History
Founded in 1866, Kemp Smith has over 150 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 19 partners many who have been selected to the 2020 Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, the 2021 Texas Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters, to the 2021 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., Michael D. McQueen, Richard A. Bonner, Ken Slavin, James W. Brewer and Terry Johnson. Super Lawyers: Richard Bonner, Clara C.B. Burns, Charlie High, Michael McQueen, Ken Slavin, Carl Ryan, Randy Grambling. Texas Rising Stars: Gilbert L. Sanchez and Abe Howard-Gonzalez . Chambers USA: Charles C. High, Clara C.B. Burns and Michael D. McQueen. Chambers Global: Charles C. High and Clara C.B. Burns.
Charles C. High was named one of the Top 50 Lawyers (Central and West Texas Region) in Texas Super Lawyers 2014.
Best Lawyers named Michael D. McQueen 2019 and 2021 El Paso Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year, Clara C.B. Burns 2019 and 2021 El Paso Litigation – Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year and Gene Wolf 2019-2021 Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year. in 2020 Michael D. McQueen was named 2020 El Paso Litigation - Labor and Employment 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.
