News & Insights

Prominent Houston Commercial Litigator Brian Boyle Joins Lightfoot as Partner

January 7, 2018

Third hire for firm’s new Houston office, which opened in January 2016

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and HOUSTON (January 8, 2018) — Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC is pleased to announce that commercial litigator Brian Cody Boyle has joined the firm’s Houston office as partner. Previously a partner with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Boyle is Lightfoot’s third new hire in Houston since the firm opened the location last January.

Boyle is well known throughout Texas as a respected and experienced commercial litigator. He splits his practice evenly between representing plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes matters. For the past several years Boyle has focused on representing clients in the energy sector, and has worked with a variety of industries during his career. He also tried nearly twenty cases to verdict on behalf of the City of Houston and regularly handles cross-border litigation and arbitration.

“We are very happy to welcome Brian to the firm and our growing Houston office,” said Lightfoot managing partner Melody Hurdle Eagan. “He is a great addition to our team and will enhance and diversify our offerings in the commercial litigation space, which is an area of growth for the firm. We know Lightfoot’s clients from around the country will benefit greatly from Brian’s experience.”

A versatile litigator, Boyle regularly handles cases involving breach of contract, tortious interference, common law and statutory fraud, negligent misrepresentation, business disparagement, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent transfers, trade secret misappropriation, state and federal environmental statutes, and qui tam and government investigations. He has experience from the trial court level through the highest civil appellate court in Texas. For his international matters, Boyle regularly handles cross-border discovery, choice of law and foreign law application, and issues related to the activities of American companies in projects outside of the U.S.

“We are all very much looking forward to working with Brian and having him has a colleague,” said partner Jerry L. Rios, who heads the Lightfoot Houston office. “It is a testament to the reputation we have already established in this city that leading litigators such as Brian are looking to Lightfoot as a place to come and grow their practices.”

Lightfoot opened its Houston location after demand from existing clients in Texas who wanted the Alabama-based firm to have a local presence. After just a few months in operation, Lightfoot moved to a new, larger space last October to accommodate anticipated growth and added of counsel Angela T. Bongat and attorney Jason A. Rose.

“When it came time to look for a firm where I could begin the next stage of my career, Lightfoot emerged as the perfect place for me,” said Boyle. “From its talented, collegial group of leading litigators to the firm’s evident commitment to client service, Lightfoot is a very good fit, and I’m looking forward to being a part of this team.”

Boyle holds a J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Houston Law Center and a B.A. from the University of Texas. He also served as an intern for former Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips of the Supreme Court of Texas.