Brown, Proctor & Howell, LLP, is a law firm concentrating on highly complex litigation and negotiation, originated in 1922 with the partnership of two prominent north Texas attorneys, Jesse M. Brown and Sidney Samuels. Today our lawyers handle multi-million dollar cases from our offices in Fort Worth and Houston Texas. For more than 100 years, we have provided clients with the highest level of expertise and professionalism. All named partners are rated as AV Preeminent®, the highest level of professional excellence awarded by their legal peers, as established through the 2012 Martindale Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings.™
Brown Proctor & Howell attorneys defend clients and prosecute cases in five major categories. We invite you to learn more about these practice areas:
- Railroad Litigation
- Aviation Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Litigation
In addition, our lawyers are solidly prepared to handle legal matters involving business/commercial counsel and real estate law.
Our attorneys offer clients deep and precise knowledge, backed up by years of courtroom litigation experience. However, we also understand legal situations seldom involve clear-cut issues.
We prepare and present cases in a manner focused on avoiding the minefields of devastating negative publicity in high profile and emotionally-charged personal injury and fatality cases. We also work to contain legal costs and move cases forward quickly and efficiently.
Brown, Proctor & Howell represents clients of all sizes in the public and private sectors, both for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals.
Brown, Proctor & Howell Attorneys
John W. Proctor
Managing Partner, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: jproctor@brownproctor.com | V-Card
John W. Proctor is the Managing Partner of Brown, Proctor & Howell, LLP. He has more than 35 years of experience in civil trial and personal injury trial law. In addition to representing clients in commercial disputes, Mr. Proctor has been board certified in civil trial law since 1990 and represents railroad and aircraft manufacturers in difficult and often emotionally charged personal injury and wrongful death litigation and consistently obtains successful results for his clients.
Since 2002, he has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, every year since 2003 when the designation first was created. He has been listed by Best Lawyers in America as the top lawyer in personal injury and railroad defense in the Dallas-Fort Worth area each year since 2014. He is also a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Mr. Proctor is a member of the Fort Worth chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates as well as the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. He is also a frequent speaker at CLE seminars in Texas and around the U.S. and Canada.
Areas of Practice
Civil Trial Law, Railroad Law, Aviation Law, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Defense
Stephen C. Howell
Partner, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: showell@brownproctor.com | V-Card
Stephen Howell focuses his practice on aviation litigation, products liability and personal injury litigation. An expert in aviation litigation, Mr. Howell has represented clients all over the country in federal and state court. Honored as a Texas Super Lawyer, by Thomson Rueters, every year from 2006 to date, and Top Attorney, by Fort Worth Texas Magazine, he is also a certified mediator and a member of the Defense Research Institute.
Areas of Practice
Aviation Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Products Liability Litigation, Civil Litigation
R. Bruce Moon
Partner, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: bmoon@brownproctor.com | V-Card
Bruce Moon is a Texas trial lawyer and has tried over 100 cases to verdict. He has significant experience representing manufacturers, employers, businesses, and individuals in a broad range of litigation matters, including medical negligence, professional liability, automobile and trucking liability, employment, products liability, workplace accidents, premises liability, probate and business litigation.
Areas of Practice
Litigation
Sheryl Norman
Partner, Houston Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: snorman@brownproctor.com | V-Card
Since 1994 Sheryl Norman has represented Class I railroads, short-line railroads, rail switching companies, rail contractors, and rail employee transportation companies defending grade crossing, FELA and trespasser litigation across Texas. Her docket primarily consists of lawsuits involving catastrophic injuries such as death, traumatic amputation, brain injury, and paralysis. In addition to representing railroads at the trial and appellate level in state and federal courts she has handled an array of other cases involving personal injury and property damage. She has tried multiple cases to verdict. Ms. Norman is also a public arbitrator for FINRA.
Ms. Norman is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, and the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. She has been named to the College of the State Bar of Texas, an honorary society for lawyers who voluntarily choose to complete at least double the required number of continuing education hours. In 2013 Ms. Norman was elected as a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, the largest charitably funded bar foundation in the nation. Ms. Norman practices primarily out of the firm’s Houston office.
Areas of Practice
Railroad Law, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury Defense, Arbitration
Michael L. Peck
Partner, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: mpeck@brownproctor.com | V-Card
Michael Peck was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. His practice encompasses all areas of civil litigation including trial work, particularly the areas of construction, personal injury, commercial, and transportation. He has served as first chair trial and appellate counsel in federal and state courts across Texas. Michael has been active in Fort Worth and has served on the boards of the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation, the Youth Sports Council of Fort Worth, Ballet Concerto, the Paschal High School Alumni Association, and the Paschal High School Enrichment Foundation. He is the past president of the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation, the current president of the Paschal High School Alumni Association, and serves on the steering and selection committees of the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award.
Michael also serves as a Southwestern University Class Agent for the class of 1991, and previously served on Southwestern University’s Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.
Michael has volunteered as a coach for the YMCA and at University Little League. Michael has consistently been named a Top Attorney in Fort Worth Texas Magazine, as well as a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly, and a Top Attorney by 360 West Magazine. He is a Master Emeritus in the Eldon Mahon Inn of Court.
Michael received his J.D. Degree from the University of Texas Law School in Austin and his B.A. Degree Cum Laude from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Upon his graduation from law school in 1995, Michael began working at Brown Proctor where he has remained to the present.
Areas of Practice
Civil Trial and Appeals, Business and Commercial, Business Formation, Construction, Employment, Personal Injury, Professional Malpractice, Insurance, Transportation
David J. Pels
Partner, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: dpels@brownproctor.com | V-Card
David J. Pels focuses his practice in the areas of business torts and commercial litigation, personal injury litigation and transportation law. Mr. Pels is admitted to practice before the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the Western District of Oklahoma, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Pels is licensed in Texas, having graduated from Loyola University School of Law.
Areas of Practice
Business Torts, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Transportation Law
Robert Piwetz
Partner, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: rpiwetz@brownproctor.com | V-Card
Robert Piwetz has nearly 20 years of experience in civil trial and personal injury trial law. He has successfully tried many cases in state and federal courts, and regularly represents large and small businesses across a wide range of industries, including railroad, aviation, commercial, and real estate.
Mr. Piwetz is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, and Tarrant and Dallas County Bar Associations. He has been recognized by his peers and elected as a Fellow with the Texas Bar Foundation and Tarrant County Bar Foundation, as well as named a “Texas Rising Star” by Texas Monthly and “Top Attorney” by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine.
Mr. Piwetz received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law and undergraduate degrees from Texas A&M University.
Outside of work, Mr. Piwetz enjoys spending time with his wife, Laura, and children, Jack and Charlotte. He is an avid runner and volunteers with the arts council and youth sports.
Areas of Practice
Aviation Law, Business and Commercial Litigation, Civil Litigation, Insurance Coverage and Defense, Personal Injury Defense, Railroad Law
Cailin M. Ringelman
Partner, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: cringelman@brownproctor.com | V-Card
Cailin M. Ringelman is a partner who focuses her practice on civil litigation with an emphasis on aviation litigation. Her practice consists of representing original equipment manufacturers, pilots and operators in various litigation matters. Ms. Ringelman also represents railroads in FELA, grade crossing, freight claims and real estate matters. Ms. Ringelman also represents entities, individuals and financial institutions in bankruptcy matters and related adversary proceedings. She is licensed to practice law in Texas, Kansas, and Missouri.
While in law school, Ms. Ringelman served as an Articles Editor for the Washburn Law Journal and was the first recipient of the John D. Ensley Memorial Writing Award. She served on the Washburn Law School Alumni Association Board of Governors from 2008 to 2014.
Areas of Practice
Civil Litigation, Transportation Litigation, Commercial Litigation
Larry W. Wilshire
Partner, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: lwilshire@brownproctor.com | V-Card
Larry W. Wilshire focuses his practice on litigation and appeals, contracts, business and commercial law, construction law, and housing and urban development. He is currently admitted to practice in Texas, the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court.
Areas of Practice
Litigation and Appeals, Contracts, Business and Commercial Law, Construction Law, Housing and Urban Development
Kenneth M. Hopkins
Associate, Fort Worth Office
T: (817) 332-1391 | F: (817) 870-2427 | E: khopkins@brownproctor.com | V-Card
Areas of Practice
Litigation
Brown, Proctor & Howell Offices
Ft Worth, Texas Office
830 Taylor Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Info@brownproctor.com
Phone: (817) 332-1391
Fax: (817) 870-2427
Houston, Texas Office
440 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002
By Appointment Only
Info@brownproctor.com
Phone: (817) 332-1391
Fax: (817) 870-2427
Please feel free to contact us at (817) 332-1391 in Fort Worth or in Houston to discuss your legal needs.
Brown, Proctor & Howell, LLP, a law firm concentrating on highly complex litigation and negotiation, originated in 1922 with the partnership of two prominent north Texas attorneys, Jesse M. Brown and Sidney Samuels. Today our lawyers handle multi-million dollar cases from our offices in Fort Worth and Houston. For more than 90 years, we have provided clients with the highest level of expertise and professionalism. All named partners are rated as AV Preeminent®, the highest level of professional excellence awarded by their legal peers, as established through the 2012 Martindale Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings.™