Stuart W. Lapp | Managing Partner

Location
Houston location
Location
College Station location
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    Tell me about your case

    My focus

    Commercial Litigation
    Commercial Real Estate
    Construction
    Contracts & Business Issues
    Finance
    Labor & Employment
    Mediation & Arbitration
    Mergers & Acquisitions
    Oil, Gas and Energy
    Owner Disputes
    Private Equity

    Biography

    Stuart has been practicing law for nearly 40 years and joined Stibbs & Co. as a partner in 2015. Before joining the firm, he served as General Counsel for a multi-state energy and real estate development company headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. A seasoned trial lawyer, Stuart has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation and a broad background in commercial real estate, finance, corporate governance, government relations, business management, and labor/employment law. His deep knowledge and principled advocacy make him a trusted ally for his clients.

    With a unique blend of skills, Stuart seamlessly navigates both the boardroom and the courtroom. Often described as “a lawyer’s lawyer,” his in-house counsel experience gives him a practical understanding of business challenges, while his litigation background provides a strategic perspective on risk. This dual expertise enables him to equip clients with the tools and insights they need to make well-informed decisions, resulting in balanced and practical solutions.

    Outside of his legal practice, Stuart is passionate about family, faith, and Texas barbecue. He and his wife Eve have three daughters and two granddaughters who often accompany “Papa” on weekend adventures. Stuart has also been deeply involved in his church community, serving for 12 years on the Parish Council and as Chairman of the Building Committee at St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Christian Church.

    A self-proclaimed “barbecue nerd,” Stuart has attended Foodways Texas Barbecue Summer Camp and Camp Brisket at Texas A&M University, calling the experience a “fantasy camp for barbecue junkies.” He enjoys cooking barbecue on his smoker and enthusiastically shares tips with anyone who will listen. In 2016, with the firm’s support, he co-founded The Woodlands BBQ Festival, complementing the firm’s annual CrawPHish Festival. Both events raise funds and awareness for charitable causes.

    Stuart is an active member of the community, having served as a board member and Chairman of the Board for both The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership and The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. He also represents the firm on the advisory board of the Greater Brazos Partnership.

    Education

    Education

    + J.D., University of Houston College of Law, Houston, Texas,
    1985
    + B.A., Criminal Justice, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas,
    1980
    Admissions

    Admissions

    + State Bar of Texas
    + U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
    + U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
    + U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
    + U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
    + U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
    Experience

    Professional Experience

    + 2015 – Present -
    Stibbs & Co., P.C. – Shareholder/Managing Partner
    + 2003 – 2015 -
    Petroleum Wholesale, L.P./Sun Development, L.P. – General Counsel
    + 1991 – 2003 -
    Law Offices of Stuart W. Lapp, P.C. – Managing Shareholder
    + 1985 – 1991 -
    Dunn, Kacal, Adams, Pappas & Law – Litigation Associate
    Involvement

    Involvement

    + The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce: Chairman of the Board - 2018-2019, Vice President / Government Affairs - 2015-2018, Board Member - 2014 - present
    + The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership: Chairman of the Board - 2014-2015, Board Member - 2010 – 2016, Partner/Member – 2007 - present
    + The Woodlands BBQ Festival - Founder
    + George’s Coffee Club – Charter Member
    + Voter Awareness Council - Founding Member
    Memberships

    Memberships

    + American Bar Association
    + Houston Bar Association
    + Montgomery County Bar Association
    + The Woodlands Bar Association
    + General Counsel Forum
    + National Conference on Weights and Measures
    + Certified Mediator – A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center