Founding Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP

Named the “Father of the Litigation Boutique in Texas” by The Texas Lawbook and noted as the “dean of high-stakes litigation” by Chambers USA, Robin Gibbs has 50 years of experience as a trial lawyer.  Robin’s practice, and that of his firm, focuses exclusively on business and commercial litigation in a wide array of areas, including contract, energy, oil and gas, antitrust, trade secret, legal malpractice, securities, director liability, intellectual property, construction, and partnership disputes.

Robin Gibbs is the dean of Texas trial lawyers and his top reputation is well earned.  He’s a phenomenal trial lawyer.

He is one of the best lawyers in the country. He is smart, efficient and very well versed in what we want out of a case.  He advises well and gets good results too.

An excellent day-in, day-out trial lawyer, Robin is one of my top picks.

Robin is the definition of a class act and is dedicated to the client. 

He’s a top lawyer and is well-respected.

- Chambers USA  2023/2022

Robin joined Vinson & Elkins in 1971 where he tried insurance defense cases. He left the firm in 1974 to form the full-service firm of Wood, Campbell, Moody & Gibbs P.C., where he focused on the development of a trial group.  In 1983, Robin and the trial lawyers formed Gibbs & Bruns LLP, formerly Gibbs & Ratliff L.L.P., focusing its practice on all forms of high-stakes commercial litigation.  Gibbs & Bruns is a nationally recognized litigation boutique acclaimed for its high-value and precedent-setting work across the banking, energy, technology, construction, and financial services sectors, among others.  The firm is renowned for its signature lean trial teams and representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in complex matters.

Gibbs & Bruns was named “Top Trials Practice Group of the Year” by Law360, 2022; and "Texas Firm of the Year" by Benchmark Litigation 2020. Gibbs & Bruns was named to Forbes’s “America’s Top Corporate Law Firms,” 2019; and was Texas Lawyer’s “Litigation Department of the Year” for 2014 and 2016.  Benchmark Litigation named Gibbs & Bruns to its "Top 20 Trial Firm" and "Top Boutique" lists, 2020 as well as its “Top Ten Plaintiffs Firm” list, 2016. The National Law Journal named Gibbs & Bruns to its “Elite Trial Lawyers” feature, 2014 and 2015. Law 360 named Gibbs & Bruns one of the “Most Feared Plaintiffs Firms” and a “Texas Powerhouse” in 2014. The Financial Times named Gibbs & Bruns the “Top US Litigation Firm” in “US Innovative Lawyers,” 2012. The firm was named to The National Law Journal’s inaugural “Litigation Boutiques Hot List,” 2012. The American Lawyer named Gibbs & Bruns a top four U.S. litigation boutique in 2009; and the firm was twice named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs Hot List.”

Robin is Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and The International Society of Barristers.  He is an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and is a Past President of ABOTA, Houston chapter.  Robin is a member of The American Law Institute and serves as President of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms, Houston chapter.  He is a member of the American, Texas, and Houston Bar Associations, and is a Fellow of the American and Texas Bar Foundations.

Robin has served as a Trustee of The University of Texas Law School Foundation since 2008, and was Foundation Chair (2015-2018).  He served on the Executive Committee of The University of Texas Law Alumni Association (2002-2003); and was President of the Texas Law Review Association (1999-2000).  Robin received “Dean Leon Green Award” from the Texas Law Review Association, 2010. Endowed by Gibbs & Bruns, UT law students take part in the annual “Gibbs & Bruns Moot Court Competition” in which the final rounds are judged by Gibbs & Bruns lawyers.