“Business is my passion. Concurrent with practicing law, I am also a serial entrepreneur – taking businesses from concept to execution and selling when the time is right. This journey has given me insight into what my business clients face and helps me anticipate risks and develop strategies that strike the right balance between aggressive and reasonable.”
– Philip D. Racusin
Philip D. Racusin is a problem solver who provides comprehensive legal counsel to clients ranging from small businesses to national enterprises and organizations. As a business law and litigation attorney, he routinely resolves corporate and commercial disputes, contractual issues, and employment law matters, and offers his clients actionable advice and strategy, focusing on risk mitigation and compliance.
Philip began his law career in 2006 and has since built considerable experience with the litigation process – from commencement to resolution, including discovery, depositions, negotiations/mediation, appeals, and alternative dispute resolutions. He also devotes a portion of his practice to corporate law – working on corporate formations, transactions, contracts, employment law, and other matters. When working with Philip, clients should expect a highly planned and fact-driven legal strategy and a collaborative approach to addressing short-term and long-term risk.
“My experience as a litigator and transactional attorney help me craft legal strategies for my clients that prioritize growth opportunities and avoid strategic errors.”
Skilled at weeding out flaws in his opponent’s arguments, Philip has successfully resolved disputes related to agreements and contracts, intellectual property, trade secrets, vendor and partnership agreements, purchase and sale agreements, construction, non-compete provisions, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, and other matters. He has also been involved in multi-million-dollar transactions and advised businesses on a multitude of legal issues, including structuring, exposure, transactional, and other issues.
Philip joined Hendershot Cowart P.C. in 2024, attracted by the opportunity to work on complex, diverse business law matters within a collaborative and high-performance organization.
“Hendershot Cowart takes on matters ranging from simple and straightforward to contentious, messy, and serious disputes – all with an expectation of delivering the best and most efficient outcome for their client.”
Philip has been featured for his insights in Forbes magazine, Reuters, the New York Times, Houston Business Journal, and the Houston Chronicle, and has appeared on CNBC and news programs.
Outside of work, Philip and his wife like to travel with their daughter, allowing her to explore and learn about the world at an early age. Philip also works hard to keep up with his daughter’s competitive gymnastics schedule and lends a helping hand at the gym or with his daughter’s sports whenever he can. He is also active in the community and legal organizations.
Primary Focus and Experience
Recent Significant Engagements
- Collaborated on a $5 million counterclaim victory and successfully defended clients in $120+ million litigation docket.
- Won a take-nothing judgment at trial on a clear liability case.
- Won and upheld on appeal motion for summary judgment against a seven-figure catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death case.
- Invalidated experts resulting in construction case settlement for < 3% of damages sought.
- Conducted depositions and participated in mediations and arbitrations, securing large awards or very favorable outcomes for clients.
- Successfully guided HOA officials through severely disputed and legally contested elections.
- Successfully represented defendants in complex construction litigation and environmental-construction litigation involving considerable damages.
- Effectively defended “Big Three” automaker’s extensive statewide litigation docket.
- Effectively defended major lender’s statewide litigation docket.
- Helped launch, structure, and protect various small to medium-sized businesses and enterprises
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
Education
- J.D., University of Houston Law Center, Senior Articles Editor, Moot Court, B & K Writing Award
- B.S., Commerce, McIntire School, University of Virginia, Dean’s List, Scholarship Recipient
