Derek H. Potts is a founding partner at Potts & Wallace, LLP and manages its Houston office. Known nationwide for his exceptional skills as a trial lawyer, major litigation leader, skilled negotiator, and entrepreneur, Derek has earned a distinguished reputation in the legal community. His numerous accolades include an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, recognition as a Best Lawyer in America for the past 13 years, and a Super Lawyers designation for the past decade. He is licensed to practice law in Texas, New York, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas, as well as in over a dozen federal courts.

Derek has been appointed to oversee significant national litigations by federal judges from coast to coast. Over the past decade, he has successfully led the resolution of mass actions estimated to total around $9 billion. His leadership roles include managing high-profile cases such as the Transvaginal Mesh Multi-District Litigation in West Virginia and the In Re Barker Addicks Hurricane Harvey Litigation in Texas. His appointments have come from federal judges appointed by Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. In addition to his work on mass torts, Derek has achieved notable jury verdicts in individual personal injury cases.

His successes include a $3.5 million verdict in a nursing home negligence case and a $12 million verdict in a medical malpractice case. He has also successfully argued cases before the Missouri Supreme Court. His legal insights and achievements are frequently featured in media outlets such as Fox News, ESPN, ABC, NBC, Reuters, and Bloomberg. He most recently was admitted by the court in Florida to handle a case involving a condominium in Key West, FL which burned to the ground during a hurricane which he successfully resolved.

Outside of his legal practice, Derek is committed to philanthropy and community service. As a high school student, he received the Governor’s Volunteer Excellence Award from then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton for his work as a volunteer counselor at a summer camp for disabled children. Recently, he has partnered with Houston Methodist Hospital to fund medical missions to Haiti and has supported Matthew McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin’ charity for a decade, which aids children in need of medical care and financial support. Derek splits his time between Houston and Key West, where he has a residence and spends most of his time on the water.