Overview
(February 5, 2024, Houston, TX) — Steptoe LLP has announced the expansion of its Intellectual Property and Litigation practices with the addition of Claudia Wilson Frost. Claudia joins the firm as a partner in the firm’s newly opened Houston office.
“Claudia is renowned in Texas and across the US, having built a reputation with scores of jury trials in a wide variety of litigation, including litigation in intellectual property, oil and gas and energy, products liability, telecommunications, technology and corporate financial services,” commented firm chair Gwen Renigar. “Her addition, along with our other new partners in Houston, creates immediate synergies in Texas. I am excited to welcome her to the firm.”
Claudia is a nationally recognized veteran trial and appellate lawyer and strategist. She has led trial teams in well over 100 cases, has tried to conclusion 40 cases as lead or co-lead counsel and has argued a like number of cases to appellate courts throughout the country. These cases include patent litigation, commercial cases, and appellate matters in areas including energy & infrastructure, technology & innovation, and corporate finance.
Claudia is a founder and former member of the Executive Committee of The Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas Law School, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and a fellow in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. She is also a past president of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS).
Claudia added: “I’m thrilled to bring my experience leading trial and appellate teams throughout the country to Steptoe Houston. I have always wanted to be part of a premier litigation boutique on a strong litigation platform. This is an exciting next step in my career as I join Houston partners whom I have known and respected for years, and grow with new Steptoe partners whom I have known by reputation, as we deliver quality results for our clients.”
Over the past two years, Steptoe’s Intellectual Property practice has handled a number of significant matters, including winning a major summary judgment motion for American Axle in a years-long patent eligibility battle, securing a patent litigation win for client Orexo, and securing a victory for Judge Michael Fitzpatrick who was vindicated by the Merit Systems Protection Board (“MSPB”) on his claim for improper reassignment as an Administrative Patent Judge of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
The diversity of the firm is a critical factor in its success. The firm’s chair is a woman; the majority of the firm’s elected executive committee is female; the majority of Steptoe's ten offices are managed by women; and the majority of Steptoe’s practice groups have women as leaders. The firm's six-person professional business services leadership is equally diverse, with two women of color, and other leaders who openly identify as LGBTQ+.
