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Austin�s practice focuses on litigation with an emphasis on commercial litigation and oil and gas litigation involving upstream and midstream segments of the industry. As a part of his commercial practice, Austin has handled cases in both state and federal courts involving contract disputes, deceptive trade practices, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, misappropriation of confidential information, and breach of warranty. In connection with his oil and gas practice, Austin has represented producers and processors in state court and arbitration proceedings involving a wide range of matters, including royalty litigation, lease termination cases and disputes arising under operating agreements.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Some of Austin�s recent litigation successes include the following matters:
Obtained unanimous arbitration award for a Houston-based producer in a multimillion dollar voting rights dispute under an operating agreement covering a producing field located offshore West Africa.
Obtained favorable arbitration award for Houston-based producer in a dispute arising from the client�s acquisition of producing properties. The issue concerned whether a title defect created by the termination of a Term Assignment had been cured by the seller�s tender of a farmout agreement covering the acreage involved. The award determined that the farmout agreement was not a cure of the title defect resulting in a savings for the client of $3.2 million.
Defense of equity investment firm in business dispute involving alleged breach of confidentiality agreement. Settled after two week jury trial.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of fiduciary on complex fiduciary litigation matter.
ARTICLES / PUBLICATIONS
Co-Author Annual Survey of Texas Law Construction and Surety Law, 55 SMU L. Rev. 775 (2002)
Co-Author Annual Survey of Texas Law Construction and Surety Law, 56 SMU L. Rev. 1353 (2003) | 