Shannon N. Smith
Associate
Shannon represents clients in complex commercial and energy litigation matters, with trial and appellate experience in state and federal courts.
Shannon has been involved in high-stakes cases involving contract disputes, trade secret claims, legal malpractice defense, antitrust litigation, matters concerning fiduciary duties, and general tort claims. While her experience spans diverse industries, she particularly emphasizes disputes in the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors. Shannon has been on trial teams that have successfully tried cases to verdict, including a three-week trade secret trial that resulted in a complete defense verdict later affirmed on appeal.
Prior to joining Yetter Coleman, Shannon practiced at Gibbs & Bruns LLP in Houston. She previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Sim Lake of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Representative Experience
- Represented former employee in a $40 million trade secret dispute. Secured a complete defense verdict following a three-week jury trial.
- Represented insurance provider in antitrust dispute. Secured temporary injunction from the Texas Business Court prohibiting competitor from restricting client’s access to its customers’ data on key software platform.
- Represented Am Law 100 law firm in a confidential arbitration involving $800 million legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Successfully obtained complete defense verdict.
- Represented natural gas buyer in international arbitration involving breach of a natural gas supply contract. Successfully obtained eight-figure monetary award.
- Represented oil and gas operators in complex royalty disputes and class action litigation.
Presentations & Publications
- “Recent Texas Case Law Developments in Royalty and Post-Production Cost Deductions Jurisprudence,” 12th Annual Oil & Gas Disputes Course, State Bar of Texas, January 2026
Credentials
- The University of Texas School of Law
J.D., with high honors
Chancellors, Chancellor-at-Large
Order of the Coif
Featured Content Editor, Texas Law Review - Texas A&M University
B.A., summa cum laude
English Literature, Minors in Classics (Latin) & Psychology - Law Clerk to the
Hon. Sim Lake
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas - Admitted to Practice:
Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
U.S. Federal Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
Professional Honors & Affiliations
- “Texas Rising Star” in General Litigation by Super Lawyers, 2026
- “Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation,” Lawdragon, 2024-2025
- “Ones to Watch” in Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2026
- “Ones to Watch” in Energy Law, Best Lawyers in America, 2026
- Member: Houston Bar Association
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation