHoke Peacock II has a broad-based practice primarily in business litigation. Hoke has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America, a Woodward White, Inc. publication in each year since 1997. Over the last 50 years, he has been a bond lawyer, a contracts lawyer, a real estate lawyer, and a trial lawyer. He has always tried the odd or different cases, from wage and hour disputes in the late 1960’s, securities arbitration’s in the 1970’s, bankruptcy cases in the 1980’s, business disputes in the 1990’s, to patent infringement cases as plaintiff and defendant in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. He was lead counsel for the City of Beaumont in proceedings to recover $20,000,000 it lost in the ESM Government Securities debacle, which cases were in Florida, New York, and Texas, and were in state and federal courts, including bankruptcy court. Ultimately, the City recovered $22,000,000 from ESM and its principals and from the banks and auditors that made the ESM scam possible. Hoke also represents several mineral owners in disputes with surface interests and other mineral owners.
- Business TransactionsFor more than 100 years, OBT has earned a reputation for legal excellence by focusing on our clients’ needs. We are a general practice firm with diverse areas of concentration. From bet-the-company litigation to complex commercial transactions, let us show you the value of our expertise and skill. We look forward to another century, always committed to your success.
- Limited Liability CompaniesWalter joined the firm in 2005 as a partner. He limits his areas of practice to representation of buyers, sellers and owners of commercial real estate in transactions such as buying, selling, developing and leasing real property, of financial institutions in real property and asset based lending transactions and of business entities such as corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies in transactions. Walter’s prior professional associations include Donnell, Abernethy and Kieschnick, PC in Corpus Christi, Texas (1974 – 1984), Brown McCarroll, LLP in Austin, Texas (1984 – 2000) and Carll Cooke & Donnenberg, LLP in The Woodlands, Texas (2000 – 2005).
- Trade SecretsTrade secrets include most any type of information a business keeps secret to gain an advantage over competitors. Trade secret protection requires certain procedures and safeguards to be followed. Otherwise the trade secret may become known to a competitor, destroying the trade secret owners advantage.
- Intellectual PropertyIntellectual property protection is an essential component of modern businesses. Once a client creates intellectual property, it must be protected quickly to prevent competitors from benefiting from the client’s work.
- AntitrustOrgain Bell & Tucker, LLP is known for its experience in complex business and commercial litigation. We regularly handle a range of business and commercial concerns including antitrust litigation, securities litigation, intellectual property, class actions, construction litigation, consumer litigation and contract litigation.
- Workers Compensation
- Wrongful TerminationFederal and state court lawsuits involving wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, defamation, overtime, employee benefit and similar claims;
- Employment Contract
- Employment LitigationRecognized in 2022 and for over 10 years in Super Lawyers, a Thompson Reuters publication, in the categories of Employment Litigation: Defense and Employment and Labor: Employer
- Real Estate LitigationHoke was Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law when this specialty was first recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1983. He served on the Real Estate Specialization Examination Commission the following year and for a number of years thereafter, ultimately becoming Chairman of that Commission. Hoke has also been Board Certified in Civil Trial by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1991. Thereafter, he served on the Civil Trial Specialization Examination Commission for 10 years. He is one of only a dozen or so Texas lawyers that are Board Certified in both Commercial Real Estate Law and Civil Trial Law and is the only lawyer who has ever served on both examination commissions for these specialties.
- Premises Liability
- Construction LitigationOur construction lawyers regularly represent contractors and subcontractors in litigation, including alleged construction defects or personal injuries arising from construction projects.
- Real Estate TransactionsWe work hard to represent your interests so that, to the best of our ability, the transaction closes on favorable terms. Our objective is to be “deal makers” not “deal breakers”. OBT lawyers always maintain professional relationships with the other players in a real estate transaction.
- Eminent Domain
- Personal InjuryJack’s principal areas of practice are personal injury, commercial, consumer, and class action litigation. He represents major oil and chemical companies, national product manufacturers, and national service companies. Jack also represents school districts and local government entities.
- Medical MalpracticeJo Ben has been named as one of The Best Lawyers in America. He has served as Course Director for both the Advanced Medical Malpractice and the Advanced Personal Injury Seminar put on by the State Bar of Texas. Jo Ben has been active in the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, serving as the first Editor of the Medical Malpractice Newsletter and the first Editor of the Deceptive Trade Practices newsletter. Jo Ben has served on the Board of Trustees of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics since 2016. Jo Ben has also served as a member of the Board of Directors and as a Vice President for the Texas Association of Defense Counsel. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Jo Ben served on the Pattern Jury Charge Committee dealing with malpractice and products liability for many years.
- Medicaid PlanningWe also assist seniors, care givers and families by helping them plan for their personal and legal needs. We also provide Medicaid planning counsel for long term care services.
- Estate PlanningBenny Hughes has a general business practice with emphasis on corporate, municipal financings, wills, and probate, trust matters, estate planning, and business transactions.
- WillsOur attorneys also handle a wide variety of probate and estate administration matters. We advise executors, administrators, and trustees, and we represent beneficiaries of trusts and estates in all aspects of estate administration. OBT represents clients in connection with will contests and other contested estate and trust matters. While our lawyers have been very successful in probate and trust litigation, we are also often successful in facilitating negotiations arriving at family settlement agreements and preserving family relationships.
- TrustsSylvia handles cases in various areas of litigation, including commercial litigation, probate litigation, and personal injury defense. Sylvia also represents clients in matters involving estate planning, wills and trusts, and general business transactions.
- Power of AttorneyOBT provides estate planning counsel for complex and simple estates. We prepare wills, powers of attorney, and a variety of trusts. Our representation often involves advice concerning...
- Probate
- Bankruptcy
- ForeclosureThe banking litigation group has an established reputation for excellence in complex banking cases. We have extensive experience in creditors’ rights matters, including workouts and foreclosures and Chapter 11 bankruptcies. We also represent banks and their bonding companies in claims on fraudulent or forged signatures, negligence in check processing, misappropriation of fund, and consumer litigation. The banking litigation group also handles “lender liability” claims for both banks and claimants.
- Tax LawOur firm has a broad practice in federal and state taxation. Our practice includes transactional tax planning, individual income and estate tax planning, tax controversies, and planning for tax-exempt entities.