History

Founded in 1866, Kemp Smith has over 155 years of experience serving our clients, communities and profession. Kemp Smith is the second-oldest law firm in Texas, the largest law firm in El Paso and the only El Paso-based firm with offices in Austin and Las Cruces.

The firm boasts 18 partners many who have been selected to the 2022 Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, the 2022 Texas Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters, to the 2023 Best Lawyers in America by Woodward/White publishers, or listed in Chambers USA. The following were selected for inclusion into Best Lawyers: Gene Wolf, Deborah C. Trejo, Drew Miller, Carl E. Ryan, Clara (C.B.) Burns, Charles C. High, Jr., Richard A. Bonner, Ken Slavin, James W. Brewer and Terry Johnson.  Super Lawyers:  Richard Bonner, Clara C.B. Burns, Charlie High, Ken Slavin, Carl Ryan, Randy Grambling. Chambers USA:  Charles C. High and Clara C.B. Burns. Chambers Global: Charles C. High and Clara C.B. Burns.

Best Lawyers named Clara C.B. Burns 2019, 2021 and 2022 El Paso Litigation – Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year and Gene Wolf 2019-2022 Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year.  Clara C.B. Burns was named El Paso Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year and Terry Johnson was named El Paso Real Estate Lawyer of the Year. 

The firm is active in the American Bar Association, the State Bars of Texas and New Mexico, the El Paso Bar Association and the Austin Bar Association. Kemp Smith was acknowledged with eight Tier 1 rankings in the following practice areas: Corporate Law; Employment Law - Management; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants; Real Estate Law; Trusts and Estates Law; and recognized with three Tier 2 rankings: Administrative/Regulatory Law; Government Relations Practice; Water Law by Best Lawyers.