Education

• University of Virginia, B.A.
• University of Florida, Levin College of Law, J.D.

Admissions

• State Bar of Texas
• State Bar of Colorado
• The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
• The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

Professional / Memberships

• Martindale Hubbell AV Rated Attorney
• Member, State Bar of Texas – Litigation Section
• Member, Houston Bar Association – Litigation Section
• Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member, City of Southside Place, Texas (1999-2007)
• “Citizen of the Year,” Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce (2007)

Representative Experience

Complex Business Desputes

• Won International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration following five-day evidentiary hearing on behalf of an ultra-deep water drilling rig Management Company, defeating claimant’s $19 million liquidated damages claim and recovering award of attorney’s fees.
• Obtained summary judgment dismissal in favor of international reservoir engineering firm of plaintiffs’ $26 million claims for fraud, negligence, and conspiracy.  In re Capco Energy, Inc., 669 F.3d 274 (5th Cir. 2012); Amco Energy, Inc. v. Tana Exploration Co., et al., 455 B.R. 584 (S.D. Tex. 2011). 
• Attained favorable resolution for reservoir engineering company in defending against hedge fund’s $24 million claims for fraud and violation of the Texas Securities Act.  Highland Capital Management, L.P. v. Ryder Scott Company, 402 S.W.3d 719 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no pet.); Highland Capital Management, L.P. v. Ryder Scott Company, L.P., 212 S.W.3d 522 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. denied).  
• Secured directed verdict for Netherland-based oilfield tool and services company in Texas state district court bench trial on plaintiffs’ $2 million claims for fraud, conspiracy, and successor liability.
• Represented former energy-industry CFO in parallel state and federal derivative actions arising out of FCPA investigations.
• Negotiated favorable resolution for oil and gas investment company in $5 million fraud action against drilling program general partner and operator.

Shareholder and Partnership Disputes

• Represented privately held limited partnerships and affiliated Limited Liability Companies in five-week jury trial defending against plaintiff’s $30 million claims for breach of fiduciary duty, dissolution, and receivership; secured jury finding in support of counter-claim for expulsion of limited partner plaintiff.
• Represented family-owned limited partnerships and Limited Liability Companies in responding to requests for access to companies’ books and records.
• Represented private company shareholder in corporate dissolution and receivership proceedings.
• Represented private company shareholder and director in defending against breach of fiduciary duty claims.
• Assisted in representing Special Committee of hospitality and entertainment company in defending against $15 million shareholder “going-private” class action litigation.
• Participated in internal investigation for Audit Committee of seismic data company in response to shareholder derivative lawsuit.

First Amendment and Anti-SLAPP

• Secured dismissal under Texas Anti-SLAPP statute of $10 million defamation, disparagement, and fraud claims asserted against consumer protection organization for its on-line publication of ratings and reports of plaintiff’s home repair business.  The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. v. John Moore Services, Inc., 441 S.W.3d 345 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. denied).
• Won dismissal under Texas Anti-SLAPP statute of $15 million anti-trust and defamation claims asserted by home repair company in lawsuit against consumer protection entity over on-line publication of ratings and report.  The Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. v. John Moore Services, Inc., 500 S.W.3d 26 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2016, pet. denied).
• Won jury trial concerning award of attorney’s fees and secured award of monetary sanctions under Texas Anti-SLAPP statute against home repair company.  John Moore Services, Inc. v. The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc., No. 01-14-00906, 2016 WL 3162206 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] June 2, 2016, no pet.). 
• Secured dismissal under section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act (47 U.S.C. § 230) and the Texas Anti-SLAPP statute of defamation claims asserted against consumer protection organization client over on-line publication of “Scam Report.”
• Won verdict and final judgment for international energy company employees in Texas state district court jury trials against $10 million defamation claims for statements published in two Houston Chronicle articles.  Abraham v. Exxon Corporation, No. 14-98-00888-CV, 2001 WL 894261 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 9, 2001, no pet.).