About the Founder — Steven Feakes & Associates
About the Founder

Steven Feakes

Licensed Private Investigator · Expert Witness · Principal of Steven Feakes & Associates, Inc. — serving Houston and beyond since 1993.

30+
Years of Experience
4,000+
Cases Completed
500+
Hours of Courtroom Testimony
TX License A10645 · Licensed & Bonded

Three Decades of
Private Investigations

Steven Feakes founded Steven Feakes & Associates in 1993, building the firm from the ground up into one of Houston's most trusted private investigation practices. His career began in the late 1980s, and over the decades he has conducted complex investigations for Fortune 50 corporations, major law firms, government entities, family offices, and individual clients across North America.

What sets Steven apart is not just investigative skill — it's what happens after the investigation. With over 500 hours of courtroom testimony and expert witness qualifications in civil, criminal, and family law proceedings, Steven doesn't just gather evidence. He defends it on the stand, under cross-examination, in front of judges and juries. That courtroom credibility is what makes his work admissible and his findings decisive.

Today, Steven manages a team of five associate investigators and continues to personally oversee the firm's most sensitive engagements. Every case benefits from his philosophy: precise documentation, transparent billing, court-ready evidence, and absolute client confidentiality.

Professional Experience

1993 – Present
Founder & Principal Investigator
Steven Feakes & Associates, Inc. · Fulshear, TX

Founded and grew a full-service private investigation firm serving corporate, legal, and private clients across Texas and nationwide, completing over 4,000 cases to date.

Led investigations for Kenneth L. Michaelis, Security Director at Phillips Petroleum Co. (now ConocoPhillips) involving losses in the multiple millions of dollars — including oil field and chemical facility operations spanning undercover work, covert video surveillance, aerial and nautical surveillance, and multi-month vehicular surveillance campaigns. This client relationship dates to 1989.

Produced surveillance evidence for Chad Rook, Attorney at Law, across multiple cases each valued at over $1,000,000. In one matter, video evidence directly reduced a $2,000,000 personal injury settlement demand to less than six figures within a single week.

Conducted corporate internal investigations for the Omni Houston Westside Hotel, earning recognition for professionalism, thoroughness, and confidentiality in protecting the hotel's interests while obtaining information efficiently.

Designed and implemented risk assessment and loss control procedures for Pat McGinity, Vice President of Operations, contributing to the client company achieving its lowest employee turnover in five years.

Provided background check and personal injury investigation services for Bret Floyd, Owner of Floyd's Cajun Seafood, recognized for diligent execution and making client priorities the top concern.

Delivered investigation services for Scot Carter — a client relationship since 2008 — including child custody investigations that directly contributed to a favorable custody outcome. Also supports the ongoing investigative needs of Carter's business operations.

Provided goal-oriented investigative services for Darren Lafferty, completing all agreed objectives within the agreed timeframe.

Manages multi-investigator surveillance teams of up to four operatives for complex, high-value engagements. Delivers court-ready investigation reports with chronological narratives, time-stamped entries, chain-of-custody documentation, and clear subject identification for use as courtroom exhibits.

1987 – 2001
Branch Manager / Case Manager / Supervisor - Acta Investigations (now Acta-Pannell)
Houston, TX Metro Area

Developed the practice in areas of civil, criminal, and corporate investigations and case management by overseeing operations for one of Texas's earliest licensed investigation firms (est. 1969), whose client portfolio included Major League Baseball, the Recording Industry of America, and over 100 Fortune 500 companies.

Core Competencies

Covert & Overt Surveillance
Expert Witness Testimony
Undercover Operations
Civil & Criminal Litigation Support
Insurance & Workers' Comp Fraud
Child Custody Investigations
Corporate Internal Investigations
Skip Tracing & Locate Services
Background & Due Diligence
Asset & Financial Investigations
Aerial & Nautical Surveillance
Chain-of-Custody Evidence Mgmt
Risk Assessment & Loss Prevention
Case Management & Surveillance Coordination
Vehicular Surveillance Operations

Client Recommendations

My firm has been working with Steve for over two years and he has become our number one private investigator. It is his surveillance work that stands out. Based solely on his video, the settlement demand dropped from almost $2,000,000 to less than six figures in a week. I would highly recommend him.

Chad Rook
Attorney at Law

We could not have concluded this matter without the professional expertise and prompt attention from your company. Your assistance evaluating our risk assessment and loss control plan has helped in our company's lowest turnover of employees in five years. In our industry, that is tremendous.

Pat McGinity
Vice President of Operations

You have been extremely professional, thorough and a pleasure to work with. I appreciate your confidentiality of the investigation, while protecting the hotel's interest. You have obtained the information needed in an efficient and timely manner. I have great confidence in your work.

Omni Houston Westside Hotel
Hotel Management

I was very pleased with your diligent efforts in getting the requested tasks done promptly. It is without hesitation that I recommend you and your staff to potential customers. Thank you for your attentiveness and making our business needs a priority.

Bret Floyd
Owner, Floyd's Cajun Seafood

I have been doing business with Steve Feakes & Associates since 2008 and can say that they are the best PI firm in the industry. Their investigations strengthened my child custody case, which helped me gain custody of my daughter. I highly recommend Steve to anyone seeking private investigative work.

Scot Carter
Client Since 2008

Mr. Feakes and his team achieved all of the goals we agreed to within the timeframe we agreed. Professional, concise and very effective.

Darren Lafferty
Client

Ready to Discuss Your Case?

Confidential consultations available. No obligation.

Steven Feakes & Associates, Inc. · TX License A10645 · Licensed & Bonded