- Criminal Defense
- Wrongful DeathWindrum v. Kareh, 581 S.W.3d 761 (Tex. 2019). Obtained reversal of a court of appeals ruling that reversed a multi-million dollar jury verdict for our client in a wrongful death action.
- FraudAllen v. Devon Energy Holdings, L.L.C., 367 S.W.3d 355 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, judgm’t vacated by agr.). Obtained reversal of a summary judgment against our client in a multi-million dollar securities fraud action.
- Theft
- Restraining OrderSuccessfully settled a theft of trade secrets case on behalf of the employer in which a former employee downloaded the entire contents of his former employer’s cloud-based information system to several different electronic devices just prior to giving notice of his resignation. In this dispute, the former employee left a geo-synthetic lining company to work for a competitor performing a substantially similar role in the same geographic region. Obtained a temporary restraining order and a temporary injunction enjoining the former employee from using any of his former employer’s confidential information while working at the competitor. Through the pendency of the suit, conducted an electronic forensic review of the former employee’s electronic devices and cloud-based storage systems discovering evidence of spoliation. After a spoliation motion was filed, the matter was successfully resolved.
- Corporate LawWhile Mr. Laswell has extensive litigation experience in the energy and related industries, his practice over the years has not been limited to that field. He also has considerable experience in prosecuting and defending securities actions, both federal and state, and defending professional liability claims. And, as a business and commercial trial lawyer, he has been exposed to many industries outside the energy sector, including real estate concerns, companies in the healthcare arena, and financial institutions. He also has significant experience in corporate governance issues, disputes involving both large companies and small closely held companies. And, as the legal landscape has changed over his 39Â years of practice to include more alternative dispute resolution proceedings, especially arbitrations, his practice has expanded to meet this need, especially in the international oil and gas arena. Mr. Laswell has significant experience in arbitrations of all types, both international and more localized proceedings.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsRepresentation of companies performing anti-corruption due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and the use of international sales and service agents Advising companies on anti-corruption policies, procedures, controls, and training
- Business DisputesAt Hicks Thomas LLP, we have extensive experience litigating complex business disputes at the highest level. Our business litigators appreciate how important it is to understand your business so that we can devise strategies that make sense, and we have the skills and experience needed to ensure the best possible outcome for your business.
- Business Transactions
- Trade SecretsIn the information age, trade secret protection is an essential component to the success of any business. As the value and importance of data and other trade secrets has increased, companies are more concerned than ever about protecting their information assets against both internal and external threats.
- Intellectual PropertyMr. Thomas has been named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America and Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America, listed in Best Lawyers in America for his work in Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation, selected as a Texas Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters for every year since its inception, listed by Chambers USA as one of the leading lawyers in the country, and has an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubble. He also is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
- Unfair CompetitionRepresented various clients in trade secret and unfair competition matters, with an emphasis on protection of trade secrets from disclosure by former employees.
- AntitrustIn re Oil Antitrust Litigation – Defended Burlington Resources in industry-wide cases involving payment of royalties based on posted prices. Conducted extensive pretrial discovery and negotiated a favorable settlement.
- Wrongful Termination$34,200,000 jury verdict against NYSE company in favor of equity investors and subsidiary company president in action for breach of contract for the sale of the subsidiary, wrongful termination, and defamation of company president.
- Employment DiscriminationIn July 2010, Stewart first-chaired an employment discrimination case in federal court in Houston, Texas for a NYSE-traded client. Based on the claims pled by the former employee, the client faced exposure to punitive damages not capped by traditional damage caps in employment cases. After four days of trial, and just before closing arguments, the former employee settled his claims for a mere 17% of his pretrial settlement demand.
- Employment LitigationHicks Thomas litigates in federal and state courts around the nation, and prosecutes and defends administrative proceedings before both federal and state agencies. Because objectives and efficient resolutions are different for every client, our employment litigation lawyers emphasize client collaboration and formulation of legal strategies tailored to each client’s specific industries and needs.
- Severance Agreement
- Sexual HarassmentRepresented a professional service firm in a gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation dispute brought by a former employee alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Successfully avoided a lawsuit through pre-suit mediation with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The dispute involved unique issues relating to outside-the-office conduct and text messaging.
- Real Estate LitigationOur attorneys represent and advise developers, sellers, purchasers, property managers, and tenants of commercial real estate at the local and national level in all aspects of the commercial real estate industry. In addition to our knowledge of the collateral issues raised in complex real estate disputes, we pride ourselves on our ability to draw on the Firm’s other practice areas to enhance the real estate counsel and services we provide to our clients. Whether as a plaintiff or defendant, we guide our clients through the dispute resolution process and pursue efficient legal solutions that protect their investments in the real estate world.
- Premises Liability
- Construction LitigationConstruction projects are often high risk with tight profit margins, and so resolving them efficiently is important. We work with our clients before the dispute at the contract stage, during construction, and after to help solve complicated construction issues and disputes with the least possible amount of disruption, delay, or expense.
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesJustin earned his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019, where he served as a LL.M. Teaching Fellow and a research assistant for the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. Justin also gained valuable experience representing tenants in landlord-tenant disputes as a student attorney for Rising for Justice (formerly DC Law Students in Court Clinic).
- Property DamageFrom defending an equipment and chemical manufacturer in claims of personal injury and property damage to representing an oil and gas refiner, pipeline operator, or producer in cost recovery actions, our attorneys have a history of counseling companies through environmental crises and defending complex environmental litigation. We take on our clients’ most complicated environmental matters and, when we go to court, we win.
- Personal InjuryAllison Fisher joined Hicks Thomas LLP as an associate in 2010. Her practice focuses on a range of commercial litigation matters, with extensive experience in environmental, personal injury and business litigation. Mrs. Fisher plays a critical role in drafting pleadings and motions, conducting discovery, taking depositions, and collaborating with other members of the trial team to prepare complex cases for trial.
- Medical MalpracticeLoftin was the lead trial counsel for plaintiffs in a medical malpractice suit against a hospitals neurologist and neurosurgeon. This suit arose as a result of death from hydrocephalus which was diagnosed but not treated. This two week trial against the neurosurgeon involved many complexities associated with neuroscience. Despite the complications, Loftin obtained one of the largest judgments in a medical malpractice case that Harris County has seen in recent years.
- Disability Discrimination
- Estate PlanningBrad founded Benbrook Law Group in 2012, where he continues to represent businesses in civil litigation and disputes with administrative agencies. Brad also regularly represents individuals and groups in constitutional and other public policy litigation, including multiple high-profile First Amendment cases. He regularly submits amicus briefs on behalf of clients at the Supreme Court of the United States on significant cases. He is often hired as special litigation counsel in significant family law, bankruptcy, and trust and estate litigation.
- Bankruptcy
- ForeclosureSuccessfully defended national, commercial real estate lender and mortgage loan servicer against a lawsuit filed by a borrower concerning loans totaling over $20 million in principal when the borrower sought to prevent foreclosure through litigation.