TOXIC TORT

Wells Peyton continues to successfully represent major national corporations in products liability and premises liability suits brought by plaintiffs alleging personal injury damage from environmental and occupational exposure to a variety of products. The firm has been involved in toxic tort litigation since Clarence Borel v. Fiberboard, the case that defined the parameters of recovery for occupational diseases. Wells Peyton has been involved in silicosis litigation since that litigation began in the early 1980s.

In occupational disease cases, the firm has developed a team approach to litigation and can call upon several partners, as well as associates, to see a matter to conclusion.



REPESENTATION OF GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES

Wells Peyton has a long history of representing governmental entities. Since the 1960's the firm has represented numerous school districts in every type of civil litigation and consulative work. Presently, the firm represents most of the public school districts in Southeast Texas including Beaumont Independent School District. Additionally, Wells Peyton has successfully represented numerous municipalities and other governmental entities in litigation matters.



MARITIME LAW

Wells Peyton over the years has represented shipyards, longshore employers and carriers in maritime cases in federal and state courts in Texas and Louisiana. The firm has represented vessel owners as well as product manufacturers and has extensive expertise in the defense of maritime tort cases.



LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW

Our labor and employment attorneys practice all types of labor and employment law on the management side. Our practice includes successful representation of employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Comminssion, the Texas Human Rights Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Education Agency, and the state and federal courts of Texas.



REAL ESTATE

Well Peyton's expertise in real estate includes preparation of the documents required for the sale of real property, mortgage loans, and all other types of real estate transactions. Clients include financial institutions, developers of real estate projects, commercial landlords and tenants, and sellers and purchasers of commercial, industrial and residential real estate. Wells Peyton attorneys advise clients on the planning aspects of real estate aquisitions and sales, and financing issues, and we assist clients in the processing of approvals and permits required by governmental agencies. Wells Peyton also has extensive expertise in representing clients before the courts in condemnation actions, and actions relating to real property foreclosure, bankruptcy, evictions, and title adjudication.

ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE

Lawyers in the Firm work with their clients, whatever the size and nature of their estates, to accomplish the clients’ estate planning objectives by preparing Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and related documents to fit the specific needs of the client. For high net worth individuals, the Firm can provide advanced planning strategies to minimize or eliminate estate taxes. The Firm’s attorneys advise clients concerning asset protection planning, elder law planning, family business succession planning and guardianship matters. The Firm advises representatives of decedents’ estates in the estate administration process to achieve an orderly transfer of estate assets to the decedent’s family members or other beneficiaries. The Firm handles all types of contested probate, trust and guardianship litigation matters.

TAX LAW

The Firm’s tax law practice emphasizes federal income, estate, gift and generation-skipping tax planning. The Firm represents its clients in tax planning, compliance, litigation and collection aspects of federal and state tax law matters. The Firm’s attorneys can advise clients as to the tax consequences of proposed and completed transactions and can assist clients in the planning, determination and implementation of the proper legal structure of transactions to minimize tax consequences. In contested tax matters, the Firm represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service, other governmental entities and in the courts to resolve tax controversies on the most favorable terms possible for its clients. For its clients with tax liabilities, the Firm will work on behalf of the client to negotiate a repayment plan or settlement agreement with the government.