Steve Skarnulis
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Austin, TX
Austin, TX 78701
Selected To Rising Stars: 2007
- Business Litigation (30%),
- Business/Corporate (20%),
- Energy & Natural Resources (20%),
- Securities Litigation (20%),
- Employment Litigation: Defense (10%)
Mr. Skarnulis was an entrepreneur before he became a business litigator. He approaches cases not just from the perspective of how to win in the litigation, but how to best serve his clients' business interests. The two are not always the same.
In 2007, Mr. Skarnulis and Charlie Cain formed Cain & Skarnulis, now a 7 lawyer litigation boutique. The firm quickly developed a reputation for creative litigation tactics, and has consistently achieved fantastic results for its clients. The firm has grown to 11 lawyers, providing representation to businesses and individuals ranging from transactional work to litigation.
Mr. Skarnulis is primarily a business trial lawyer with a wide-ranging caseload, including shareholder cases, director and officer liability, oil and gas disputes, intellectual property rights cases, and an array of business disputes. He has deep trial and arbitration experience. He also works with clients on business planning and strategy, and uses the firm's lawyers to help clients with equity, financing and formation issues.
About Steve Skarnulis
Admitted: 2003, Texas
Professional Webpage: http://cstrial.com/who-we-are/our-people/steve-skarnulis
Honors/Awards:
- Awarded fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, an exclusive group that has as members a very small percentage of the bar members. , Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, txbf.org, 2014
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Chair, Education committee of the Austin Bar Association, 2014
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Advocacy/mock trial coach, University of Texas, 2013
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Several CLE presentations on expert witness management, director and officer insurance and management of a multi-generational law practice.
Verdicts/Settlements:
- Won plaintiff's verdict in federal jury trial in a rare commercial wrongful foreclosure case. $1 million., 2015
- Won defense verdict in a jury trial over a business divorce, with alleged damages of $56 million. Attorney's fees of more than $500,000 awarded to the defendants., 2017
- Largest verdict in Kendall County history, $8.4 M, November 2014, final judgment of $10.3M. , 2014
- Settled claim for ownership of a technology patent worth $30 million after arbitration., 2016
- Won plaintiff's verdict in construction breach of contract case, with 100% of damages and fees sought awarded. , 2017
- Defended case in federal court with more than $6.5 million in alleged damages, settled with no monetary payment., 2017
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, awarded to 1/3 of the top 1% annually.
Educational Background:
- St. Edward's University BBA, Summa Cum Laude, Baylor Law School, Magna Cum Laude, Articles Editor Baylor Law Review, Winner, Dawson Sodd & Beard Moot Court Challenge, mock trial competitor, 2003
Industry Groups
- Construction
- Energy
- Finance
- Insurance
- Real Estate
Articles about Steve Skarnulis appearing in Super Lawyers
Additional Sources of Information About Steve Skarnulis
Steve Skarnulis:
Last Updated: 3/16/2021