Our Awards And Professional Recognition

A Reputation for Excellence in Texas Personal Injury Law

At Smith & Hassler, our attorneys have earned recognition from respected legal organizations, peer-reviewed directories, advocacy groups, and professional associations over the course of their careers. These honors reflect more than titles. They speak to courtroom skill, professional reputation, legal knowledge, and a long-standing commitment to helping injured Texans and their families.

Awards alone don’t define the quality of a law firm. What matters most is whether a lawyer knows how to build a strong case, stand up to insurance companies, and fight for the best possible outcome. Still, professional recognition can offer meaningful insight into how attorneys are viewed by peers, clients, and the broader legal community. The distinctions associated with our attorneys at Smith & Hassler reflect a firm built on experience, credibility, and decades of client-focused advocacy.

Founding Leadership And Professional Distinction

As a founding attorney of Smith & Hassler, Albert M. Hassler III has played a central role in shaping our firm’s reputation and long-standing commitment to injury victims in Texas. He is a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer and one of the attorneys who helped establish Smith & Hassler in 1989. His career has been marked by sustained work on behalf of injured clients and families facing the aftermath of serious accidents.

Albert Hassler has also received a Special Achievement Award from the Texas Head Injury Foundation for his work with clients who have sustained head injuries. In addition to his trial work, he served on the faculty of the University of Houston Law School as an adjunct professor of Civil Trial Advocacy. His background also includes service in the U.S. Navy and membership in legal organizations such as the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and ATLA.

As a fellow founding attorney of the firm, Michael Smith has also earned respected professional recognition. He has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 as well as Super Lawyers.

National Recognition And Professional Achievement

Several Smith & Hassler attorneys have received recognition from organizations that evaluate lawyers based on professional achievement, peer respect, and standing within the legal profession.

Attorney Daragh Carter has earned recognition through Best Lawyers for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. He has also been selected to Texas Super Lawyers, named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, and recognized by Houstonia Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Personal Injury.

Attorney Fletcher F. Cockrell has also been associated with recognition tied to trial advocacy and professional reputation, including Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America and a strong Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating.

A lawyer's reputation among their peers often dictates how an insurance adjuster handles a claim. Recognition from organizations such as Best Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers shows that our colleagues (and our opponents) recognize our work ethic. We use that credibility to push for maximum compensation, knowing that the other side respects our ability to win complex cases.

Board Certification And Respected Credentials

Board certification is one of the most meaningful credentials a personal injury attorney can hold. It reflects focused experience and a high level of demonstrated ability in a demanding area of law.

Smith & Hassler attorneys who are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law include Albert M. Hassler, Daragh Carter, and Brent Cordell.

In Texas, only a small percentage of attorneys are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. It’s a mark of extensive courtroom experience and a commitment to excellence that insurance companies recognize. When a firm has multiple board-certified specialists, it sends a clear message that we're ready to take a case all the way to a jury if a fair settlement isn't offered.

Advocacy Honors And Academic Achievement

Brent Cordell has been recognized as a Champion of the Texas Young Lawyers Association State Moot Court Competition and as part of a team that won a National Moot Court Competition Championship. He has also been recognized through the Order of Barristers, an honor society associated with excellence in oral advocacy and legal writing.

Additional honors tied to his advocacy background include the Dean’s Outstanding Advocate Award and finalist recognition in the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition.

Recognition Across The Firm

The honors associated with Smith & Hassler attorneys reflect a broad range of achievement, including peer-reviewed professional recognition, litigation-focused credentials, and advocacy-based honors.

These recognitions include:

• The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
• Texas Super Lawyers
• Super Lawyers
• Super Lawyers Rising Stars
• Best Lawyers
• Houstonia Magazine Top Lawyer – Personal Injury
• Board Certification In Personal Injury Trial Law
• Special Achievement Award – Texas Head Injury Foundation
• Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Recognition
• Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers In America
• Texas Young Lawyers Association State Moot Court Champion
• National Moot Court Competition Champion
• Order Of Barristers
• Dean’s Outstanding Advocate Award
• ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition Finalist

Media Recognition And Public Visibility

Smith & Hassler attorneys have appeared in outside media and public-facing legal commentary.

Attorney Fletcher F. Cockrell was quoted by Click2Houston in coverage involving church-abuse allegations, where he was identified as a Houston attorney representing abuse victims.

Albert M. Hassler has appeared in public-facing legal commentary distributed through PRWeb, including commentary on texting-and-driving legislation.

We also regularly publish in-depth expert articles on personal injury legal topics to serve as a resource to the public.

Put Our Award-Winning Experience to Work for You

Our Houston personal injury lawyers have built our reputation on helping people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Professional recognition has value because it reflects how attorneys are viewed by peers, organizations, and the public. But at the end of the day, what matters most is whether a law firm is prepared to fight for the people it represents.

Contact Smith & Hassler Today

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you don't just need a lawyer. You need a team with a proven track record of results and the respect of the legal community. At Smith & Hassler, we’ve spent over 35 years fighting for the rights of injured Texans.

Let our award-winning experience work for you. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case.

“I’ve had a positive experience working with Smith & Hassler. Daragh and the team have been professional, responsive, and helpful throughout the process. They’ve taken the time to answer my questions and explain things clearly, which I really appreciate. Overall, the communication and support have been solid, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and professional law firm.” – Amber B., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐