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About Walter
Walter Simons is an appellate lawyer who represents clients in high-stakes business disputes in Texas and across the United States. His practice focuses on preparing top-quality briefs for appellate courts in traditional appeals, interlocutory appeals, and mandamus proceedings.
Walter also frequently serves as appellate counsel during trial proceedings from the early stages of a case. In this capacity, he provides strategic advice to trial teams, drafts pleadings, handles dispositive motion practice and other trial briefing, assists at trial, and ensures that errors are properly preserved for appeal.
Prior to joining Bracewell, Walter served as a law clerk to the Honorable Patty Shwartz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and to the Honorable Gray H. Miller of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Experience
Publications and Speeches
"Basic Rules of Procedure: State v. Federal," Handling Your First (or Next) Fifth Circuit Civil Appeal, State Bar of Texas, 2020.
"Mandamus," 43rd Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 2020.
"Appellate Law," Texas Bar Journal, 2018-20.
"Mandamus for the Trial Lawyer," 42nd Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 2019.
"Can I Appeal This? Interlocutory Appeals and Mandamus," 33rd Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Course, State Bar of Texas, 2019.
"U.S. Supreme Court Roundup: Cases & Trends," Houston Bar Association, 2018.
"Splits Among the State Appellate Courts," 32nd Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, State Bar of Texas, 2018; 19th Annual Conference of the Texas Association of Appellate Court Attorneys, 2018.
"Strategies for Respondents: The Path to 'Affirmed,'" 32nd Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, State Bar of Texas, 2018.
"Can I Appeal This? Practical Application for Trial Lawyers," 41st Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 2018.
"Choice of Law in Fraudulent Joinder Litigation," 163 U. PA. L. REV. 603 (2015).