Stephen C. Dillard

Of Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Houston
United States
T:+1 713 651 5507
Houston
United States
T:+1 713 651 5507
Stephen C. Dillard

Stephen C. Dillard

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Biography

Steve Dillard is a bet-the-company litigator resident in the Houston office.  He formerly served as the Chair of the Global Litigation Department for many years.  He has tried to verdict numerous cases in both state and federal courts.  With a broad range of experience in complex commercial litigation, he has devoted a large portion of his practice, in recent years, to the defense of environmental litigation, groundwater contamination cases, chemical exposure, toxic and mass tort cases, including class actions.  Steve's practice also focuses on the defense of claims arising from commercial operations, hydraulic fracturing, natural resource damages (NRD), E&P activities, landfills, pipelines, Superfund and hazardous waste sites and underground storage tanks.

Professional experience

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JD, cum laude, Baylor University
BA, Baylor University

While in law school, Steve served as Editor-in-Chief of the Baylor Law Review.

Mr. Dillard is admitted to practice in Texas, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals - Fifth Circuit and the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas.

  • Texas State Bar
  • Client Service All-Star, BTI Consulting Group Inc., 2015 (client nominated; one of 354 lawyers worldwide)
  • Legal 500 US, Leading Lawyer, Dispute resolution - Product Liability & Mass Tort Defense: Toxic Tort - defense, The Legal 500, 2020
  • Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, Dispute resolution - Product Liability & Mass Tort Defense: Toxic Tort - defense, The Legal 500, 2015 – 2020
  • Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, General commercial disputes, The Legal 500, 2020
  • Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, Industry focus - Energy litigation: oil and gas, The Legal 500, 2018 – 2019, 2021
  • Texas Top Rated Lawyer, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, 2013 – 2014
  • Chambers USA, Texas litigation: general commercial, Chambers and Partners, 2005 – 2018
  • Local Litigation Star, Texas: product liability, general commercial, Benchmark Litigation, 2013 – 2020
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 1995 – 2021
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Best Lawyers, 2010 – 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers, 2008 – 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Best Lawyers, 2011 – 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Best Lawyers, 2011 – 2025
  • Lawyer of the Year, Houston: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions Defendants, Best Lawyers, 2015
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Civil Litigation: Defense, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2020, 2022
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Top 100 Lawyers in Houston, Thomson Reuters, 2007 – 2015
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, Thomson Reuters, 2012
  • Who's Who in America, Marquis
  • Who's Who in American Law, Marquis

Steve's most recent publications include:

  • Co-author, "Nuisance cases against energy companies in Texas, Pennsylvania and other areas with significant or developing oil and gas exploration, Norton Rose Fulbright whitepaper," October 31, 2016 
  • Co-author, "New Drilling and Recycling Regulations Proposed by Texas Railroad Commission Relating to Hydraulic Fracturing," Fulbright Briefing, October 4, 2012
  • Co-author, "Analysis of Litigation Involving Shale & Hydraulic Fracturing," Fulbright White Paper, September 28, 2011
  • Co-author, "Texas Legislature Joins Growing Number of States in Requiring Disclosure of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids," Fulbright Briefing, June 16, 2011
  • Co-author, "U.K. House of Commons Committee Urges Support for Shale Gas Extraction," Fulbright Briefing, June 6, 2011
  • Co-author, "Duke University Releases Study Reporting Methane Contamination in Areas of Natural Gas Extraction," Fulbright Briefing, May 11, 2011
  • Co-author, "FracFocus Website Launched As Hydraulic Fracturing Chemical Disclosure Registry," Fulbright Alert - Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Task Force, April 12, 2011
  • Co-author, "Texas Supreme Court Defers to Railroad Commission's Interpretation of 'Public Interest' in Injection Well Permit Decisions," Fulbright Briefing, March 28, 2011
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Former Officer; Former Director
  • Defense Research Institute
  • American Bar Association
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • State Bar of Texas
    • Pattern Jury Charge Committee, Chair
  • Houston Bar Association