The law firm of Baker Donelson has named two of its Houston shareholders to leadership roles within the Firm. Valerie G. Henderson has been named the managing shareholder of the Houston office. She assumes the role from Bradley E. Chambers, who will now serve as chair of the Firm’s newly created Logistics, Energy and Manufacturing Litigation Group.
“Brad has been an exemplary leader. Under his guidance, the Houston office has thrived, and I am committed to building upon this success,” said Ms. Henderson. “I am excited about the opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working with our talented team to further elevate our presence in the Houston and Dallas markets and deliver exceptional service to our clients.”
Mr. Chambers has served as the managing shareholder in Houston since 2011, when Baker Donelson merged with Houston-based firm Spain Chambers. As chair of the new Logistics, Energy and Manufacturing Litigation Group, he will oversee nearly 60 attorneys across the Firm’s footprint who are focused on high exposure, “bet the company,” and other disputes related to the logistics, energy, or product manufacturing industries.
“Baker Donelson has a tremendous track record of handling litigation in these sectors, so our attorneys have a deep understanding of these industries and the high stakes involved in legal disputes,” said Mr. Chambers. “We’re also seeing indicators that point to a significant uptick in this type of litigation. Formalizing our existing capabilities into a new practice group not only builds on the foundation we already have but allows for further growth and greater efficiency in helping our clients manage disputes and achieve the best possible outcomes for their businesses.”
While serving as office managing shareholder, Ms. Henderson will maintain her legal practice, which focuses on commercial disputes, insurance defense, and consumer-related litigation. She defends mortgage lending and servicing clients in litigation concerning residential mortgage transactions, state and federal regulatory compliance, and real estate title issues. Ms. Henderson’s insurance defense litigation experience includes first-party residential and commercial property claims, third-party claims, and flood insurance claims throughout Texas, and she has defended numerous cases involving allegations of breach of contract, bad faith, insurance code violations, and coverage issues.
Ms. Henderson is a native Houstonian. She attended The Kinkaid School, is a graduate of Texas A&M University, and received her J.D. from South Texas College of Law. Ms. Henderson is a member of The Junior League of Houston and has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Banking and Finance.
A former member of the Firm’s board of directors, Mr. Chambers focuses his practice on the representation of clients in high-stakes litigation and trials throughout Texas, across the United States, and internationally. For more than 25 years, he has represented clients in a variety of industries in complex litigation, including catastrophic and mass tort claims. His trial experience includes both federal and state courts, as well as jurisdictions outside of Texas and the United States. In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Chambers advises clients during all aspects of the business life cycle from start-up, acquisition, restructuring, and divestiture, with an emphasis on strategic planning.
Mr. Chambers is a member of the Houston, Texas, and American Bar Associations and is an Institute for Energy Law advisory board member. He has been named a Houston Top Lawyer by H Texas Magazine in Business & Commercial Litigation.