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Overview
Stephanie Clouston is a partner in the Litigation Department of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Dallas office. She is a seasoned litigator and trial lawyer who focuses on complex commercial litigation and government investigations, enforcement and compliance matters. She has been recognized by Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America for her commitment to delivering resolutions in courtrooms and before government and regulatory agencies on behalf of her clients.
Stephanie has successfully represented clients in federal and state courts across the U.S. in major bet-the-company commercial disputes, consumer class actions, and product liability and mass tort actions. She has secured victories for clients in disputes pertaining to breach of contract, negligence, fraud, and noncompete and trade secrets. Stephanie has led companies through product liability and mass tort litigation — from obtaining early resolutions, including dismissals, through to trial — involving claims of personal injury and wrongful death.
Stephanie also has represented clients in matters before governmental agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission, Department of Energy, Consumer Product Safety Commission and various state attorneys general. She advises clients in highly regulated sectors, including telecommunications, energy and infrastructure, consumer products and manufacturing.
Stephanie is a dynamic leader at the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas School of Law, promoting women in the legal field in both Texas and throughout the United States.
Accolades
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial –Texas (2018-25)
- The Legal 500 US, “Key Lawyer,” Dispute Resolution: Product Liability, Mass Tort (2024)
- The Legal 500 US, “Key Lawyer,” Class Action – Defense: Consumer Products (2024)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2021-26)
- D Magazine, Best Lawyers in Dallas (2016-20, 2022-25)
- Super Lawyers, Texas Super Lawyer (2012-25)
- Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America, Product Liability and Commercial Litigation (2024-26)
- Lawdragon, 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2024-25)
- Lawdragon, 500 Global Leaders, Crisis Management (2025)
- Texas Monthly and Super Lawyers, Texas Rising Star (2006; 2009-11)
- Texas Monthly, Top Women Lawyers in Texas (2019-22)
Education
- Southern Methodist University, J.D. (cum laude), 1997
- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, B.A. (cum laude), 1994
Representations
- Lead trial counsel in a dispute worth hundreds of millions of dollars for one of the world’s largest construction products companies. Successfully defended jury verdict in court of appeals and Texas Supreme Court.
- Lead trial counsel in defense of an actuarial consulting firm against a claim for actuarial malpractice and breach of contract by a former client.
- Successfully used the “snap removal” strategy to remove and defend removal to federal court in multimillion-dollar wrongful death action.
- Lead counsel for Swedish manufacturing company in an iron fence manufacturing suit.
- Lead counsel for computer software company in a software licensing dispute. Obtained summary judgment for software company, leading to successful dismissal of suit.
- Won a challenge to personal jurisdiction in Texas state court on behalf of an Australian power company, resulting in the dismissal and voiding of a default judgment that awarded relief of approximately $200 million.
- Represented a large developer in defamation and business tort litigation and injunctive proceedings between former partners concerning a real estate development project that resulted in a positive settlement before trial.
- Represented an energy provider in an investigation of its advertising practices by the Texas attorney general.
- Obtained summary judgment in Texas state district court for a leading U.S. fence manufacturer and Swedish related corporation in a product liability case involving allegations that a defective fence caused a child’s death.
- National lead counsel for fireplace manufacturer in multiple cases across the U.S. alleging product defects in glass front fireplaces.
- Represented a large retailer against alleged product defect and wrongful death claims relating to a product sold at certain retail stores.
- National counsel for two major cell phone companies in cases across the U.S. alleging personal injury from exploding phones.
- Represented a Dallas/Fort Worth-based manufacturer of HVAC and refrigeration products in claims involving defective component parts from a foreign supplier used in commercial refrigeration systems.
- Represented a luxury automobile manufacturer in the Volkswagen “clean diesel” MDLs, defending governmental and consumer claims across multiple jurisdictions.
- Obtained dismissal of a local exchange carrier in a putative class action alleging improper third-party billing practices, commonly referred to as “cramming.”
- Assisted in the representation of a food producer and marketer in various class actions involving exposure to pesticides.
- Represented a leading inmate telecommunications services provider in two patent infringement lawsuits brought by a competitor involving three-way calling and VoIP.
- Lead trial counsel for another prison telecommunications company in a jury trial alleging breach of a patent portfolio agreement that ended in a favorable settlement.
- Represented a prison health care provider in trade secret and noncompete case in state court against a competitor.
- Secured dismissal with prejudice of all claims in Texas state court for one of the nation’s largest wireless carriers in a wrongful death case involving allegations that defects in its technology prevented a cell phone from connecting to 9-1-1.
- Obtained opinion from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversing a federal District Court’s denial of a motion to dismiss with prejudice all claims in a wrongful death case against a prominent U.S. telecom provider, including the United States Supreme Court rejecting plaintiff’s certiorari petition. The case involved allegations that failures in the provider’s technology delayed first responders from timely providing life-saving treatment.
- Secured dismissal with prejudice of all claims in a federal District Court for a top U.S. mobile network operator in a wrongful death case involving allegations that its defective technology failed to allow first responders to ping a cell phone’s location to provide life-saving treatment.
- Won a motion to dismiss all claims with prejudice in a federal District Court for a leading telecommunications company against allegations that its insufficient network coverage delayed plaintiff from connecting with 9-1-1 while he was suffering a heart attack, including affirmance by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Obtained a take-nothing dismissal on behalf of a major wireless service provider in a Texas state court suit alleging dram shop liability and negligence involving the wrongful death of an employee.
- Lead trial counsel for a telecommunications company in obtaining an injunction and favorable verdict on a market rental determination involving a significant telecommunications center.
- Obtained summary judgment for a computer software client to enforce an end-user license agreement in Texas state court.
- Lead counsel for a large telecommunications provider in defending various billing disputes with third-party billing aggregators.
- Represented a large HVAC company in multidistrict litigation related to the bankruptcy of a major freight carrier.
- Prosecuted substantial damage claims against gas suppliers on behalf of a leading North American chemical company.
- Obtained a favorable settlement in a Department of Energy investigation of alleged violations of the energy conservation standards for certain faucets sold by the client, a global leader in manufacturing and distribution of copper, brass and plastic tubes, fittings, pipes and valves.
- Obtained the pretrial dismissal of a nonmanufacturing distributor of a gas valve from a Dallas suit involving a gas explosion that resulted in substantial personal injuries and a fatality.
- Counseling clients on compliance with water and energy conservation standards and labeling requirements regulated by the Department of Energy and Federal Trade Commission.
News
Involvement
- Member, Executive Committee, Center for Women in Law (2025-26)
- Circle of Leaders and Champion, Center for Women in Law, University of Texas School of Law (2012-present)
- Chair, Development Committee, Center for Women in Law
- Member, Annual Fundraising Committee for The Hockaday School
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (2009-12)
- Barrister, Patrick E. Higginbotham Chapter of American Inns of Court (1997-2019)
- Co-founder, Clouston Family Political Science and Public Policy Faculty Fellowship
- Co-founder, North Dakota State Pre-Law Student Scholarship