Jason Cross and Preston Enoch, commercial litigation partners, have joined BakerHostetler in Dallas from Spencer Fane. The pair joined the firm’s litigation practice group and commercial litigation team and will focus their practices on complex commercial disputes, trials and arbitration matters, according to a news release.
Before joining BakerHostetler, Cross served as managing partner of Spencer Fane’s Dallas office, where he represented clients across various industries, including energy, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, restaurants, bio-agriculture, and technology, in complex commercial disputes and international arbitration matters. He regularly handled cases involving breach of contract, fraud, trade secrets, fiduciary duty claims and other business torts in courts across the country and before international arbitral tribunals.
Enoch previously practiced at Spencer Fance, representing businesses and individuals in significant disputes in state and federal courts nationwide involving fraud, defamation, breach of contract, deceptive trade practices, unfair competition and trade secrets.
“Jason and Preston are highly regarded commercial litigators who add material strength to our Dallas and national litigation bench,” said Shawn Cleveland, partner in charge of BakerHostetler’s Dallas office. “They bring significant trial experience and advocacy skills that enhance our ability to serve clients facing complex, highly visible disputes.”
EDUCATION
Cross earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri. Enoch earned his law degree from SMU Dedman and his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Cross advises clients across a broad range of industries in complex commercial disputes, international arbitration and high-stakes litigation matters. His practice includes disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, tortious interference, fiduciary duty claims, trade secrets and unlawful competition. He regularly represents clients before tribunals operating under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration and the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.
Enoch advises businesses and individuals in commercial disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country. He has significant experience handling matters involving fraud, defamation, deceptive trade practices, unfair competition and claims involving confidential information and trade secrets. He also has extensive trial experience in business disputes.
The Texas Lawbook caught up with Cross and Enoch about trends they are seeing in their practice areas and more:
Texas Lawbook: What was the connection with your new firm that initially led to discussions about you joining the team and how did it start?
Jason Cross: I have known Shawn Cleveland for more than 20 years. I was incredibly happy for him when he was given the opportunity to open and run BakerHostetler’s Dallas office. Since that time, I have watched the continued successes he and BakerHostetler have had and admired from afar the terrific team Shawn was building in Dallas. Over that time, Shawn and I remained in contact, including periodically meeting for lunch or bumping into one another at various events.
Preston Enoch: I have long been familiar with BakerHostetler, particularly its litigation team and strong national reputation for handling complex, high-stakes disputes. That reputation, combined with the firm’s clear focus on building a trial-ready platform, made this an attractive opportunity to better serve my clients and grow my practice alongside a deep, collaborative bench of litigators.
Lawbook: What are two or three of the most important trends that you are seeing in your practice area?
Cross: One clear trend is that disputes are growing more complex and resource-intensive, often involving significant regulatory scrutiny and cross-border elements. We’re also seeing continued strength in litigation demand across the market. In Texas specifically, the pace of business growth is fueling more high-value disputes and increasing the need for trial-ready teams.
Enoch: Commercial litigation is becoming more complex and higher stakes, with clients facing a growing volume of sophisticated disputes that require strategic, trial-ready teams from the outset. At the same time, clients are intensely focused on value, expecting outside counsel to deliver efficient, business-aligned outcomes with greater cost predictability and transparency.
In markets like Texas, we are also seeing sustained demand for top litigation talent and the emergence of forums such as the Business Court, both of which are reshaping how and where complex commercial disputes are litigated.
Lawbook: What are two or three concerns or issues you are hearing most often from your clients?
Cross: The biggest concern I hear is how to navigate increasingly complex disputes that involve significant regulatory scrutiny. Clients are also focused on controlling costs while still achieving strong outcomes in bet-the-company matters.
Enoch: Clients are increasingly focused on managing the cost and unpredictability of commercial litigation, with greater pressure on outside counsel to deliver efficient, value-driven strategies and more predictable fee structures. They are also navigating a more aggressive disputes environment, including rising litigation spend, more assertive plaintiffs and a growing volume of high-stakes claims. At the same time, many clients are grappling with rapid technological and regulatory change and are looking for litigators who can integrate legal strategy with broader business objectives.
Lawbook: How is AI impacting your practice and how you work with clients?
Cross: AI is already changing how we deliver legal services, particularly by making research, drafting and analysis more efficient and data-driven. At BakerHostetler, we are investing in tools and partnerships that integrate AI into our workflows to enhance accuracy, speed and client service.
Enoch:AI is increasingly shaping how we approach commercial litigation, particularly by helping manage large data sets, accelerate early case assessment and support faster, more informed decision-making. At BakerHostetler, that aligns with the firm’s broader strategy of using data analytics and advanced capabilities to give clients an advantage from the outset of a dispute. The firm’s investment in technology and innovation reflects how essential these tools have become to delivering efficient, forward-looking legal services.
Lawbook: What has been your best day as a lawyer?
Enoch: One of my most rewarding days as a lawyer was, together with my father and brother as co-counsel,securing a unanimous jury verdict of more than $1 million in a complex commercial dispute. It was a powerful reminder that disciplined strategy and thorough trial preparation make the difference for clients when the stakes are highest.
Lawbook: What are two or three of the most important achievements (trials, transactions, client successes) that you have scored for clients?
Enoch: I was part of the team that secured a unanimous jury verdict of more than $1 million in a complex commercial dispute. This verdict reflected our focus on disciplined strategy and strong trial execution.
I also helped obtain a take-nothing judgment on behalf of a leading health plan in Kansas federal court in an action alleging, among other things, fraud, tortious interference and defamation, in which plaintiffs sought eight-figure damages.