Firm News
Recognized by Chambers USA for 2025, we don’t just litigate—we control the risk, shift leverage, and position our clients for the win.
Glasscock Family Trust Dispute
We represent one of the heirs to the Glasscock Family Trust in negotiations concerning 2G Ranch, an 8,000-acre property valued at $91 million located outside of Columbus, Texas. Our objective is to facilitate the separation of our client’s interest in the ranch and other estate properties from the remainder of the trust.
While this matter involves an intra-family dispute, we have successfully navigated the complexities to prevent escalation into litigation. We anticipate a favorable resolution in which our client will secure his 10% share of the estate, allowing the remaining heirs to proceed with the sale of their portion of the 2G Ranch.
Defense of Homeowners in Deed Covenant Litigation
We represent 108 homeowners in a luxury subdivision near Austin, Texas, in litigation against a developer attempting to enforce deed covenants that mandate membership in a private club. The developer has mismanaged the club while increasing monthly membership dues and initiation fees. This case raises a novel question of Texas law regarding whether developers can impose club membership as a condition of homeownership within a private subdivision.
We are seeking injunctive relief for future membership requirements and a refund of past payments. Recently, we achieved a significant victory by securing a temporary injunction against the developer after a contentious two-day evidentiary hearing. The court found that our clients are likely to succeed on the merits of their case, strengthening our position as we move forward in the litigation.
Sealy Emergency Room LLC Settlement
We served as lead counsel for Sealy Emergency Room LLC, stepping in as the third law firm on the eve of trial. At that point, Sealy had already faced a setback with a summary judgment ruling on liability. We quickly developed new legal theories, arguing that the physician-owner of Sealy ER should not be held personally liable for the alleged damages, which would place the plaintiff at risk of recovering from an entity with no assets. Additionally, we contended that the claimed damages were significantly overstated.
To strengthen our negotiation position, we advised our client to proceed with jury selection, a strategy that allowed us to take a firmer stance during settlement discussions. This decision proved effective, enabling us to negotiate a favorable settlement shortly after the trial commenced. Ultimately, the case settled for a fraction of the attorney’s fees that the plaintiff had incurred, significantly benefiting our client.
Builders FirstSource, Inc. v. Trophy
We represented Builders FirstSource, the largest building supplies manufacturer in the United States, in a competitive dispute against Trophy Windows, a rival in the windows business in Central Texas. Trophy hired two former salesmen from Builders FirstSource who retained sensitive pricing information from our client’s systems upon their departures. After these salesmen transferred virtually all their accounts to Trophy Windows, our client suffered significant financial losses.
Through diligent discovery, we obtained compelling deposition admissions and forensic evidence. The litigation has been resolved favorably for our Builders First Source.
Saybolt, L.P. in Combined Bankruptcy and Consumer Class Action
We are defending Saybolt, L.P., a subsidiary of Core Laboratories, in a high-stakes combined bankruptcy and consumer class action proceeding in Puerto Rico stemming from the bankruptcy of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). The complaint alleges that Saybolt, an inspection company, miscalibrated and inaccurately tested fuel oil samples, allowing high sulfur and other substandard fuels to pass inspection. The plaintiffs seek tens of millions of dollars in liability solely against Saybolt, making this a critical case.
We took over the defense from a significant firm, demonstrating our ability to manage large and complex matters with the same expertise and finesse as an international law firm.
Currently, the case is entangled in appeals and subject to a bankruptcy stay. Nevertheless, we are actively collaborating with Core Laboratories to negotiate insurance coverage for defense costs, which could result in millions of dollars in potential coverage for both defense and settlement expenses related to the case.
Gulf Sulphur v. Great River Industries
We represent Gulf Sulphur, a leading operator of multi-billion-dollar sulfur storage and transportation facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast, in a litigation matter against Great River Industries. In the latter half of 2021, Gulf Sulphur engaged Great River to repair two liquid sulfur tanks at its Galveston facility. Following the completion of the repairs, both tanks experienced significant failures. Great River denied responsibility, attributing the issues to Gulf Sulphur and subsequently attempted to bill the company over $700,000 in additional invoices. When Gulf Sulphur refused to pay, Great River filed a lawsuit.
Taking over the defense from a previous law firm, we uncovered critical evidence during discovery. Through depositions and forensic analysis, we demonstrated that Great River had cut corners on the repair job. Specifically, their welds failed to meet minimum industry standards, and CT scans revealed leaks in several welds. Additionally, we found that Great River lacked basic documentation, including welder certifications and weld mapping, essential for verifying quality. Our investigation revealed instances where uncertified welders were employed and where basic inspections and testing were not performed. Our deposition strategies effectively highlighted multiple contradictions in Great River’s account of the work conducted.
With trial scheduled for December 2024, we have successfully shifted the focus of the case from defending Gulf Sulphur to pursuing damages. We are now seeking over $5 million in damages, attorney’s fees, and interest from Great River.