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Image: Stephanie Clouston

Stephanie Clouston

Partner, Litigation Department

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 the jury verdict on appeal, including before the Texas Supreme Court.
  • Won a personal-jurisdiction challenge in Texas state court for an Australian power company, resulting in the dismissal and voiding of a default judgment worth approximately $200 million.
  • Lead trial counsel for a prison telecommunications company in a jury trial involving an alleged breach of a patent portfolio agreement; secured a favorable settlement mid-trial.
  • Lead trial counsel for a telecommunications company, obtaining an injunction and a favorable verdict in a market rental dispute involving a major telecommunications center.
  • Obtained summary judgment for a leading computer software company in a licensing dispute, resulting in complete dismissal of the claims.
  • Obtained summary judgment for a fence manufacturer and related Swedish corporation in a product liability case involving allegations that a defective fence caused a child’s death.

Telecommunications 

  • Secured dismissal with prejudice in Texas state court for one of the nation’s largest wireless carriers in a wrongful death case alleging that technology defects prevented a 9-1-1 call.
  • Obtained an opinion from the Fifth Circuit reversing a federal denial of dismissal in a wrongful death case involving alleged delays in emergency response; the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari.
  • Secured dismissal with prejudice in federal court for a top U.S. mobile network operator in a wrongful death case alleging failure of location-ping technology.
  • Won a motion to dismiss with prejudice in federal court for a leading telecommunications provider involving allegations that insufficient network coverage delayed a 9-1-1 call; affirmed by the Sixth Circuit.
  • Obtained a take-nothing dismissal for a major wireless service provider in a Texas dram-shop liability and negligence action involving an employee’s wrongful death.
  • Obtained dismissal of a local exchange carrier in a putative class action alleging improper third-party billing (“cramming”).
  • Lead counsel for a major telecommunications provider in defending billing disputes involving third-party billing aggregators.
  • Represented an prison telecommunications services provider in two patent infringement suits involving three-way calling and VoIP technologies.

Product Liability, Consumer Protection & Mass-Torts

  • National lead counsel for a fireplace manufacturer in multiple cases across the U.S. involving glass-front fireplaces. 
  • National counsel for two major cell phone companies in cases nationwide alleging personal injuries from exploding phones.
  • Represented a large retailer in product-defect and wrongful-death claims arising from products sold in retail stores.
  • Represented a Dallas/Fort Worth manufacturer of HVAC and refrigeration products in matters involving defective foreign-supplied components in commercial refrigeration systems.
  • Obtained pre-trial dismissal for a non-manufacturing distributor of a gas valve from a Dallas suit involving a gas explosion that resulted in substantial personal injuries and a fatality.
  • Represented a leading food producer in class actions alleging exposure to pesticides.
  • Represented a leading automobile manufacturer in the Volkswagen “clean diesel” multidistrict litigation, defending against government and consumer claims nationwide.
  • Lead counsel for a Swedish manufacturing company in a dispute involving the manufacture of iron fencing.

Commercial & Business Disputes

  • Obtained summary judgment enforcing a software end-user license agreement in Texas state court.
  • Represented a large developer in defamation, business tort, and injunctive litigation arising from a real estate development project; obtained a favorable pre-trial settlement.
  • Prosecuted substantial damage claims against gas suppliers on behalf of a major North American chemical company.
  • Represented a large HVAC company in multidistrict litigation arising out of the bankruptcy of a major freight carrier.
  • Represented a prison healthcare provider in trade secret and noncompete litigation. 

Regulatory Compliance & Government Investigations

  • Obtained a favorable settlement in a United States Department of Energy investigation involving alleged violations of energy-conservation standards for certain faucets sold by a global leader in manufacturing and distribution of copper, brass, and plastic tubes, fittings, pipes, and valves.
  • Represented an energy provider in a Texas Attorney General investigation into advertising practices.
  • Counseled numerous clients on compliance with water and energy conservation standards and labeling requirements regulated by the Department of Energy and Federal Trade Commission.

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

Practice Areas

Litigation

Complex Litigation and Arbitration

Class Actions


Languages

English


Admissions

Texas Bar


Education

SMU Dedman School of Law, J.D. 1997

University of Arkansas, B.A. 1994