Tom Stilwell

Partner

Tom Stilwell possesses the experience you can count on. Tom is highly competitive and brings relentless preparation and aggressive strategy to every case. In the first half of his career, Tom handled high-stakes personal injury and business litigation for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies as a partner in three national law firms. This invaluable experience taught him how to create convincing themes that shape the outcome of the trial.

Tom is well known in the aviation arena. In the past, Tom represented multiple airlines and aviation manufacturers in state and federal lawsuits. Now, Tom uses his experience to assist passengers and claimants in claims against the airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and maintenance companies. Tom has spoken at airline conferences, taught at legal aviation seminars, and published articles on the Air Carrier Access Act, the Montreal Treaty, the Warsaw Convention, and the impact of federal regulation on claims.

Tom has successfully handled wheelchair injuries, turbulence claims, overhead bin cases, electric cart impacts, and boarding/deplaning incidents. He’s also been involved in multiple helicopter crashes and aircraft crashes throughout his career.

Tom also has extensive oilfield experience. In one oilfield case, Tom maximized the economic recovery for his clients obtaining a more than $33 million dollar recovery. Tom has also tried cases dealing with onshore drilling, hydraulic fracturing, offshore platforms, and oil field explosions. Early in his career, Tom became one of the national trial counsel for an international oilfield equipment manufacturer handling losses caused by explosions, fires, blowouts, valve failures and human error.

Tom started his career at the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP (now known as Norton Rose) where he was trained to try cases and eventually became a partner. In 2007, Tom left to help build the litigation group for Sutherland Asbill & Brennan’s (now known as Eversheds Sutherland) Houston office. In 2010, Tom moved to BakerHostetler to help expand their energy litigation team. In 2017, Tom left to form his own firm and moved to the plaintiff’s side of the docket.

Tom graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991 with a degree in Economics and obtained his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center (cum laude) in 1994. Tom is licensed to practice before the Texas state courts as well as the United States Federal District Courts for the Southern, Western, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas and the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

Tom is a former board member for the Houston Area Women’s Center, and he also remains involved in the Houston Bar Association’s work and support for The Center Servings Persons with disAbility.

Tom is a proud native Houstonian who is devoted to Betsy Eason. Together they raise two wonderful children.
Tom would be happy to talk with you today. Feel free to contact us, or to send Tom an email at TS@Sorrelslaw.com or give him a call at (w) 713-496-1100 or (c) 832-274-6749.

  • University of Houston Law School
    J.D. – 1994 Cum Laude
    Houston Journal of International Law – Managing Editor
  • University of Texas
    B.A. Economics – 1991

  • Texas – 1994
  • Southern District of Texas – 1995
  • Western District of Texas – 1998
  • Eastern District of Texas – 1998
  • Northern District of Texas – 2000
  • 5th Circuit Court of Appeals – 2014
  • American Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  • Houston Trial Lawyers Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Area Women’s Center – former board member
  • BakerHostetler LLP – partner – 2010-2017
  • Eversheds Sutherland – partner – 2007-2010
  • Fulbright & Jaworski LLP (Norton Rose) – partner – 1994 – 2007
  • Keep Calm & Fly On – Your Essential Guide to the Air Carrier Access Act, SMU Airlaw Conference (2015)
  • GARA: The General Aviation Act of 1994, SMU Airlaw Conference (2007)
  • Warning: You May Possess Continuing Duties After the Sale of Your Product! (An Evaluation of the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability’s Treatment of Post Sale Duties – Texas Review of Litigation vol. 26, p. 1035 (2007)
  • Correcting Errors: Imperfect Awards in Texas Arbitration – Baylor Law Review Vol. 58, p. 467 (2006)
  • Choice of Law in International Arbitration, Ch 7, published in “International Litigation: Defending and Suing Foreign Parties in U.S. Federal Courts.” (2004)
  • Kumho Tire: The Battle of the Experts Continues – Texas Review of Litigation Vol.19, p. 193 (2000)
  • Monitoring the Opinions of Biochemists & Beekeepers: The Application of Daubert & Robinson to Engineering Witnesses in Texas – Baylor Law Review Vol. 51, p. 95 (1999)
  • Standards Governing the Recovery of Mental Anguish Damages Under Texas Law – South Texas Law Review Vol 39, Issue 1 (1997)