Representative Matters

Successfully represented real estate investor in its claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and fraud by nondisclosure

After a four-day trial, obtained a jury verdict for Environmental Earth-Wise, Inc. awarding actual damages of $300,000 and recovery of $200,000 in attorneys’ fees and expenses arising from emergency environmental response and remediation services., while also obtaining a take-nothing verdict on the defendant’s counterclaims.

Represented a Houston-based restauranteur in the strategic acquisition of a café and bakery concept.

Won a unanimous arbitration award on behalf of a former senior executive officer and director of a privately held bank with over $1.0 billion in assets. Our client was sued by the bank in state district court for breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets, and conversion following his resignation from the bank. In the state court proceeding, we successfully dissolved an ex parte restraining order and compelled the lawsuit to arbitration. In the arbitration, the bank sought over $20,000,000 in damages and we asserted counterclaims against the bank for tortious interference with contract and failure to pay wages. After a five day arbitration and significant post-hearing briefing, the three member arbitration panel ruled in favor of our client on all claims and awarded all damages sought pursuant to our counterclaims.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a local retailer in a lawsuit filed by retailer’s former agent seeking recovery of commissions that agent claimed were not paid pursuant to the terms of written agreement. The matter concerned an interpretation of the agent’s duties and responsibilities under the commission agreement and Texas. The trial court ultimately granted summary judgment on all claims.

Represented a development company and successfully obtained a summary judgment on liability and an award of specific performance related to the breach of a real estate contract.

Represented developer/purchaser of 100+ acres ($9MM) in Bexar County (San Antonio area) in acquisition and negotiation of development agreements with adjacent owners and San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS) for provision of utility service.

Represented insurance agency and insurance executive in state court lawsuit asserting claims for malicious prosecution in excess of $5,000,000.

Wind up and exit of Norwegian public company from the business of operating offshore seismic vessels, including advice regarding settlement of multiple employment contracts.

Sale of all general partnership and limited partnership interest in an asphalt, aggregates and construction materials business, transfer of related real property to excluded entities and lease of related real property to a publicly owned purchaser, including negotiation of risk mitigation provisions relating to disputed liquidated damages of the company and other matters that were to be resolved after closing.

Won a unanimous jury verdict of $1.3 million on behalf of two former partners of an accounting firm based on the accounting firm’s failure to pay amounts owed to the partners following their separation from the firm, including amounts owed to them for the repurchase of their shares of stock in the accounting firm. The jury also unanimously rejected a counterclaim filed by the accounting firm in which the firm sought more than $750,000 in damages based on alleged breaches of non-compete provisions, confidentiality provisions, and buy-sell provisions of the partners’ employment agreements which would have required the former partners to pay the firm for any clients that left with the former partners.

Represented purchaser of fully-leased retail center in southeast Houston

Successfully negotiated seven-figure settlement in construction dispute in favor of clients

Assisted client in drafting and implementation of company policies.

Represented the shareholders of a Houston-based international supply company to the oil and gas industry in connection with the sale of their shares to a New York-based private equity group for approximately $28 million, including equity interests in the acquiring company.

Represented Blackhawk Specialty Tools, LLC, an oilfield services company headquartered in Houma, Louisiana, in connection with a private equity investment made by Rock Hill Capital Group.