For 15 years, Claire Abernathy Henry has handled matters in complex commercial litigation and patent litigation. In addition to her experience in Texas courts, Ms. Henry has extensive knowledge of federal court practice and patent litigation in the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. She has represented plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes, securities litigation, False Claims Act cases, anti-trust litigation, class actions and high-stakes patent litigation. Before joining Ward, Smith & Hill, Ms. Henry served as a briefing attorney to the Honorable T. John Ward, former U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, one of the busiest patent litigation courts in the country.
For the past decade, Ms. Henry has been involved in dozens of patent trials. Her trial experience includes jury selection, opening and closing statements, and direct and cross examinations of expert and fact witnesses. That experience has earned her recognition as a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2012 to 2019. She was also named among the Top 100 Up-and-Coming Attorneys in Texas as well as the Top 50 Up-and-Coming Females in Texas in 2018 and 2019.
A native of Longview, Texas, Ms. Henry believes in serving her community and has been on numerous boards, including the Board of Directors of the Longview Economic Development Corporation, Newgate Homeless Mission, ArtsView Children’s Theatre, The Longview Museum of Fine Arts, and the Johnson Foundation. Ms. Henry attends First United Methodist Church in Longview, where she serves on the Board of Trustees. While attending law school, Ms. Henry volunteered as a sexual assault counselor and victim’s advocate.
Ms. Henry attended Vanderbilt University, where she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She studied law at Stanford Law School, where she was named a Pro Bono Distinguished Graduate. She is licensed to practice in the State of Texas, as well as the United States district courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Western districts of Texas. Ms. Henry is married to David Henry, a partner at Carroll, Maloney, Henry, & Nelson PLLC. They have two daughters.