DALLAS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Twelve attorneys from the Dallas, Austin, Houston and New York offices of McKool Smith have earned recognition in the latest edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Selection for The Best Lawyers in America is based on a rigorous national survey involving more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations from lawyers. Published by Woodward/White Inc. since 1983, it is widely regarded as one of the leading peer-reviewed legal guides in the profession.

Five of the firm's attorneys received recognition in more than one specialty, including co-founder Mike McKool and Principals Sam Baxter, Jack Cooney, Lewis LeClair and Ted Stevenson.

The following attorneys from the firm's Dallas office are honored in the listed practice areas in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America:

• Sam Baxter - Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property Law
• Jeffrey Carter - Intellectual Property Law
• Douglas Cawley - Intellectual Property Law
• Gary Cruciani - Commercial Litigation
• Robert Elkin - Commercial Litigation
• Tom Graves - Commercial Litigation
• Lewis LeClair - Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation
• Mike McKool - Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property Law
• Ted Stevenson - Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property Law

From the firm's Austin office:

• T. Gordon White - Intellectual Property Law

From the firm's Houston office:

• Hugh M. Ray - Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law

From the firm's New York office:

• Jack Cooney - Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense - White Collar

McKool Smith is recognized as one of the premier trial law firms in the United States based on significant courtroom victories and substantial settlements for domestic and international clients. With more than 125 attorneys in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Marshall, New York, and Washington DC, the firm handles complex commercial litigation, intellectual property claims, bankruptcy matters, and white collar litigation for companies and individuals across the globe. McKool Smith has won more of the Top 100 Verdicts than any other law firm in the nation every year since 2008. Firm clients include major airlines, telecommunications companies, medical device manufacturers, energy producers, and many others.

For more information, please contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534 or bruce@androvett.com.

SOURCE McKool Smith