In 1968, when Byron Sims and Thomas Brown formed their two-man law firm, Brown Sims, the initial focus was to offer their clients in the maritime and energy industries a superior and wide variety of litigation services.
But along with the growth in these industries along the Texas Gulf Coast, Mr. Sims’ own personal ambition and desire to hire the best lawyers he could find resulted in unprecedented growth in his own practice. Impressed with the results they received from these two lawyers, Mr. Sims and Mr. Brown’s clients and carriers began requesting that the firm venture outside its traditional practice areas.
Forty-five years later, the once small firm has exploded into one of the top 25 largest law firms in Houston and one of the top 100 largest law firms in Texas. What was once a small and tailored practice with two lawyers, has grown to over 60 lawyers, assisting hundreds of clients in thousands of matters, and covering almost every conceivable industry.
Mr. Sims is well known and has long been recognized as one of Houston’s leading attorneys. He was honored as one of Houston’s Top Lawyers by H Magazine, and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer as featured in Texas Monthly. Mr. Sims is also included in Best Lawyers in America.
Mr. Sims is Board Certified in both Personal Injury Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Education
University of Texas School of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1967
- Order of the Coif
- Phi Delta Phi Recipient
- American Jurisprudence Award for Contracts.
University of California at Los Angeles, Bachelor of Science, with honors, 1963
Certifications
- Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Board Certified, Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Admissions
- Admitted to State Bar of Texas, 1967
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
Memberships & Services
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of Texas District 4-A Grievance Committee, 1981-1983
- State Bar of Texas District 4-C Grievance Committee 1994-98
- District Committee on Attorney Admissions, 1968-1970
- Special Counsel, Commission on Lawyer Discipline, 1992-1994
- Houston Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- College of State Bar of Texas
- Maritime Law Association of United States
- The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- The Association of Average Adjusters of the United States
- Association of Transportation Practitioners
- Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association
- The Propeller Club of the United States
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
- Bar Association of the Fifth Circuit
- Trucking Industry Defense Association
Awards & Achievements
- Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 2019
- Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 2018
- Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 2017
- Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 2016
- Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 2015
- Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 2014
- Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 2013
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2019″ by H Texas Magazine, 2019
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2018″ by H Texas Magazine, 2018
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2017″ by H Texas Magazine, 2017
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2016″ by H Texas Magazine, 2016
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2015″ by H Texas Magazine, 2015
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2014″ by H Texas Magazine, 2014
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2013″ by H Texas Magazine, 2013
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2019
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2018
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2017
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2016
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2015
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2014
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2013
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2012
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2011
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2010
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2009
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2008
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2007
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2007″ by H Texas Magazine, 2007
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2006
- Inclusion as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers for 2005″ by H Texas Magazine, 2005
- Inclusion as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly Magazine, 2004
