The Curley Law Firm PLLC

Attorney: Adam Curley

• Founder and lead attorney of The Curley Law Firm.
• Houston business lawyer serving business entities and individuals across Texas.
• Represents clients in both litigation and transactional matters.
• Has more than a decade of experience helping clients resolve:
• Contract disputes,
• Employment issues,
• Premises liability disputes, and
• Other legal issues that arise in business contexts.

Litigation Experience

According to the firm's website, Adam Curley has experience in:

• Construction law
• Energy
• Maritime
• Toxic tort
• Insurance
• Personal injury
• Employment
• Bankruptcy
• Collections

He has litigated cases in:

• Texas state courts
• Federal courts in Texas
• Bankruptcy courts
• Appellate courts, including:
• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit,
• The Texas Supreme Court, and
• Texas intermediate appellate courts.

Community and Professional Involvement

• Actively involved in legal and civic communities.
• Serves on boards and committees for several education and non-profit entities.
• Active member of the Houston Heights community, where he lives and works.

Education

• South Texas College of Law Houston – J.D. (2008)
• Texas A&M University – B.S. in Industrial Distribution (2005)

Admissions and Associations

• State Bar of Texas (since 2008)
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (since 2009)

Recognition

• Young Alumni Award – South Texas College of Law (2018)

Based on the firm's website, key business law services include:

• Contract law and transactions
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts.
• Helping prevent future disputes through clear, well-structured agreements.

• Business formation and strategy
• Advising on selection of appropriate business structures (such as corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other Texas entities).
• Drafting foundational and governance documents to help businesses start on solid legal footing.

• Risk management and compliance
• Identifying potential legal risks early.
• Helping businesses develop strategies to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Aiming to improve long-term stability and reduce exposure to liability.

• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Representing businesses in commercial and business disputes.
• Handling matters such as contract disputes, employment-related issues, premises liability disputes, and other business-related conflicts.

• Intellectual property protection
• Advising on IP strategies and registration, such as copyrights, trademarks, and patents.
• Helping businesses protect their brands and innovations and enforce their rights.

• Outside general counsel services
• Acting as ongoing, outsourced legal counsel for businesses without in-house attorneys.
• Assisting with day-to-day legal questions and longer-term planning.

• Estate planning related to business interests
• Providing will drafting and estate planning services for business owners and their families.
• Advising on how business structures and estate plans can work together to protect assets and support succession goals.

• Mediation
• Offering mediation services to help parties resolve disputes outside of court when appropriate.

Approach to Client Service

The firm emphasizes:

• Building long-term relationships with business clients.
• Providing proactive, not just reactive, legal advice.
• Focusing on the overall legal health of a business so it can grow and thrive.

According to the firm's website, the office is located in The Heights area of Houston at:

• 201 W. 16th Street, Suite A

Houston, TX 77008

Main phone number:

• 832-225-3448 (also shown as 832.225.3448 on the site)

Contact Form and Case Evaluations

Prospective clients can use the online contact form on the website to request a case evaluation by providing:

• First and last name,
• Email address,
• Phone number, and
• A brief description of their case or legal question.

The firm's contract negotiation page advertises a "100% Free Consultation" for Houston contract negotiation matters.

Important Website Disclaimer

The website includes the following key points about online communications with the firm:

• Using the internet or a website contact form to communicate with the firm or any individual lawyer does not, by itself, create an attorney–client relationship.
• Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through the website contact form.

Prospective clients who need to share confidential details or who are facing urgent deadlines should contact the firm directly by phone or arrange a consultation to speak with an attorney.

Lists Easton, Hagerstown, Houston, and University as a location. Names Texas and Houston as a service area. Areas beyond these are not published.

According to the firm's website, Adam Curley's litigation practice includes helping clients address issues such as:

• Contract disputes.
• Employment-related disputes.
• Premises liability disputes in business contexts.
• Other general legal disputes that arise in connection with business operations.

He also has experience in areas that often overlap with business disputes, including:

• Construction-related matters.
• Energy-related disputes.
• Maritime matters.
• Toxic tort and insurance-related claims.
• Personal injury claims connected to business operations.
• Bankruptcy and collections matters.

Courts and Forums

The firm's litigation experience includes handling matters in:

• Texas state courts.
• Federal courts in Texas.
• Bankruptcy courts.
• Appellate courts, including:
• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit,
• The Texas Supreme Court, and
• Texas intermediate appellate courts.

Dispute Resolution Approach

The Curley Law Firm works to:

• Evaluate and explain the risks and potential outcomes of a dispute.
• Seek efficient resolutions that align with the client's business objectives.
• Use negotiation and mediation where possible to resolve disputes outside of trial.

Mediation Services

The firm's listed services include mediation, which can provide:

• A structured, non-court forum for resolving disputes.
• An opportunity for parties to reach mutually acceptable solutions with the help of a neutral mediator.

Clients can contact the firm to discuss whether litigation, mediation, or another approach is appropriate for a particular dispute.

According to the firm's website, important steps and issues to consider when forming a Texas business include:

• Choosing a legal name that complies with Texas naming rules.
• Selecting the appropriate entity type, such as:
• Sole proprietorship,
• Corporation,
• Limited liability company (LLC),
• Partnership, or
• Professional entity.
• Obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax purposes when required.
• Applying for a general business license, if needed.
• Obtaining all required local licenses and permits, depending on industry and location.
• Understanding employment law requirements, including rules governing employer–employee relationships.
• Understanding industry-specific laws and regulations that apply to the business.
• Obtaining appropriate business insurance to help manage risk.

The firm assists business owners in working through these issues so they can start on a solid legal and regulatory foundation.

Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) in Texas

The Curley Law Firm's educational materials describe family limited partnerships (FLPs) as one option that may be appropriate in particular circumstances.

• An FLP is a form of limited partnership in which most or all partners are related family members.
• General partners manage the business, while limited partners typically have ownership interests without day-to-day management responsibilities.

Potential Advantages of a Texas FLP

As outlined on the firm's website, potential advantages (depending on the situation) can include:

• Asset protection for family-owned business interests.
• Ability to keep management decisions in the hands of selected family members.
• Limited liability for individual partners when properly structured and operated.
• Estate planning benefits, such as:
• Facilitating transfer of interests among family members, and
• Helping avoid probate in some circumstances.
• Possible tax advantages when properly planned and implemented.

Potential Disadvantages and Complexities

The firm also notes that FLPs are not suitable for every situation. Potential drawbacks include:

• Increased scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• Formation and organizational costs.
• Ongoing effort required to comply with applicable legal and operational requirements.
• Restrictions on the types of assets that may be appropriate to contribute to the partnership.

Because of these trade-offs, the firm encourages business owners to carefully weigh the pros and cons of an FLP structure and to seek legal guidance tailored to their circumstances.

Ongoing Formation and Governance Support

The Curley Law Firm can assist with:

• Selecting the entity type that fits the client's goals and risk tolerance.
• Preparing formation and governance documents.
• Advising on corporate formalities and compliance to help maintain liability protection.
• Adjusting structures over time as a business grows or ownership changes.

According to the firm's website, examples of contracts the firm can assist with include:

• Service agreements that define scope of services, performance standards, and payment terms.
• Sales contracts addressing delivery terms, pricing structure, warranties, and other key provisions.
• Partnership agreements outlining roles, responsibilities, and profit-sharing among business partners.
• Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to help protect sensitive business and proprietary information.
• Employment agreements and related documents.
• Vendor and supplier agreements.
• Licensing and technology-related agreements.

Contract Drafting and Review

The firm's commercial contract services include:

• Drafting new contracts tailored to a client's particular business and transaction.
• Reviewing proposed contracts for legal and practical risks.
• Identifying unclear, unbalanced, or potentially unenforceable terms.
• Recommending revisions that better protect the client's interests and align with Texas law.

Contract Negotiation

The firm offers contract negotiation services for businesses of all sizes, including startups and established companies. Services include:

• Negotiating with the other party or their counsel on key terms such as price, scope, timelines, and risk allocation.
• Clarifying confusing provisions and closing gaps in the agreement.
• Helping clients prioritize which terms are most important and where compromise may be acceptable.

The firm emphasizes negotiating agreements that are fair, practical, and protective of the client's long-term position, rather than simply agreeing to boilerplate terms.

Contract Disputes and Enforcement

When disputes arise under an existing agreement, The Curley Law Firm can:

• Evaluate the contract and relevant facts.
• Advise on options for resolving the dispute, including negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
• Represent clients in pursuing or defending breach-of-contract and related claims.

Ongoing Contract Management

The firm can also assist with ongoing management of a business's contract portfolio, including:

• Updating agreements to reflect changes in law or business operations.
• Reviewing recurring or high-value templates.
• Helping ensure that contracts remain assets rather than sources of unnecessary risk.

Texas-Focused Contract Advice

As a Texas-based firm, The Curley Law Firm takes into account Texas statutes, regulations, and court decisions when advising on business contracts, and works with clients across a range of industries, including:

• Real estate,
• Technology, and
• Retail and manufacturing.

Based on the firm's website, estate-planning-related services include:

• Drafting wills and related estate planning documents.
• Coordinating business structures and estate plans so that ownership interests can be managed or transferred in line with a client's goals.
• Helping business owners plan for succession and asset protection.

Use of Business Entities in Estate Planning

The firm's educational materials explain that certain business structures can play an important role in estate planning. One example discussed is the family limited partnership (FLP) in Texas.

Potential benefits of using FLPs or similar structures in appropriate circumstances can include:

• Protecting family business assets from some types of claims when the entity is properly structured and maintained.
• Keeping management and control in the hands of selected family members while allowing shared ownership.
• Facilitating intergenerational transfer of interests and, in some cases, helping avoid probate for certain assets.
• Supporting broader tax and estate planning strategies when implemented in compliance with applicable law.

The firm also notes that these structures can be complex and are not right for every client, and that they involve compliance, tax, and administrative considerations.

Individualized Planning

Because estate planning depends heavily on each client's circumstances, goals, and family situation, the firm encourages prospective clients to schedule a consultation to discuss:

• Their current assets and business interests.
• Their goals for transferring wealth and control.
• The range of tools (such as wills, entities, and other planning strategies) that may be appropriate.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.