Commercial and merger and acquisition disputes

• Represented Russian energy company in English law, London seat LCIA arbitration arising from failed multi-billion dollar merger with another energy company. While pending, this was reported to be the largest commercial arbitration in the world.
• Defended leading international energy companies against claims exceeding US$ 1 billion asserted in CPR non-administered arbitration in San Francisco in earn-out dispute relating to purchase of gasification technology.
• Represented publicly traded transportation company in ICDR arbitration in New York and related Delaware Chancery Court case to enforce US$400 million agreement to acquire Mexican railroad.
• Defended franchisor of car care services in dispute in CPR arbitration and before the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
• Represented Russian oil company in landmark US Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 bankruptcy proceedings.

Energy disputes

• Defended international energy company in shareholder dispute relating to upstream concession located in Central Asia and related exploration and production sharing contract. LCIA arbitration in London under English law.
• Represented Atlantic basin LNG seller in take or pay dispute involving force majeure claims raised by European buyer in New York arbitration under New York law and the UNCITRAL arbitration rules.
• Represented international energy producer in fast track arbitration against owner of offshore pipeline system under AAA Commercial Rules.
• Represented sellers in middle-east based natural gas pricing dispute under long-term purchase and sale agreement in London-based LCIA arbitration.
• Representation of lessee in long term oil storage agreement dispute in arbitration in New York under New York law.

Sovereign and treaty disputes

• Represented international energy company in NAFTA arbitration against the Government of Canada under the ICSID Arbitration Rules. After the Tribunal's post-hearing decision rejecting the state's objections to jurisdiction and admissibility, and a ruling allowing client's damage claims to be expanded to span the life of the relevant projects, the parties reached a landmark settlement.
• Representation of client with respect to host government measures impacting development of two world class gas fields located in the Mediterranean.
• Defended West African national oil company and its officers in US District Court case in which plaintiff sought US$1 billion in damages for alleged bribery of an international arbitration tribunal in Geneva. The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed dismissal of plaintiff's claims against our clients in this closely-watched case.
• Defense of West African national oil company in US District Court for the Southern District of New York against enforcement of US$300 million ex parte French judgment based on a disputed arbitration award issued in west Africa and subject to court challenge at the place of arbitration. The underlying dispute arose out of the parties' agreement for the creation of a national strategic reserve of refined petroleum products.
• Represented US electricity company in ICSID arbitration regarding Latin American State's tax assessments on client's electricity generating subsidiary.

Representative international litigation

• Defended European manufacturer of offshore high grade steel tether chains in US$500 million US District Court lawsuit in Houston brought by the US subsidiary of a Latin American state-owned energy company.
• Defended party in proceedings under 28 U.S.C. 1782 for discovery in aid of arbitration in Delaware and Texas federal courts and on successful appeals before the US Courts of Appeal for the Third and Fifth Circuits.
• Represented international chemical company in defense of RICO claim relating to production and marketing of a chemical resin in US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
• Represented Canadian energy company sued in commercial dispute in Texas state court; after removal to Houston federal court, secured dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction.
• Representation of left-behind father in Texas federal court under the Hague Convention of Civil Aspects on International Child Abduction and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act to secure return of client's abducted daughter.

Project Disputes

• Advised European renewable energy developer in complex construction dispute with EPC contractor. The dispute arose from delays in the construction of 300 MW solar power facility in Mexico and was subject to ICC arbitration in Spain.
• Representation of employer in a Dubai seat DIAC arbitration against contractor regarding the construction of a large scale residential housing project in Dubai involving issues of delay, prolongation costs and variations.
• Representation of client in engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning contract dispute involving energy platforms offshore West Africa.
• Represented industrial pressure vessel fabricator in LCIA arbitration against international construction firm.
• Representation of clients in US District Court enforcement of arbitration awards relating to power and power plant construction projects in Peru and Guatemala.

Work as arbitrator and neutral

• Past chair of State Bar of Texas Attorney Grievance Committee (District 4E).
• Co-arbitrator in ICDR Arbitration involving dispute governed by Texas and Delaware law among equal partners/shareholders in US Gulf Coast refinery and related trading entity in which the claims exceeded US$1.5 billion.
• Co-arbitrator in ICDR deepwater Gulf of Mexico joint operating agreement case; final award was issued within 45 days of the tribunal's constitution in accord with the arbitration agreement.
• Panel chair, AAA Commercial Rules arbitration regarding multi-state dealer agreements and distribution of heavy construction equipment.
• Sole arbitrator in AAA arbitration arising out of commercial agreement to promote and franchise cosmetic services business across the United States.

Maritime and insurance cases

• Assisted with maritime case before the United States Supreme Court; the unanimous Court, in affirming favorable decisions of the lower courts, held that the doctrine of superseding cause exists in admiralty and is consistent with the Court's earlier adoption of comparative fault principles.
• Representation of vessel inspection company with respect to significant maritime casualty offshore Latin America. Dispute subject to international arbitration in New York under the UNCITRAL arbitration rules.
• Advised international energy company on insurance subrogation claims arising out of Piper Alpha disaster.
• Represented publicly traded energy services client in offshore maritime personal injury case in Brazoria County, Texas, and maintained favorable judgment on appeal.