Suzanna Bonham, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Suzanna Bonham, partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, talked to Invest: about how the firm prioritizes evolution for the purpose of providing legal support in increasingly efficient, excellent ways, as well as how regulatory changes to the enforcement of noncompete provisions are causing challenges for their clients nationwide.

What have been some of the main highlights and key milestones for Seyfarth Shaw in the last 12 months?

At Seyfarth Shaw, our growth over the past year has been guided by a single focus: delivering greater value to our clients.

In Houston, we’ve deepened our presence in the energy sector with the launch of a dedicated Energy Transactions practice, expanding our capabilities to support clients through complex deals, regulatory challenges, and workforce issues. This new offering complements our long-standing strengths in energy litigation and labor and employment, positioning us to provide comprehensive, end-to-end legal solutions to energy clients. 

Within the last year, our firm has also focused intently on technological advancements. We internally put together a “SEYence Fair,” which promoted collaboration of attorneys firm-wide with ideas to increase our efficiencies through technology. Two different finalists were both from Houston. The “SEYence-Fair” focuses on efficiency and legal excellence. The fair was one of many initiatives that reflect who we are as a firm and what we aim to deliver in advancing legal excellence.

Our commitment to innovation has also earned external recognition. Seyfarth has been shortlisted in three categories in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers North America 2025 Awards, underscoring our position as a market leader in legal innovation and our continued momentum in redefining how legal services are delivered. 1) Innovative Lawyers in Unlocking Capital: “Opportunity for Opportunity Zones” — Recognized for pioneering legal frameworks that enable billions in investment to flow into underserved communities, positioning Seyfarth as a leader in inclusive economic development. 2) Innovation in AI Strategy: “SEYmultaneous Advancement” — Celebrated for our bold, firmwide embrace of AI and emerging technologies to drive smarter, faster, and more client-centered solutions, and 3) Innovation in Knowledge & Data: “Harnessing Data for Strategic Insights” (SEYscraper) — Honored for transforming data-driven legal research through technology first showcased at our SEYence Fair.

Together, these milestones reflect who we are as a firm: innovative, collaborative, and relentlessly focused on delivering greater value to our clients.

What separates Seyfarth Shaw from other law firms in the Houston area?

Seyfarth Shaw distinguishes itself through a deeply client-centric approach that prioritizes efficiency, innovation, and genuine partnership. We understand that legal services are a significant investment, and we’re committed to delivering value by aligning our work with our clients’ business goals—not just providing legal advice, but acting as a strategic extension of their teams.

Our focus on technology-driven solutions and process optimization allows us to deliver legal services in a way that is both cost-effective and highly responsive. Through proprietary platforms and tools, clients gain real-time visibility into their matters, including status updates, cost tracking, and next steps—ensuring transparency and control throughout the engagement.

What truly sets us apart is our collaborative mindset. We don’t just work for our clients—we work with them. Whether it’s co-developing custom workflows, integrating legal processes into their operations, or proactively identifying efficiencies, our goal is to build lasting relationships rooted in trust, innovation, and shared success.

In Houston, this approach resonates strongly with clients in energy, healthcare, and other fast-moving industries, where agility and precision are essential. Our attorneys are not only legal advisors, they’re business partners who understand the local market and deliver solutions that move our clients forward.

What are some of the most common legal disputes that you handle for your clients?

Our Houston litigation team regularly handles complex commercial disputes, including contract breaches, trade secret issues, and business torts, with a strong focus on the energy and healthcare sectors.

In energy, we represent exploration and production companies, oilfield service providers, and midstream operators in matters ranging from joint venture disputes to infrastructure claims. In healthcare, we advise hospitals and service providers on contractual conflicts, construction litigation, and regulatory matters, among others. A recent example includes our defense of a key service provider in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit tied to the collapse of healthcare co-ops under the Affordable Care Act.

We’re also seeing increased litigation stemming from tariff volatility, which has led to renegotiations and disputes over pricing, force majeure clauses, and performance obligations—particularly impacting clients in energy and healthcare.

What changes in the legal or regulatory environment could significantly impact the work that you do for your clients?

There are significant regulations that have recently come out that affect the enforcement of noncompete provisions of agreements. Nationwide, our clients have been impacted. We typically represent employers. They have invested time, energy, and money into the development of their customer base, vendor base, and operations, all of which have culminated in the development of proprietary, confidential trade secrets that make them unique and which differentiate them within their competitive world. For those at the highest levels of employment, not being able to enforce not allowing those executives to immediately move to a competitor and use that confidential information against the original company is critical.

In what ways is Seyfarth Shaw leveraging technology to advance the firm’s goals?

Seyfarth continues to lead in legal innovation through initiatives like Seyfarth Labs and the SEYence Fair, which encourage attorneys and staff to develop tech-driven solutions. Recent winning projects include an AI-based tool that scrapes and aggregates legal data, enhancing attorney efficiency and client service. 

We also maintain a secure AI environment, ensuring that all tools used are vetted for safety and reliability. These efforts build on our long-standing SeyfarthLean program, which promotes process improvement and scalable legal solutions.

Have there been any other challenges affecting your clients or the work you perform?

The legal landscape continues to evolve rapidly, presenting new challenges for our clients. One of the most pressing issues remains the enforcement of noncompete agreements, particularly in Houston. Despite clear statutory and case law guidance, we’ve observed a trend where local judges—who are elected officials—are increasingly reluctant to enforce noncompetes, even when they meet all legal criteria. This creates uncertainty for national employers who have strategically chosen Houston for its historically favorable enforcement climate.

Additionally, tariff turbulence has emerged as a significant disruptor, especially for clients in the energy, manufacturing, and construction sectors. Shifting trade policies and fluctuating tariffs have led to the renegotiation of existing agreements, as companies seek to mitigate financial exposure and adjust to new cost structures. In some cases, these renegotiations have escalated into litigation, particularly when parties dispute force majeure clauses, pricing adjustments, or supply chain obligations. Our team has been actively advising clients on how to navigate these complexities, renegotiate terms, and, when necessary, defend their interests in court.