William A. Moss

International Chemical Terminal Company — Multi-million dollar commercial arbitration brought by a general contractor hired to construct a multi-tank brownfield storage capacity expansion inside an operating terminal. The general contractor asserted a series of contractual and statutory claims stemming from over 20 change order requests.  Bracewell responded by asserting offsetting claims for construction defects and liquidated damages. After developing facts through discovery that undermined the majority of general contractor’s changes orders for delays and disruptions, the parties entered into a favorable confidential settlement agreement resolving the dispute in advance of the final arbitration hearing.

Private Equity Fund — successfully represented a multi-billion dollar private equity fund and three fund-affiliated entities against claims by a prospective management team for breach of a confidentiality agreement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and various other claims stemming from unsuccessful discussions regarding an investment in a project in the Austin Chalk formation in Southeastern Louisiana. During discovery, learned that the prospective management team had copied and disclosed the fund’s work product to third parties without protection. The client asserted copyright infringement counterclaims and removed the case to federal court. After defeating repeated attempts to remand the case back to state court; striking the opposing technical and damages expert; and obtaining a liability finding on the fund’s copyright counterclaims, the Court granted client’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed all of the claims against the fund. 

Timberwolf Minerals, LLC — successfully represented client in a title dispute involving the interpretation of a term mineral interest in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma. Bracewell argued that under Oklahoma law, even a temporary cessation of production automatically extinguishes a term mineral interest.  Upon accepting Bracewell’s argument, the Court dismissed all of the plaintiff’s claims with prejudice. 

Private Equity Fund — successfully represented a multi-billion dollar private equity fund against claims by a prospective management team for breach of a confidentiality agreement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and various other claims stemming from unsuccessful discussions regarding an investment in a project  in the Eagle Ford Shale formation in South Texas. Less than three months into the lawsuit, Bracewell filed a motion to dismiss all of the prospective management team’s claims under the Texas Citizens Participation Act. After the Court granted the motion and awarded the fund six-figures in attorney’s fees, the parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement resolving the fund’s counterclaims and the lawsuit.  

Private Equity Portfolio Company — successfully represented a private equity portfolio company against adverse title claims to an entire section in the Midland Basin brought by two competing E&P companies who had taken top-leases. After fending off claims that that the base lease had expired due to a cessation of production; failure to produce in paying quantities; failure to comply with continuous drilling obligations; and whether lease saving operations where timely conducted, the parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement resolving the adverse title claims and resulting in a favorable divestiture of the leasehold for the client. 

Confidential Client — successfully represented provider of clinical trial research facilities and services in contractual dispute with clinical trial placement agency relating to agency’s entitlement to commissions on existing and prospective clinical trial related business contracts. Less than a month after the lawsuit was filed, the parties entered into a favorable confidential settlement agreement.

Private Oil Company — successfully represented a private oil and gas company in challenging a cloud on its title to an entire section in the Midland Basin resulting from top-leases taken by a competing E&P company. Upon demonstrating that the base lease had not expired due to a cessation of production; failure to produce in paying quantities; failure to comply with continuous drilling obligations; or the timely commencement of lease saving operations, the parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement resolving the adverse title claims and obtaining a favorable acreage exchange for the client. 

Confidential Client — successfully represented provider of luxury plating services to the business aviation industry in breach of contract claims against a luxury aircraft company and a casino and resort company. Within three months of initiating the action, the parties entered into a favorable confidential settlement agreement.

Private Equity Portfolio Company — successfully represented a private equity portfolio company against adverse title and conversion claims relating to mineral interest that had been acquired via tax foreclosure. The Court granted Bracewell’s motion for summary judgment on limitations and statutory prerequisite grounds and dismissed the plaintiff’s claims in their entirety.

Bomasada Group, Inc. — successfully represented client and its principals against eight-figure breach of contract and fraud claims by former manager who claimed to be putative partner. Two months before trial, Bracewell identified a fatal legal flaw in the putative partner's claims and obtained a complete dismissal of all claims.

Triple Crown Energy LLC — successfully represented client and BCF Minerals as lead associate in a jury trial in Tulsa, Oklahoma, involving a dispute with a land services broker over commissions related to several large mineral rights and leasehold acquisition projects; plaintiff sought over $2 million in connection with various contract and tort claims; after a week-long trial, the jury returned a verdict denying the plaintiff any commissions and rejecting all tort claims.

Juno Energy, LLC — successfully represented client as lead associate in a bench trial of an eight-figure title dispute involving oil and gas properties in West Texas; on the second day of trial, secured a successful settlement with one party, but continued the trial against the other remaining party; after a week-long bench trial, the judge ruled immediately after closing arguments in client’s favor holding that it had title to the disputed leasehold

Vopak Terminal Deer Park — successfully represented client against Vertical, a Brazilian ethanol trading company, eight-figure breach of contract and fraud claims. Following dramatic revelations obtained from Vertical's own witnesses and documents, obtained the complete dismissal of the case one-week before trial.

Pro-Bono Representation — successfully represented student against attempt to recover on delinquent student loan. Despite language in the operative agreement applying a substantially longer statute of limitations from another jurisdiction, successfully argued the application of a shorter limitations period and obtained complete dismissal of all claims on summary judgment.