McKool Smith
McKool Smith is a private Dallas-founded (1991) national trial and litigation law firm with 130+ trial lawyers across 7 U.S. offices, serving Fortune 500 enterprises, patent owners, states, and startups in commercial, IP, white collar, and bankruptcy matters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What McKool Smith does
McKool Smith P.C. is a Dallas-headquartered, privately held litigation and trial law firm founded in 1991, operating as a professional corporation with approximately 130-180 trial lawyers across 7 U.S. offices (Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall, New York, and Washington D.C.). The firm is structured around four core practice areas: Commercial Litigation (with 18 sub-practices including antitrust, class actions, trade secrets, and bankruptcy), Intellectual Property Litigation (patent, ITC/Section 337, PTAB, and copyright/trademark), White Collar Defense (government and internal investigations), and Bankruptcy. It serves Fortune 500 enterprises (Ericsson, Nokia, T-Mobile, Samsung, HSBC, AT&T, Tyson Foods), patent owners and non-practicing entities, state attorneys general (notably the State of Texas), and startups requiring sophisticated trial representation.
The firm's core technology stack is human capital plus proprietary trial-preparation capability: in-house jury consulting services distinguish it from most litigation boutiques. It does not sell software, SaaS, or technology products. Its "products" are legal services delivered by elite trial lawyers, with the firm's stated differentiation being trial readiness that drives settlements and a verdict record that includes 29+ VerdictSearch Top 100 Verdicts, 18 nine-figure verdicts, and 16 eight-figure verdicts, capped by a record $1.4 billion settlement for the State of Texas against Meta Platforms in a biometric privacy case.
The business model is professional services billing with hybrid fee arrangements: contingent fees, success incentives, fixed fees, volume discounts, hybrid fees, and hourly billing. Contingent-fee exposure on large plaintiff matters (e.g., patent enforcement for Netlist and PanOptis) makes individual matter revenue lumpy and concentrates cash-flow risk around case outcomes. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales through partner-led relationships, supplemented by content marketing, industry events, and recognition-driven brand building (Chambers USA, Legal 500, Law360, Benchmark Litigation, IAM). The firm holds no disclosed external funding, has no parent company, and is led by Managing Principal and Chairman David Sochia following founder Mike McKool's transition.
McKool Smith firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- McKool Smith
- Legal name
- McKool Smith P.C.
- Website
- https://mckoolsmith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- McKool Smith is a private Dallas-founded (1991) national trial and litigation law firm with 130+ trial lawyers across 7 U.S. offices, serving Fortune 500 enterprises, patent owners, states, and startups in commercial, IP, white collar, and bankruptcy matters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
McKool Smith industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Services — Commercial and Intellectual Property Litigation
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)
Keywords
Where McKool Smith is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
McKool Smith business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Legal Services - Various Fee Arrangements: McKool Smith offers flexible and creative fee arrangements including contingent fees, success incentives, fixed fees, volume discounts, hybrid fees, and hourly arrangements. This allows the firm to expand access to litigation and align with diverse client needs.
- Contingent Fee Litigation: Success-based fee arrangements where the firm receives a percentage of recovery in successful cases, enabling clients to pursue litigation without upfront costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | Flexible fee arrangements tailored to client needs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
McKool Smith product offering
Product offeringCore offering
McKool Smith is a pure litigation and trial law firm providing legal representation across four core practice areas: Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, White Collar Defense, and Bankruptcy Litigation. The firm represents Fortune 500 companies, startups, states, municipalities, and individuals in high-stakes complex disputes, supported by proprietary in-house jury consulting services for trial preparation and strategy.
Product overview
McKool Smith is a pure litigation and trial law firm offering comprehensive legal services rather than technology products. The firm's core offering consists of four main practice areas: Commercial Litigation (with 18 sub-practice areas covering everything from antitrust to trade secrets), Intellectual Property Litigation (including patent, ITC/Section 337, and PTAB matters), White Collar Defense, and Bankruptcy Litigation. The firm also provides in-house jury consulting services as a supporting capability. McKool Smith does not offer software products, SaaS platforms, or technology solutions—their 'products' are legal services delivered by trial lawyers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Litigation Comprehensive commercial litigation services covering antitrust and unfair competition, appellate, arbitration and ADR, class actions, construction, consumer protection and privacy, employment, energy/oil and gas, financial/securities, governmental entities, healthcare, insurance recovery, intra-business and shareholder disputes, judgment enforcement, mass torts, professional liability, whistleblower/False Claims Act, real estate, trade secrets, and trust/estate/probate litigation for corporations, states, municipalities, and individuals.
- Intellectual Property Litigation Intellectual property litigation services covering patent litigation, trade secrets and restrictive covenant litigation, ITC/Section 337 proceedings, Inter Partes Review/PTAB disputes, and copyright, trademark, and false advertising litigation for patent owners, technology companies, and brand holders.
- White Collar Defense White collar defense services including representation in government investigations, internal investigations, and antitrust investigations for corporate executives, boards, and companies facing regulatory scrutiny.
- Bankruptcy Litigation Bankruptcy-related litigation services including insolvency proceedings, restructuring, debtor/creditor rights disputes, litigation trust matters, and bankruptcy proceedings for financially distressed companies and creditors.
- In-House Jury Consulting Services Proprietary in-house jury consulting services supporting trial preparation and strategy, providing the firm with a differentiated capability for voir dire, jury selection, and trial theme development.
Quantifiable outcome
- 29+ Top 100 Verdicts - more than any other law firm
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use McKool Smith
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
McKool Smith technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
McKool Smith partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Co-Counsel from The Dacus FirmminorDeron Dacus from The Dacus Firm served as co-counsel for T-Mobile in the Daingean Technologies patent defense case.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
McKool Smith competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boies Schiller Flexner: Prominent litigation boutique with significant IP, antitrust, and complex commercial practice; comparable partner-led trial model serving large enterprises.
- Irell & Manella: Elite IP litigation boutique with leading patent trial practice and comparable Fortune 500 client base; competes directly for high-stakes patent and trade-secret matters in California and beyond.
- Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan: Largest litigation-only global firm with deep IP, commercial, and white-collar defense practices; closest scaled direct peer, with comparable bench strength and high-stakes patent trial book.
- Williams & Connolly: Highly regarded litigation boutique with strong trial and IP practices for sophisticated corporate clients; competes for bet-the-firm IP and commercial disputes.
- Fish & Richardson: Leading IP-focused firm with deep patent litigation, PTAB, and licensing practices; comparable verdict track record and Fortune 500 / patent-owner client roster.
- Susman Godfrey: Elite U.S. litigation boutique with a comparable model of high-stakes commercial, IP, and class-action trial work for Fortune 500 clients and individuals; widely regarded as a direct competitor for bet-the-company litigation mandates.
- Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott: Top-tier trial boutique focused on complex commercial, IP, and appellate litigation for sophisticated corporate clients; comparable partner-led model and trial-readiness positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Kirkland & Ellis: Largest Am Law firm with a massive litigation department covering commercial, IP, and white-collar work; competes for the same Fortune 500 litigation mandates with deeper bench and broader practice coverage.
- Winston & Strawn: Major Am Law firm with a sizable IP and commercial litigation practice; competes for sophisticated patent and trial mandates as a full-service alternative to elite boutiques.
- Paul Hastings: Global Am Law firm with a strong IP litigation practice and growing trial bench; competes for high-stakes patent and commercial disputes from a broader full-service platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
McKool Smith social profiles
Digital presenceMcKool Smith financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
McKool Smith leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
McKool Smith funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
McKool Smith M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about McKool Smith
What does McKool Smith do?
McKool Smith is a pure litigation and trial law firm providing legal representation across four core practice areas: Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, White Collar Defense, and Bankruptcy Litigation. The firm represents Fortune 500 companies, startups, states, municipalities, and individuals in high-stakes complex disputes, supported by proprietary in-house jury consulting services for trial preparation and strategy.
Is McKool Smith a public or private company?
McKool Smith is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was McKool Smith founded?
McKool Smith was founded in 1991. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is McKool Smith based?
McKool Smith is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does McKool Smith make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Legal Services - Various Fee Arrangements are the primary driver. The others are contingent Fee Litigation.
Who are McKool Smith's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boies Schiller Flexner, Irell & Manella, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, Williams & Connolly, Fish & Richardson, Susman Godfrey and Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott. Broad incumbents are Kirkland & Ellis, Winston & Strawn and Paul Hastings.
Does McKool Smith have an API?
No public API is recorded for McKool Smith.
What industry is McKool Smith in?
McKool Smith's product category is Legal Services — Commercial and Intellectual Property Litigation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHALAG, Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services. Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.