Bruce Coulson Tough
Founder & Principal Attorney
“Don’t mess with me or any of my clients!”
Email: btough@toughlawfirm.net
Phone: 281-681-0808
Bruce Tough is proud and honored to have earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston, BS 1976 and to be selected as a top ten student. He also received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center in 1980. Bruce Tough is the founder of Tough Law Firm, PLLC, voted as the 2010 Small Business of the Year Award by the Lone Star College System, Montgomery College, located in The Woodlands area. Bruce has been honored as a Hometown Hero in 2004 and Citizen of the Year in 2006. Bruce has served his community in numerous elected offices including Chairman of The Woodlands Township and Trustee of the Conroe Independent School District. Bruce Tough resides with his wife, Diana, and four daughters, Madison, Tara, Abby, and Sydney, in The Woodlands, Texas.
Business Litigation
Family Law
Civil Trial Litigation
Commercial Law
Debtor-Creditor
Commercial Litigation
Government, Business Organization
Contract and Tort Litigation
Wills and Wealth Preservation
Construction
Business Organization
Real Estate Transaction
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
United States Tax Court
1980 Licensed to Practice before Supreme Court of the State of Texas, Attorney and Counselor at Law
1980 University of Houston Law Center, Doctor of Jurisprudence
1976 University of Houston, B.S. Psychology
Houston Bar Association
Federal Bar Association (Director 1990)
Montgomery County Bar Association
College of the State Bar of Texas
Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Association
The Woodlands Bar Association (Director 2006-2009)
Advisory Board, Branch Banking and Trust Company (“BB&T”) (2016-2019)
Board Member, HARC (Houston Area Research Center) (2016-2019)
Chairman, Montgomery County Appraisal District (2018)
Member, Small Business Development Center Advisory Board, Lone Star College - Montgomery (2012–2017)
Board Member, The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership (2010-2015)
Board Member, Center for Houston’s Future (2010–2015) Treasurer, Secretary
The Woodlands Area Chamber Ex Officio Affiliate Board of Directors (2000-2015)
South Montgomery County Legislative Team (2001-2015)
Chairman, South Montgomery County The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce (2009 – 2010)
Director, South Montgomery County The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce (2002-2005) (Vice President 2004–2005, 2006–2009 economic development and legislative affairs)
Governance Transition Committee (2007-2009)
Chairman, Economic Outlook Conference Team (2007-2008)
Montgomery County Community Justice Council (2005-2008)
Co-Chairman, Governance Steering Committee (2005-2007)
Co-Chairman, “The Woodlands Decides” (2007)
Woodlands Area Chamber Legislative Day at the Capital and Economic Outlook Conference Team Member
South Montgomery Day at the Capitol Team (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)
Co-Chairman, Governance Process Committee-Woodlands (2002-2005)
Chairman, Community Associations of the Woodlands Joint Law Enforcement Committee (2003 – 2005)
Chairman, Community Associations of the Woodlands Joint Legislative Committee (2000 – 2005)
President, First Night of the Woodlands (2002-2003)
South Montgomery County Chamber Team Mobility Committee (1999-2003)
Chairman, Boy Scouts of America – George Strake District; Nominating Committee (2005 – 2009) Tall Timbers District (2009-2012)
Memorial-Hermann The Woodlands Hospital Advisory Board (2003-2018) Chairman (2008, 2009)
Montgomery County United Way – Campaign Committee Professional Division Chair (2006-2008)
Team Captain and Campaigner, YMCA Partners of Youth Foundation, (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Team Captain and Campaigner YMCA Partners of Youth Foundation (2000 – 2003)
Co-Chair – Montgomery County March of Dimes “March for Babies”
Montgomery County United Way – Professional Division Chair
Junior Achievement Board Member
State Bar of Texas District Office of the Disciplinary Council 4I Grievance Committee (1999 – 2002, 2002 – 2005)
Presiding Panel Chair 4I17, 4I18 (2003 – 2004)
Texas Real Estate Broker since 1982
Houston Multiple Listing Service
Texas Association of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
National Association of School Boards
12/07 – Present
Tough Law Firm, PLLC, 819 Crossbridge Drive, Spring, Texas 77373
• Attorneys
Civil Trial Litigation, Business Law, Commercial Law, Debtor-Creditor and Commercial Litigation, Business, Construction, Family Law, Contract and Tort Litigation, Government, Business Organization and Real Estate transaction representation.
01/04 – 11/07
Law Offices of Bruce C. Tough, 2441 High Timbers, Suite 210, The Woodlands, Texas 77380
• Attorneys
Civil Trial Litigation, Business Law, Commercial Law, Debtor-Creditor Litigation, Business, Employment, Construction, Contract and Tort Litigation, Government, Business Organization and Real Estate transaction representation.
6/99 – 12/03
Law Offices of Bruce C. Tough, 122 Tuam, Houston, Texas, 77006
• Attorneys
Civil Trial Litigation, Bankruptcy, Debtor-Creditor Litigation, Tort and Personal Injury, Family Law, Business Organization and Litigation and Real Estate Transactions.
1/97 – 6/99
Law Offices of Bruce C. Tough, The Lyric Centre, 440 Louisiana, Suite 200, Houston, Texas 77002
• Attorneys
Civil Trial Litigation, Bankruptcy, Debtor-Creditor Litigation, Personal Injury, Family Law, Business Organization and Litigation and Real Estate Transactions.
5/83 – 12/96
Law Offices of Bruce C. Tough, Arena Tower One, Twentieth Floor, 7322 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074
• Attorneys
Civil Trial Litigation, Bankruptcy, Debtor-Creditor Litigation, Personal Injury, Family Law, Business Operations and Litigation and Real Estate Transactions.
3/82 – 4/83
Hartzog Family Restaurants, Inc., 14409 Corner Stone Village Drive, Houston, Texas
• Assistant to the President
Development of a restaurant franchise in Houston and Harris County. Areas of responsibility included site location, real estate acquisition, lease negotiation, and corporate legal representation for Hartzog, Inc. and Hartzog Family Restaurants, Inc.
2/80 – 2/82
Thomson & Elkins, 711 Polk, Suite 1130, Houston, Texas
• Attorney
Representation of professional and medical associations, corporations and partnerships. Primary focus in the area of creditors’ rights and bankruptcy.
1/80 – 5/80
Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Houston, Texas
• Intern in the District Attorney’s Office
Exposure to all aspects of criminal law with primary focus in the felony district courts.
2015 Chairman’s Award – The Woodlands Area Chamber
2015 Public Official of the Year - Houston Metropolitan Area, University of Houston
2014 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12024 Appreciation for Support of Military Veterans
2014 Vocational Service Award, Rotary Club of The Woodlands
2010 Small Business of the Year – Lone Star College System
2007 Graduate Business/Civic Executive Leadership Forum-Center for Houston’s Future
2006 “Citizen of the Year” – South County Chamber of Commerce
2004 “Hometown Hero” Woodlands, Texas
2004 & 2014 “Persons of the Year” – People Scene
1998 Graduate Leadership Montgomery County
Chairman, The Woodlands Township (2010 – 2015)
Vice Chairman, The Woodlands Township (2008 – 2010)
Director, The Woodlands Township (2008-2015)
Director, Woodlands Community Association (1999 –2010) 5th term
President, Woodlands Community Association (2000-2004)
President, Woodlands Fire Department (2000 – 2004, 2006 – 2009)
Chairman, Woodlands Community Service Corporation (2000 – 2004, 2006 – 2009)
Trustee, Conroe Independent School District – (2003-2006, reelected 2006 – 2009)
District Chairman, Boy Scouts of America – Tall Timbers (2018)
The Woodlands Area Economic Outlook Conference – State of The Woodlands -2014
South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce Leadership Retreat “State of The Woodlands” – July 21, 2002
American Business Women's Association – August 13, 2002
Lions Club of The Woodlands – July 19, 2001
Woodlands Rotary “Governance Study” – May 24, 2002
Economic Development Partnership – February 6, 2003
Town Center Improvement District – Public Safety Awards Dinner 2005 – 2010
The Woodlands Township “Public Safety Awards” 2011-2014
Economic Development Partnership – “Governance Issues” – April 26, 2007
The Woodlands Decides Speaker – “Township Election Propositions – 2007
The Woodlands Rotary – Future Governance – February 14, 2008
Lone Star College Montgomery Power Series – Entrepreneurship, November 5, 2014
Anadarko Veterans Day November 6, 2014 Luncheon
Veterans Day Celebration, The Woodlands Township, November 11, 2014
GE Run Through The Woods, November 27, 2014
25th Anniversary College Park The Academy, January 9, 2015
State of the Township, MC Hispanic Chamber, January 20, 2015
Township, City and County Update, Economic Development Partnership, January 27, 2015
CISD Run for a Better Life, February 7, 2015
Urban Land Institute Conference, May 14, 2015