Practice areas: Business Litigation, Personal Injury, Professional Liability; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 2006
Education: The University of Texas School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2012 - 2014 William grew up in Houston with a father who was a trial lawyer and a mother who was a Catholic middle school teacher. In between playing basketball in just about every gym in the city, he recalls hearing stories about his father’s clients and the help they needed and the help that was given. William traveled up north, to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to attend college and play a little basketball. While in college, he noticed that he was drawn to the law-related courses he took. As college came to an end, he began talking to his parents about law school and what a career as a lawyer would look like.
Following in his father’s footsteps, William graduated from The University of Texas School of Law, where he found the most enjoyment taking trial advocacy classes. He also served as managing editor of The Review of Litigation.
After graduation, William began his career at Bracewell LLP, where he tried, and won, his first case as lead counsel. Shortly after that trial, William joined Hagans. Since then, William has been recognized by Thompson Reuters on its Texas Rising Stars list—from 2012-2014—and its Texas Super Lawyers list every year since 2014. He serves as President of the firm.
William focuses his practice on his clients. Over the years, he has represented community banks, lawyers and law firms, small and large businesses, and families. He enjoys the challenge of both commercial/business dispute cases and serious/catastrophic personal injury cases. And he really enjoys just getting to know different clients from all sorts of different walks of life. William is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
William is also actively involved in the community, focusing most of his time on Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) and the Texas Bar Foundation. He has worked with Breakthrough T1D (since he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of twelve. He served on the Houston board from 2013-2019 and 2020-present and was the Houston Community Board President from 2021-2023. After many years of co-chairing the Houston nominating committee for the Texas Bar Foundation, the Fellows voted William to serve as Secretary of the Fellows (2023-2024) and Board of Directors (2023-present). He now serves as Chair of the Fellows (2025-2026). In addition, William is the immediate past chair of the Texas State Bar Professionalism Committee (2024-2025).
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Professional Liability: PlaintiffFocus areas
Brain Injury, Legal Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Professional Malpractice - Other, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 40% Business Litigation
- 40% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 20% Professional Liability: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2006, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://hagans.law/attorneys/william-g-hagans/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Fellows Chair, 2025-2026, Texas Bar Foundation., 2025
- Professionalism Committee, 2020-2026 (Chair 2024-2025; Vice-Chair 2023-2024), State Bar of Texas, 2024
- Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Board of Trustees, 2023-present, Texas Bar Foundation, 2023
- Fellows Secretary, 2023-2024, Texas Bar Foundation, 2023
- Fellows Chair-Elect, 2024-2025, Texas Bar Foundation, 2024
- Nominating Committee for District Four, 2012-2026 (Co-Chair 2016-2022), Texas Bar Foundation, 2025
- Professionalism Committee, 2012-2020; 2023-2026 (Co-Chair 2012-2013, 2018-2019), Houston Bar Association, 2025
- Fee Dispute Committee, 2012-2013, 2014-2019, 2022-2026, Houston Bar Association, 2025
- Bench Bar Conference Committee, 2023-2026, Houston Bar Association, 2025
- Speakers Bureau, 2012-2016, Houston Bar Association
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Cause No. 2007-29729; Tinsley v. Nutt; In the 129th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. Jury verdict in excess of $2.6 million resulting from a pedestrian hit by a tow truck. Named the #10 Motor Vehicle Verdict in the Top Texas Verdicts of 2010.
- Cause No. 15-08-23266; Teddy Glenn Abrams, Jr. v. Jjelcor, Inc. d/b/a Action Rentals; In the 506th Judicial District Court of Waller County, Texas. Jury verdict in excess of $500,000 resulting from a customer who purchased a track loader that was missing safety bolts on the cage, causing the cage to raise unexpectedly and land on his feet.
- Cause No. 2015-18075; Endeavor Energy Resources, L.P., et al. v. Ironshore Specialty Insurance Company, et al.; In the 113th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. Bench trial on attorneys’ fees after court granted summary judgment on declaratory judgment action seeking coverage from excess insurance company.
- Cause No. 2011-14607; D.L., Individually and as Next Friend of M.L., a Minor v. Angela Denise Aaron, d/b/a Law Office of Angela Aaron; In the 80th District Court, Harris County, Texas. Legal malpractice bench trial, where the judge awarded in excess of $475,000 (including $269,100 in exemplary damages). The defendant’s license to practice law was subsequently suspended.
- Cause No. 985,386; Vyas v. Golnick; In County Court at Law No. 2 of Harris County, Texas. Jury verdict of medical costs and additional pain and suffering amounts resulting from a car crash after winning summary judgment finding defendant liable and dismissing defendant’s responsible third party designation.
- Cause No.: 2010-CI-00419; Leif Clark and Rochel Lemler-Clark vs. Don Craighead Homes, Inc., Don Craighead Homes, Ltd., et al.; In the 408th Judicial District Court of Bexar County, Texas. After jury returned take-nothing verdict, won a hearing seeking a new trial. Case settled before second trial.
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- 2012-2014 Texas “Rising Star” recognition
- 2014-2025 Texas Super Lawyers recognition
Pro bono / Community Service
- Community Board, 2021-present, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Houston Gulf Coast / Southern Texas Chapter, 2024
- Executive Committee, 2014-2019, 2020-present, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Houston Gulf Coast / Southern Texas Chapter, 2024
- Volunteer Legacy Leader, 2024-present, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Houston Gulf Coast / Southern Texas Chapter, 2024
- Executive Chair, 2023-2024, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Houston Gulf Coast / Southern Texas Chapter, 2024
- Executive Counsel, 2021-2023, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Houston Gulf Coast / Southern Texas Chapter, 2023
- President, 2021-2023, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Houston Gulf Coast / Southern Texas Chapter, 2023
- President-Elect, 2020-2021, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Houston Gulf Coast / Southern Texas Chapter, 2021
- Board of Directors, 2013-2019, 2020-2021, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Houston Gulf Coast / Southern Texas Chapter, 2021
Educational Background
- J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 2006
- B.A., University of Northern Iowa, 2002
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Speaker and author (with Marie Jamison), Jury Charge. Texas Advanced Personal Injury Law Course 2024, State Bar of Texas, Texas Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, Texas Bar CLE, Speaker and author (with Marie Jamison), Jury Charge, State Bar of Texas, Texas Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, Texas Bar CLE, 2024
- Speaker and author (with Zach Bowman), Discovery Disputes in Insurance Litigation. Texas Advanced Insurance Law Course 2024, State Bar of Texas, Texas Advanced Insurance Law Course, Texas Bar CLE, Speaker and author (with Zach Bowman), Discovery Disputes in Insurance Litigation, State Bar of Texas, Texas Advanced Insurance Law Course, Texas Bar CLE, 2024
- Speaker (with Hon. Manpreet Singh), Texas Lawyers Creed Discussion—35 Years Later, Houston Bar Association Day of Civility, April 4, 2024, Speaker (with Hon. Manpreet Singh), Texas Lawyers Creed Discussion—35 Years Later, Houston Bar Association Day of Civility, Houston Bar Association, 2024
- Speaker and author, Proving Up Attorneys’ Fees. Texas Advanced Personal Injury Law Course 2023, State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar CLE, Speaker and author, Proving Up Attorneys’ Fees, State Bar of Texas, Texas Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, Texas Bar CLE, 2023
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“William is hard working, well prepared, and has a great presence in court. He works well with opposing counsel.”
“I would want William representing me in any lawsuit. He is smart, dedicated, and a superb trail lawyer. He loves the law and is driven to get outstanding results for his clients.”
Office location for William G. Hagans
3200 Travis Street
4th Floor
Houston, TX 77006
Phone: 713-965-6291
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2012 - 2014
Top Lists
Top 100: Houston Super Lawyers: 2025Certificates and credentials
Personal Injury Trial Law
