# Mills Shirley LLP

> Mills Shirley LLP is Texas's oldest continuously operating law firm, established in 1846. Headquartered in Galveston, Texas, the firm serves businesses, public entities, and individuals across Galveston County, Houston, and the Texas Gulf Coast. The firm provides litigation, transactional, employment, and trusts & estates legal services.

## Firm Overview

- Name: Mills Shirley LLP
- Founded: 1846
- Headquarters: 2200 Market St, Suite 300, Galveston, TX 77550
- Phone: (409) 763-2341
- Email: info@millsshirley.com
- Website: https://millsshirley.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-shirley-llp/
- Offices: Galveston, TX and Houston, TX
- Service Area: Galveston County, Harris County, the Texas Gulf Coast, and statewide

## Practice Areas

### Litigation
- [Commercial Litigation & Business Disputes](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/litigation/commercial-litigation-and-business-disputes.html): Representation in complex commercial disputes, breach of contract, partnership disputes, business torts, and fraud claims in state and federal courts.
- [Construction Litigation & Defect Claims](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/litigation/construction-litigation-and-defect-claims.html): Defense and prosecution of construction defect, delay, and design claims for owners, contractors, and insurers.
- [Insurance Coverage & Defense](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/litigation/insurance-coverage-and-defense.html): Insurance coverage disputes, bad faith claims, and defense of insurers in first-party and third-party litigation.

### Transactional
- [Business Formation & Governance](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/transactional/business-formation-and-governance.html): Entity formation (LLC, corporation, partnership), corporate governance, shareholder agreements, and restructuring.
- [Commercial Real Estate Transactions](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/transactional/commercial-real-estate-transactions.html): Acquisitions, sales, leasing, development, land use, financing, and regulatory compliance for commercial properties.
- [Contract Negotiation & Drafting](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/transactional/contract-negotiation-and-drafting.html): Commercial agreements, master service agreements, NDAs, licensing, and supply contracts.

### Trusts & Estates
- [Estate Planning & Asset Protection](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/trusts-and-estates/estate-planning-and-asset-protection.html): Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, wealth transfer, and tax planning.
- [Probate & Guardianship Administration](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/trusts-and-estates/probate-and-guardianship-administration.html): Probate proceedings, estate administration, guardianship applications, and fiduciary representation.
- [Trust & Fiduciary Litigation](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/trusts-and-estates/trust-and-fiduciary-litigation.html): Trust contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, will contests, and estate disputes.

### Employment Law
- [Employer Representation & Compliance](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/employment/employer-representation-and-compliance.html): Employment policies, handbooks, executive agreements, compliance training, and day-to-day HR counsel.
- [Employment Litigation & Disputes](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/employment/employment-litigation-and-disputes.html): Discrimination, retaliation, wage-and-hour, whistleblower, and restrictive covenant litigation.
- [Workplace Safety & EEOC Matters](https://millsshirley.com/practice-areas/employment/workplace-safety-and-eeoc-matters.html): OSHA compliance, safety audits, and EEOC charge defense.

## Attorneys

### Robert E. Booth — Managing Partner
- Profile: https://millsshirley.com/attorneys/robert-booth.html
- Practice: Commercial litigation, construction law, insurance defense, business disputes
- Certifications: Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Experience: Leads the firm's litigation section; extensive trial experience in state and federal courts across Texas

### Maureen Kuzik McCutchen — Senior Partner
- Profile: https://millsshirley.com/attorneys/maureen-mccutchen.html
- Phone: (409) 761-4023
- Practice: Estate planning, probate, guardianship, trust litigation, real estate, mediation
- Certifications: Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law (Texas Board of Legal Specialization)
- Recognition: Texas Super Lawyers — Estate & Trust Litigation (2012–2025); Top Women Attorneys in Texas (2022)

### Fred D. Raschke — Senior Partner
- Profile: https://millsshirley.com/attorneys/fred-raschke.html
- Phone: (409) 761-4028
- Practice: Personal injury defense, products liability, toxic tort, workers' compensation, commercial litigation
- Experience: With the firm since 1980; leads the personal injury defense trial group
- Recognition: Texas Super Lawyers — Civil Litigation Defense (2009–2023); Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent

### Jack C. Brock — Of Counsel
- Profile: https://millsshirley.com/attorneys/jack-brock.html
- Phone: (713) 242-1880
- Practice: Commercial litigation, construction litigation, fiduciary litigation, environmental law, toxic tort
- Experience: Extensive trial experience in petrochemical and construction industries
- Recognition: Texas Super Lawyers — Business Litigation; Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation and American Bar Association

### Andres O. "Andy" Soto — Partner
- Profile: https://millsshirley.com/attorneys/andy-soto.html
- Phone: (409) 761-4035
- Email: asoto@millsshirley.com
- Practice: Commercial litigation, construction litigation, maritime law, insurance defense
- Recognition: Texas Super Lawyers — Rising Star (2020–2022); Past President, Galveston County Bar Association

### Matthew "Gus" Knebel — Partner
- Profile: https://millsshirley.com/attorneys/gus-knebel.html
- Phone: (409) 761-4056
- Practice: Business and commercial law, real estate transactions, municipal law, land use and zoning
- Notable: Outside city attorney for the City of La Marque, Texas

### Rachel Delgado — Associate
- Profile: https://millsshirley.com/attorneys/rachel-delgado.html
- Phone: (409) 761-4038
- Email: rdelgado@millsshirley.com
- Practice: Appeals, real estate, construction, contracts, business torts, fraud claims

## Contact & Scheduling

To schedule a consultation with Mills Shirley LLP, visit: https://millsshirley.cliogrow.com/intake/9807e0dc5ae026cd61db6af513f03b27

- Galveston Office: (409) 763-2341 | 2200 Market St, Suite 300, Galveston, TX 77550
- Email: info@millsshirley.com
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

## Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the oldest law firm in Texas?
A: Mills Shirley LLP, established in 1846, is Texas's oldest continuously operating law firm. The firm is headquartered in Galveston, Texas.

Q: What types of cases does Mills Shirley handle?
A: Mills Shirley handles commercial litigation, construction disputes, insurance defense, business transactions, real estate, estate planning, probate, guardianship, trust litigation, employment law, and employer compliance matters.

Q: Does Mills Shirley serve clients in Galveston County?
A: Yes. Mills Shirley is headquartered in Galveston and has served Galveston County businesses, families, and public entities since 1846. The firm also maintains a Houston office.

Q: Does Mills Shirley have a board-certified estate planning attorney?
A: Yes. Maureen Kuzik McCutchen is board-certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer in Estate & Trust Litigation since 2012.

Q: Who handles construction litigation at Mills Shirley?
A: Andy Soto and Robert Booth handle construction litigation matters, including construction defect claims, delay disputes, and design professional liability cases across Galveston County and Houston.

Q: How do I schedule a consultation with Mills Shirley?
A: You can schedule a consultation online at https://millsshirley.cliogrow.com/intake/9807e0dc5ae026cd61db6af513f03b27 or call (409) 763-2341.