People

Gail Stewart
Gail W. Stewart
Senior Counsel

Overview

As one of the country's leading executive compensation attorneys, Gail offers far more than legal experience. In addition to four decades of experience handling the complex intersection of federal and state employment law, tax and securities compliance, Gail's clients rely on her exceptional understanding of interpersonal dynamics and graceful negotiating tactics. Using this artful blend of the professional and personal, Gail champions her client's short-term needs, while preserving their long-term interests.

Throughout her career, Gail has designed and implemented executive compensation arrangements, such as equity-based incentive programs, salary continuation plans, golden parachute arrangements and employment agreements. She helps clients establish and manage executive compensation plans and arrangements, as well as negotiate and draft employment and severance agreements with senior executives of publicly traded and privately held companies.

Gail also serves as a sounding board, advising General Counsel and other executives on delicate issues such as the design and regulatory compliance of pension, profit sharing and employee stock ownership plans and welfare benefit plans.

In addition to her legal work, Gail sits on the Board of Regents for Baylor University, on the Board of Trustees for Baylor College of Medicine, and is Director for the National Association of Corporate Directors Tri-Cities Chapter.

Admission & Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas
  • American Bar Association, Executive Compensation Subcommittee, Former Chair
  • American Bar Association, Tax Section Subcommittee on Federal Securities Law, Former Vice Chair
  • American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Fellow
  • American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Member
  • Member, Board of Trustees of Baylor College of Medicine
  • Member, Board of Regents of Baylor University
  • Director, Texas Tri-Cities Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors
  • Board of Trustees River Oaks Baptist School
  • Governance Fellow, National Association of Corporate Directors
  • ERISA Industry Group
  • J.D., Baylor Law School 1983
    with honors
    Articles Editor, Baylor Law Review
    Order of Barristers
    Moot Court Competition
    Phi Alpha Delta
  • B.B.A., Accounting, Baylor University 1980
    summa cum laude



Awards and Community

Ranked "Band 1" for Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation in Chambers USA, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023

Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer (Thomson Reuters), 2003-2022

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.), 2005-2022

Recognized as a Houston Top 50 Women in Law from the Texas Diversity Council in 2017

Named a BTI Client Service All-Star for 2017

Recommended in The Legal 500 U.S., 2013-2022

Listed in Super Lawyer Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas (Thomson Reuters), 2010