Hank Fasthoff and Clayton Cannon, two of the former principal shareholders at Stumpf Cannon Fasthoff PC, the Houston-based commercial litigation firm that closed operations in January, have joined the law firm of Adams and Reese as Special Counsel in the firm's Houston office.
Bringing in a nationwide intellectual property and entertainment litigation practice with a client portfolio of A-List celebrities, Grammy Award-winning recording artists, major and independent record labels and music publishers, sports personalities and Fortune 500 companies, Fasthoff has been ranked for five consecutive years as a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in the fields of Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Litigation.
Cannon has been honored for two consecutive years among Texas Super Lawyers in construction and business litigation and brings close to 20 years of experience in construction and business litigation.
"We are honored to have both Hank and Clayton join our firm," said Chris Derden, Partner in Charge of the Adams and Reese Houston office. "They both have a considerable amount of litigation experience, and they have been recognized locally for their success, working hard for clients and businesses in the Houston market. That familiarity with our Houston businesses will be beneficial for Adams and Reese."
Hank Fasthoff has handled intellectual property and entertainment cases in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville, and in cities throughout Texas. He has a wide and varied practice in the fields of commercial litigation, intellectual property, e-commerce, and entertainment matters involving copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, rights of publicity, privacy, defamation, licensing, and transfers. He has recovered dozens of infringing domain names on behalf of celebrities, athletes, sports personalities, Fortune 500 companies and other trademark owners, and regularly performs trademark evaluation, clearance and prosecution before the United States Patent & Trademark Office. Fasthoff is also the publisher of EntertainmentLitigation.com, a blog featuring news and analysis of legal issues in the arts and entertainment industries.
"I am really excited about joining the outstanding group of lawyers at Adams and Reese and working with the firm’s thriving Intellectual Property group," Fasthoff said. "Not only will I be in a position to better serve the clients I bring to the firm, due to the firm’s multi-market footprint and deep experience in a vast array of practice areas, but Adams and Reese’s existing client base will also benefit from my background in intellectual property litigation. We are a perfect fit for one another.”
Clayton Cannon's legal practice includes the litigation of commercial and residential construction cases, numerous types of commercial disputes, real estate litigation, employment disputes and defense of personal injuries. He also handles issues related to foundation failures, roofing and roofing materials, flashing and building envelope failures, and windows and siding claims. Cannon also counsels his clients in construction contract drafting and negotiations as well as litigating construction payment disputes, including lien and bond claims.
In addition to construction law, he has experience in complex insurance coverage litigation and international litigation. He has tried numerous jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations. Cannon has handled appellate matters and argued cases before the Texas Courts of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
For the last eight years, Cannon has served as either a co-chair or a presenter at construction law conferences and real estate conferences for both the University of Texas School of Law and the South Texas College of Law. In March, Cannon will be a presenter at the Advanced Real Estate Drafting Course sponsored by the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Section of the State Bar of Texas. Cannon has practiced law in Houston since he graduated from The University of Houston Law Center in 1991. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M in 1988.
"My practice will be greatly enhanced by becoming part of the Adams and Reese team," Cannon said. "The firm enjoys a solid reputation in business and legal communities throughout the southern United States and beyond. I am proud to be counted among its lawyers. My background consists of working with my clients to resolve a wide array of issues that affect their businesses. I look forward to bring my practice and my experience to Adams and Reese to help both the firm and its clients succeed.”
Adams and Reese is a multidisciplinary law firm with offices strategically located throughout the southern United States and Washington, DC. American Lawyer includes Adams and Reese on its distinguished list of the nation's top law firms - "The Am Law 200". The National Law Journal also includes the firm on the "NLJ 250" list of the nation's largest law firms.