Commercial Litigation

The Firm handles many diverse business and commercial litigation matters which involve both traditional and newly emerging areas of law. This litigation involves such varied matters as contract disputes, banking, collections, real estate, environmental, deceptive trade practices, fiduciary responsibility, municipal law, employment disputes, oil and gas, construction law, consumer law, products liability, fraud, and other business tort matters. In addition to its traditional practice, the Firm also represents its business clients in arbitrations, administrative hearings, and fact-finding investigations. The Firm represents consumers in various emerging areas of law in independent state and federal actions as well as state and national class actions.

The Firm’s business and commercial litigation practice involves litigation in state and federal courts both within Texas and throughout the United States, at both the trial and appellate levels.

Energy

The Firm’s energy practice encompasses many of the practice areas noted herein (e.g. commercial litigation). The Firm represents major and independent exploration and production companies, as well as oil service companies. The Firm has negotiated and handled numerous acquisitions and divestitures involving oil and gas companies, and has represented both buyers and sellers in transactions involving conveyance of producing properties and exploration ventures. The Firm handles all phases of exploration and production work, including original and division order title opinions, negotiation of exploration and production contracts, joint operating agreements, and the negotiation of Master Service Agreements. The Firm maintains a broad base of energy clients both domestic and foreign. A significant portion of the Firm’s litigation practice relates to matters associated with the oil and gas industry.

Insurance And Insurance Litigation

Attorneys practicing in the areas of insurance and insurance litigation handle a diverse docket of cases ranging in size from small industrial accidents to “disaster litigation” in multiple forums. Although a majority of the Firm’s cases concern the primary defense of individuals and corporations on behalf of liability insurance companies and underwriters, both domestic and foreign, the Firm also has a significant level of involvement on behalf of excess liability insurers and underwriters where the Firm’s role is to represent their interests directly. Additionally, attorneys in this area are involved in handling matters on behalf of property and fire insurers, as well as interpretation and litigation of complex insurance coverage questions. This litigation includes suits involving industrial accidents; product liability claims; oil field accidents; blowouts, and control of wild wells; financial institution and lender liability claims; premises liability claims; aviation accidents; workers compensation; libel; slander; false arrest; occupational diseases; admiralty and maritime claims; professional liability; employment practices; environmental torts; life insurance claims; and subrogation.

Banking

The Firm’s banking practice includes loan documentation for traditional secured lending as well as real estate acquisitions and development financing; and oil and gas exploration and production financing. The Firm also represents its financial institution clients in litigation and collection matters.

Construction Law

The Firm represents general contractors, owners, subcontractors, and suppliers in a wide range of construction matters. The Firm’s construction practice includes negotiating and drafting contracts between owners and general contractors, subcontract agreements, joint venture agreements and other unique agreements tailored to fit the client’s needs.

Construction litigation matters handled by the Firm include claims involving defective work, defective materials, personal injury, property damage, indemnification, mechanics and materialmen’s liens, and the day to day resolution of project disputes.

Real Estate

Attorneys in the real estate practice area perform a wide range of non-litigation commercial legal work with principal emphasis on the negotiation and documentation of commercial real estate transactions (including private placement memorandums, formation of business entities, closing documentation, and lease negotiations). The Firm’s real estate practice encompasses other practice areas noted herein, e.g. commercial litigation. The Firm represents developers, contractors, permanent lenders, buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, and investors, locally and in other parts of Texas and the United States.

Personal Injury Litigation

The Firm handles the prosecution and trial of serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. The Firm’s personal injury litigation practice involves litigation in state and federal courts both within Texas and throughout the United States, at both the trial and appellate levels.