South Texas College of Law Houston welcomed two new visiting professors to the faculty this fall: Sesha Kalapatapu and Michael Stewart. They both teach Legal Research and Writing classes.
After working as an associate at Baker Botts LLP and rising to partner at Boyar Miller, P.C., Sesha Kalapatapu opened his own practice in 2008. He advises, counsels, and represents small- and medium-sized corporations and high net-worth individuals regarding all facets of commercial transactions and complex litigation matters.
Kalapatapu defends clients in state and federal litigation matters, including antitrust, intellectual property, oil and gas, non-competition agreements, employment disputes, and other complex contract issues. His clients included a large, multinational oil and gas company embroiled in a multi-district intellectual property dispute, and she obtained a favorable dismissal of litigation on all claims. He represented a physician in connection with a multimillion-dollar dispute over control of his various business entities. Kalapatapu also has represented multiple software development companies.
He earned his JD from the University of Texas School of Law, serving as editor-in-chief of The Review of Litigation during his time there.
Michael Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree in English, wrote the Best Brief in the 2012 John R. Brown Moot Court Competition, and served as associate editor for the Houston Law Review. He earned his JD from the University of Houston Law Center.
He has published a number of articles and a book chapter, and served as a panelist and presenter. Stewart’s experience includes focusing on business litigation as an associate with Haynes & Boone, LLP, and serving as an appellate intern with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. He has briefed and argued motions, taken and defended depositions, tried cases, written appellate briefs, and assisted prosecutors with misdemeanor and felony dockets.
Just prior to coming to South Texas Law — during an intentional career break — he hiked thousands of miles across the United States and wrote the first draft of a novel.