Your Options: Fire Damage Lawyers in Houston (Local Legal Representation Guide)
Written by ITL Attorney, Posted in Property Law, Real Estate Law, Tort Law
A house fire takes minutes. The insurance fight that follows can take months. If your houston fire damage claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid, or someone else’s negligence put you in the burn unit, the lawyer you choose matters more than any other decision you will make in the recovery process.
This is not a ranked “best lawyers” list. It is a plain-language options guide the team at Is that Legal put together for Houston residents: who handles fire cases here, what each firm actually focuses on, what their track records and reviews look like, and where each one falls short. Compare them on the things that matter and decide for yourself.
One distinction shapes everything below. “Fire damage lawyer” in Houston means two different things:
- Fire insurance claim disputes (first-party): You had insurance, you filed a claim, and the carrier denied, underpaid, or stalled it. This is a contract and bad-faith fight against your own insurer.
- Fire/explosion injury litigation (third-party): Someone else’s negligence caused a fire, explosion, or burn injury, and you are suing the responsible party for personal injury or wrongful death.
Most Houston fire cases are the first kind, so this guide leads with the dedicated insurance-claim firms, then covers the firms whose real strength is injury and wrongful-death litigation.
What to Look For When Choosing a Fire Damage Attorney
- Does the firm actually focus on first-party insurance claims? The lawyers at Is That Legal know what victims may not: many personal injury firms add a “property damage” page on their website to rank in the search engines but spend most of their time on car wrecks. A firm that lives in insurance-policy disputes knows the Texas Insurance Code deadlines, appraisal clauses, and bad-faith remedies cold.
- Trial readiness. Insurers settle for more when the lawyer across the table actually tries cases.
- Local Houston presence. A local firm knows Harris County courts, local adjusters, and the building codes that affect rebuild costs.
- Track record on fire and property claims specifically, not just total dollars across all case types.
- Fee structure. Most of these firms work on contingency (no fee unless you recover), but percentages and case costs vary.
- Reviews, but in context. A boutique firm may have few reviews but strong credentials; a high-volume injury firm may have hundreds of reviews that are mostly car-accident clients.
- Bilingual service if that matters for your household.
Comparison Table
| Firm | Google rating / reviews | Years / experience | Fire-claim focus | Fee structure | Notable results | Languages | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callender Bowlin (CB Trial) | 5.0 / 6 (Houston) | Founders 20+ yrs each; firm founded 2022 | First-party insurance, bad faith, wildfire | Contingency | Smokehouse Creek wildfire litigation; first-party recoveries | English, Spanish | Boutique (~6 attorneys) |
| Lundquist Law Firm | 5.0 / 10 (Houston) | Will Lundquist Super Lawyer since 2011; firm since 2017 | Exclusively first-party property insurance | Contingency, fire from as low as 15% | $320M+ collected; record $4.2M TWIA Harvey verdict | English | Small boutique |
| The Voss Law Firm, P.C. | 4.9 / 290 (The Woodlands) | Founder admitted 2004 | First-party insurance / bad faith, national | Contingency | Hundreds of millions recovered; national press recognition | English | Mid-size |
| Barcus Arenas, PLLC | 5.0 / 41 (Houston) | ~2 decades | Commercial/large property damage incl. fire | Contingency | “Millions recovered” in commercial property claims | English | Boutique |
| McLaurin Law, PLLC | 4.7 / 113 (Houston) | Jason McLaurin 10+ yrs | Insurance coverage + PI + construction | Contingency + hourly | Insurance recovery; ex-industry insider | English, Spanish, Hindi, Farsi | Small |
| Doyle Dennis Avery LLP | 4.9 / 350 (Houston) | Established trial firm | Fire claim disputes + injury/bad faith | Contingency | $1.76M AIG and $4.3M bad-faith verdicts (workers’-comp, not fire) | English | Mid-size |
| Omar Ochoa Law Firm | 4.8 / 342 (McAllen) | Firm statewide | Fire/property claims + injury | Contingency | $1.5M church fire recovery; $1B+ firm-wide claimed | English, Spanish | Mid-size |
| Texas Bulldog (Miller Law Firm) | 4.9 / 151 (Houston) | Adam Miller 30+ yrs | PI focus + home fire claims | Contingency | $100M+ recovered; 100+ jury trials | English | Mid-size |
| Fitts Law Firm, PLLC | 4.8 / 104 (Houston) | Since ~2007 | PI + insurance + burn/explosion injury | Contingency | Verdicts/settlements vs major corporations | English | Small-mid |
| Johnson Garcia LLP | 4.9 / 208 (Houston) | 35+ yrs combined | Fire/explosion INJURY (third-party) | Contingency | $200M+ recovered | English, Spanish | Mid-size |
| Stevenson & Murray | 4.9 / 27 (Houston) | Since 1987 | Fire INJURY / wrongful death | Contingency | Hundreds of millions recovered; AV-rated | English | Mid-size (11-20) |
Data note: Google ratings and review counts were pulled from each firm’s Google Business Profile in June 2026, using the Houston listing where one exists. The Voss Law Firm (The Woodlands) and Omar Ochoa Law Firm (McAllen) are profiled from their primary out-of-town listings. Counts drift over time; verify on Google Maps.
Firm Profiles
Callender Bowlin (CB Trial)
Houston-headquartered boutique trial firm (4299 San Felipe St) focused on first-party insurance and bad-faith litigation: fighting carriers that deny, delay, or underpay fire and smoke claims.
- Reviews: 5.0 stars, 6 Google reviews
- Standout credentials: Founding partners Mark Callender and Josh Bowlin each have 20+ years of trial experience; both are Texas Super Lawyers, and four firm attorneys appear on Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists
- Track record: Active in major wildfire litigation, including the Smokehouse Creek Fire (the largest wildfire in Texas history at roughly 1.06 million acres) and New Mexico’s Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire
- What sets it apart: Genuinely trial-oriented rather than a settlement mill; Spanish-language service; contingency fees; local Houston ownership
- Drawbacks: Small boutique team without big-firm bench depth; very small online review footprint; not BBB-accredited
Lundquist Law Firm
One of the most specialized first-party property insurance practices in Houston (675 Bering Dr). The firm does one thing: represent policyholders against insurers, including fire and smoke claims. All of its attorneys previously defended insurance companies.
- Reviews: 5.0 stars, 10 Google reviews
- Standout credentials: Will Lundquist is AV Preeminent rated and a Super Lawyer every year since 2011; Houstonia “Top Lawyer, Insurance Litigation” every year since 2014
- Track record: $320M+ in policyholder verdicts, awards, and settlements; record $4.2M TWIA verdict (the #1 Texas verdict against any insurer in 2020, affirmed on appeal in 2024)
- What sets it apart: Exclusive policyholder focus with insurance-defense insider knowledge; fire contingency fees from as low as 15% pre-litigation
- Drawbacks: Small boutique with limited capacity; minimal online review footprint
The Voss Law Firm
High-volume, nationally focused first-party insurance and bad-faith firm in The Woodlands handling fire, smoke, hurricane, and hail claims for homeowners and businesses.
- Reviews: 4.9 stars, 290 Google reviews (strongest verified review profile among the specialist firms)
- Standout credentials: Recognized in Forbes, Newsweek, Inc., Texas Monthly, and other publications, per the firm; founder Bill Voss is a former Super Lawyers Rising Star
- Track record: Hundreds of millions recovered in policyholder claims
- What sets it apart: One of the most established dedicated insurance-litigation operations in the region, with deep policyholder education resources
- Drawbacks: Office is in The Woodlands, not central Houston; high-volume national caseload may mean less boutique-style partner attention
Barcus Arenas
Houston property-insurance firm (2200 North Loop West) concentrating on complex, high-value commercial and large residential property damage claims, including fire.
- Reviews: 5.0 stars, 41 Google reviews
- Track record: “Millions recovered” in commercial and large-scale property claims over nearly two decades
- What sets it apart: Focus on big, complicated disputes (apartment complexes, commercial buildings, multi-unit structures); testimonials praise direct attorney attention
- Drawbacks: Openly favors large and commercial claims, so a modest single-family fire claim may fit better elsewhere; moderate review volume
McLaurin Law
Houston firm (5005 Riverway Dr) handling fire insurance claims alongside personal injury and construction litigation. Founder Jason McLaurin worked inside the insurance industry before becoming a litigator.
- Reviews: 4.7 stars, 113 Google reviews
- Standout credentials: Avvo “Superb” 10.0 rating for the founder
- What sets it apart: Insurance-industry insider perspective on how carriers evaluate and deny claims; multilingual service (English, Spanish, Hindi, Farsi)
- Drawbacks: Fire insurance is one of several practice areas, not an exclusive focus; smaller firm
Doyle Dennis Avery LLP
Established Houston trial firm handling fire claim disputes and insurance bad faith alongside maritime, personal injury, and complex litigation, including total-loss fire claims and fire-death estate claims.
- Reviews: 4.9 stars, 350 Google reviews (largest Houston-based review profile in this guide)
- Track record: $1.76M jury verdict against AIG for knowing Insurance Code and DTPA violations; $4.3M bad-faith verdict in Snyder v. Cunningham Lindsey (both workers’-comp bad-faith cases, not fire claims)
- What sets it apart: Demonstrated willingness to take insurers all the way to trial
- Drawbacks: Not a property-claims specialist; its broad practice leans into maritime and catastrophic injury, and much of its review base likely reflects those case types
Omar Ochoa Law Firm
Statewide Texas trial practice headquartered in the Rio Grande Valley with a Houston office. Handles fire and smoke insurance claims for homeowners and businesses.
- Reviews: 4.8 stars, 342 Google reviews (primary McAllen profile)
- Track record: $1.5M+ recovered for a church whose fire claim was initially denied; $1B+ claimed firm-wide across all case types
- What sets it apart: Specific fire-claim win; Spanish-language service; statewide reach
- Drawbacks: Houston is a satellite presence, with reviews and headquarters centered in the Valley; the $1B+ figure is firm-wide, not fire-specific
Texas Bulldog (The Miller Law Firm)
Houston personal injury firm (4900 Woodway Dr) led by Adam H. Miller that also represents homeowners in fire and property insurance disputes.
- Reviews: 4.9 stars, 151 Google reviews
- Track record: $100M+ recovered; 100+ jury trials over 30+ years
- What sets it apart: Heavy trial readiness and direct attorney involvement
- Drawbacks: Core identity is personal injury (car and truck accidents); fire claims are a secondary practice area, and most reviews relate to injury cases
Fitts Law Firm
Houston firm (4801 Richmond Ave) founded around 2007 handling denied and underpaid insurance claims as well as burn and explosion injury cases.
- Reviews: 4.8 stars, 104 Google reviews; BBB-accredited with an A+ rating
- Track record: Verdicts and settlements against major corporations including BP; handled ITC Deer Park fire cases
- What sets it apart: Covers both the insurance-claim and injury sides of fire cases
- Drawbacks: Split focus between insurance claims and injury litigation; at least one BBB complaint cites slow communication
Johnson Garcia LLP
Primarily a fire and explosion injury firm, not a first-party insurance claim firm. Focuses on injuries from fires, explosions, refinery and plant blasts, and wrongful death.
- Reviews: 4.9 stars, 208 Google reviews; BBB A+ accredited
- Track record: $200M+ recovered; 35+ years combined experience
- What sets it apart: Strong fit for serious burn injury or death caused by someone else’s negligence; Spanish-language service
- Drawbacks: Wrong fit for a denied homeowner’s insurance claim; practice centers on industrial and catastrophic injury
Stevenson & Murray
Houston personal injury and wrongful-death firm (24 Greenway Plaza) founded in 1987. Handles fire claims primarily on the injury side: household fire injuries, arson civil claims, and offshore fire and explosion claims.
- Reviews: 4.9 stars, 27 Google reviews
- Standout credentials: AV-rated partners; Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame
- Track record: Hundreds of millions recovered over nearly four decades
- Drawbacks: Strength is fire injury and wrongful death, not insurance claim disputes; modest review count
Other Houston Firms Marketing Fire Claims
Additional firms marketing fire and smoke claim services in Houston, with Google Business Profile data as of June 2026:
- The Lane Law Firm (Houston): 4.8 stars, 109 reviews. Dedicated property-insurance and consumer-law firm.
- The Callahan Law Firm (Houston): 5.0 stars, 153 reviews. Primarily personal injury.
- Barton Law Group (Houston): 4.3 stars, 21 reviews.
- Grisham & Kendall, PLLC: advertises a Houston office, but only a Dallas profile surfaced, currently with zero Google reviews.
- The Loyd Law Firm (Houston): Google profile shows no reviews.
- MMA Law Firm (Houston, formerly McClenny Moseley & Associates): 3.3 stars, 196 reviews. Caution warranted: the firm’s former name is associated with widely reported disciplinary and fraud controversies tied to hurricane-claim mass filings. Research its history carefully before engaging.
We did not vet fire-specific results or attorney credentials for these firms, so treat them as leads to research, not vetted options.
Caveats and Data Gaps
- Ratings and firm information was pulled from public resources in June 2026, prioritizing Houston listings. They change over time; verify on Google Maps.
- The Voss Law Firm (The Woodlands, 290 reviews) and Omar Ochoa Law Firm (McAllen, 342 reviews) are profiled from out-of-town primary listings. High-volume firms’ reviews reflect all practice areas, not fire claims specifically.
- Some results figures (for example, “$1 billion recovered”) are firm-wide across all practice areas, not fire-specific. Doyle Dennis Avery’s headline bad-faith verdicts were workers’-compensation cases, not fire claims. Past results never guarantee future outcomes.
- No firm was confirmed to hold a Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification specifically in insurance or property law; ask any firm directly.
- This guide is informational and is not legal advice or an endorsement of any firm.
Next Steps
Start by deciding which side of the fire-damage line your situation falls on: a dispute with your own insurer, or an injury caused by someone else. Then shortlist two or three firms whose focus matches, beginning with the dedicated first-party insurance firms (Callender Bowlin, Lundquist, Voss, Barcus Arenas) if your claim was denied, delayed, or underpaid.
Every firm in this guide offers a free consultation and works on contingency, so there is no cost to interviewing more than one. In each consultation, ask three things: what fire or property results the firm can point to specifically, who will actually handle your file, and exactly how the fee and case costs work. If a firm cannot answer those clearly or asks for money up front, keep looking.

