Legal Malpractice Strategic Counsel for Shareholder Battles

Legal Malpractice Attorney in Houston

Name: Hopkins Centrich Law
Address: 8701 New Trails, Suite 200, The Woodlands, TX, 77381
Telephone: (254) 249-5436

Business-Dispute Experience Brought to Attorney Negligence Claims

Hopkins Centrich Law represents Houston business owners and minority shareholders who believe a prior attorney mishandled a shareholder, partnership, or closely held business matter. Legal malpractice is a core part of our practice, not an afterthought. Because our work centers on complex business disputes, we evaluate attorney negligence claims through the same litigation lens we bring to high-stakes ownership conflicts.

We serve clients throughout Texas, including those across the greater Houston area whose cases were mishandled in business, partnership, or corporate settings.

If you suspect a prior attorney’s mistakes cost you in a business or shareholder dispute, contact Hopkins Centrich Law today at (254) 249-5436 to discuss what happened and how we can help.

Why a Business-Litigation Firm Evaluates These Claims Well

Legal malpractice claims are hard-fought because the defendant is another attorney or firm. Evaluating whether representation fell below the standard of care requires more than familiarity with professional conduct rules. It requires understanding how litigation strategy actually unfolds in business disputes, and that’s where our background matters.

We combine big-firm sophistication with practical business judgment. Our approach is strategic, efficient, and trial-ready, built to protect leverage and preserve value. When ownership rights and company control are on the line, clients trust us for clarity, precision, and relentless advocacy.

What You Must Prove in a Texas Legal Malpractice Claim

Legal malpractice occurs when an attorney fails to exercise the care, skill, and diligence a reasonably prudent lawyer would use under similar circumstances, and that failure harms the client. Under Texas law, these claims are typically grounded in negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or both.

Four elements must be established:

Attorney-client relationship: A duty existed because the attorney represented the client in the matter at issue.
Breach of the standard of care: The attorney’s conduct fell below what a reasonably prudent lawyer would have done. This is ordinarily established through expert testimony from attorneys familiar with the relevant practice area.
Causation: The breach directly caused harm to the client, not some other factor.
Damages: The client suffered measurable financial losses as a result.

Houston Legal Malpractice Deadlines Under Texas Law

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 gives clients two years to file a legal malpractice lawsuit grounded in negligence. Claims resting on breach of fiduciary duty can sometimes carry a different timeline, but Texas courts typically apply the two-year deadline whenever a claim is fundamentally about the quality of the attorney’s work. That clock generally starts on the date the malpractice occurred, though the discovery rule can shift it.

Under the discovery rule, the limitations period begins when the client discovers, or through reasonable diligence should have discovered, the facts constituting the malpractice. If an attorney fraudulently concealed the wrongdoing, Texas courts can exclude the concealment period from the limitations calculation. Missing this window ends most claims regardless of their merit. If you have questions about where you stand, don’t wait to get a clear answer.

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“Professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Communication was clear and consistent, and they made me feel supported at every step.”

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Wonderful to Work With
“Wonderful company to work with as this was our experience with their representation. They were able to get everything resolved in a timely manner.”

- Former Client
Exceptional Attorney
“Kirby Hopkins is an exceptional attorney who resolved my case quickly and efficiently. The communication and updates from the firm kept me informed as my case progressed.”

- Charlotte N.
We're Extremely Happy
“They helped us tremendously in a couple of issues. They have really been attentive with us and supportive. We are extremely happy with their work and the results.”

- Ale P.
Attentive & Understanding
“Hopkins Centrich provided prompt, tailored advice and insightfully explained convoluted terminology in clear terms that safeguarded my interests amid intricate business disputes.”

- Sheila N.
Attention to Detail
“The attorneys at Hopkins Centrich provided dedicated guidance and meticulous attention to detail. They incorporated clauses aligned to my specific business needs.”

- Valentino M.
Thinking Steps Ahead
“Joe's personable approach made us confident in his abilities. His intelligence is evident in the way he handles complex legal issues, always thinking steps ahead.”

- Former Client
Honest & Ethical
“I have known Kirby Hopkins for 30+ years and I trust him with my life. He is honest, ethical, and always a trusted advisor to ensure his clients are well represented!”

- Anu P.
They Got Us Justice
“Stephen and his team got us the justice we deserved, and we couldn't be happier. We really appreciate all their hard work, and could not have done it without them!”

- Logan B.

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What Sets Us Apart

Your Stake is Worth Fighting For

When the Gloves Come Off, We're Ready

Focused Firepower

Our focus on shareholder disputes means sharper strategy, stronger leverage, and smarter outcomes for minority owners.
Business-First Strategy

We understand how companies actually run, meaning our advice is grounded in real-world business judgment.
Big-Firm Talent, Boutique Precision

You'll get sophisticated litigation experience with lean, efficient execution and a personalized experience.
Trial-Ready Leverage

We prepare every case as if it’s going to court. That preparation strengthens negotiation power and drives serious settlement value.

When Business & Shareholder Disputes Lead to Malpractice Claims

In business and shareholder litigation, attorney negligence can take several forms. An attorney who represents multiple owners in the same matter may create a disqualifying conflict of interest. Missing a filing deadline in a derivative or oppression suit can forfeit rights that no amount of litigation can recover. Failing to advise a minority shareholder about available fiduciary-duty or oppression remedies can leave claims on the table permanently.

Evaluating these scenarios requires more than familiarity with malpractice doctrine. It requires understanding how shareholder disputes and closely held business conflicts actually play out: what claims were available, what remedies the prior attorney should have pursued, and what a better outcome would have looked like. That analysis is central to what we do.

Speak with a Legal Malpractice Lawyer in Houston

If a prior attorney mishandled your shareholder dispute, partnership matter, or closely held business case, Hopkins Centrich Law can help you evaluate what went wrong and what your options are. Contact us at (254) 249-5436 to get started.

Where Legal Malpractice Claims Are Filed in Harris County

The Eleventh Business Court Division of the Texas Business Court sits in Houston and handles complex business governance, fiduciary-duty, and derivative-action disputes for Harris County and surrounding counties. Texas Government Code Section 25A.004(h) expressly excludes legal malpractice claims from that court’s jurisdiction, so malpractice suits proceed through the standard civil court system even when the underlying dispute was the kind of case the Business Court would otherwise handle. Understanding this distinction matters when evaluating venue, procedural timelines, and how a case will be litigated.

Proving Damages: The Case-Within-a-Case Requirement

Recovering damages in a Texas legal malpractice case requires more than showing the prior attorney made a mistake. The plaintiff generally must prove they would have obtained a better result in the underlying matter but for the attorney’s negligence. Courts call this the case-within-a-case doctrine: you effectively try the original dispute inside the malpractice lawsuit to show what the outcome should have been.

Recoverable damages are generally limited to financial losses tied to the underlying matter. Building that proof requires a clear understanding of both malpractice law and the business dispute beneath it, which is precisely where our litigation background supports Houston clients.

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Hopkins Centrich Law

Strategic Counsel for Shareholder Battles

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254-249-5436

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8701 New Trails
Suite 200
The Woodlands, TX 77381

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