Hogan Lovells Adds Top-Ranked Disputes Team

HOUSTON, 6 July 2015 – Hogan Lovells announced today that Maria Boyce, Jennifer Smith, and Cristina Rodriguez will be joining the Litigation and Arbitration practice group as partners in the firm’s Houston office.
 
“As Houstonians with global practices and perspectives, Maria, Jennifer, and Cristina are the kind of market leaders who will add to our diverse, collaborative, and client-centered team,” said Stephen Immelt, CEO of Hogan Lovells. “Houston is critical for many of our energy clients in Texas and international clients in Latin America and beyond.  We welcome Maria, Jennifer, and Cristina and the ability they bring to serve clients in this important market.”
 
Boyce, Smith, and Rodriguez join Hogan Lovells from Baker Botts. A Senior Litigation Partner who served three terms on the firm’s Executive Committee, Boyce previously served as partner-in-charge of the Houston office and head of the Houston office litigation department. Smith, who is a Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales, in addition to being licensed in Texas, assisted in opening the Baker Botts London office and spent eight years of her career there. She has also served on the firm’s Executive Committee, and has served as Deputy Chair of the Firm wide Litigation Department for seven years. Rodriguez was a founding member of the firm’s diversity committee and head of the professional liability practice group, as well as the former Hiring Partner of the Houston office.
    
“We are excited to be joining Hogan Lovells. The firm’s dynamic global platform fits perfectly with our practices and offers unique opportunities for our clients,” said Rodriguez. “Hogan Lovells has a diverse culture and a strong commitment to Houston, which is ideal for our group and our clients.”
 
“Not only are Maria, Jennifer, and Cristina first chair trial lawyers at the vanguard of dispute resolution in the 21st century, they are leaders in the Houston community,” said Bruce Oakley, managing partner of the firm’s Houston Office.  “We could not be more pleased with this transformational step in the growth of our Houston office.”
 
About the Lawyers
 
Maria Boyce: A highly respected and experienced trial lawyer, Boyce focuses on complex commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation.  She has tried fraud, contract, patent infringement, trade secrets, and products liability cases within the energy and technology sectors to juries throughout the United States.  She earned a B.A. cum laude from Connecticut College and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law.
 
Jennifer Smith: Smith concentrates her practice on complex international arbitration and international dispute resolution.  She is a Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales and, having spent eight years of her career in London, she brings a great deal of experience in resolution of cross-border disputes arising out of international contracts in many industries, including energy, petrochemicals, shipping and technology.  Smith is ranked in Chambers Global and is praised for her “‘intellect and technical understanding of the issues that are at the forefront of the energy industry.” She earned a B.A magna cum laude from Wellesley College and a J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law.
 
Cristina Rodriguez:  Rodriguez has built a strong practice in professional liability, employment, commercial and securities litigation both in state and federal courts.  Her practice includes internal investigations and labor and employment counseling.  Fluent in Spanish, Cristina has represented businesses that operate in Mexico, South America and Central America. She earned a B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Miami and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School.
 
About Hogan Lovells
 
Hogan Lovells is a leading global legal practice providing business-oriented legal advice and high-quality service across its exceptional breadth of practices to clients around the world.
 
“Hogan Lovells” or the “firm” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells US LLP and Hogan Lovells International LLP. For more information, see www.hoganlovells.com.