Ross MacDonald devotes his practice to complex commercial litigation disputes, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court as well as in arbitration. Ross has handled cases in a wide range of practice areas, including theft of intellectual property, construction, antitrust, energy, and trust and estate ligation.
Following law school, Ross was a law clerk to Judge Priscilla Richman, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, from 2013 to 2014.
Take-Nothing Defense Victory in $1 Billion+ Arbitration
Represented a major oil and gas company in a successful take-nothing arbitration defense. Claimant, a publicly traded midstream company, alleged that our client had breached an acreage dedication agreement and sought more than $1 billion in damages. The arbitration panel issued a unanimous take-nothing judgment in favor of our client after an 8-day hearing.
FMC Technologies vs. Richard Murphy and Dril-Quip
Represented Richard Murphy, a subsea tree engineer, in a misappropriation of trade secrets case brought by FMC Technologies, his former employer, against Mr. Murphy and Mr. Murphy’s new employer, Dril-Quip. FMC Technologies sought almost $40 million in damages and an injunction against both Mr. Murphy and Dril-Quip. After a three-week trial, the jury ruled entirely in favor of Mr. Murphy and Dril-Quip, finding that no trade secrets were misappropriated. The First Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court victory, August 2023.
U.S. Pipeline vs. Northern Natural Gas
Represented U.S. Pipeline (USPL), a Houston-based pipeline construction contractor, in a dispute against Omaha-based Northern Natural Gas (NNG) regarding NNG’s failure to properly compensate USPL for the installation of a portion of NNG’s natural gas pipeline. After an 8-day bench trial (December 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska), the court awarded USPL its full breach-of-contract damages for NNG’s refusal to pay for the additional work (totaling $5.65 million). The court denied all of NNG’s counterclaims. NNG appealed but the Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s judgment in its entirety in an opinion issued June 28, 2019.
In Re: Estate of John M. O’Quinn, Deceased
Represented the John M. O’Quinn Foundation, the sole beneficiary under the will of the late, legendary trial lawyer John O’Quinn, in a dispute with the Executor of John M. O’Quinn’s Estate. The parties entered into a settlement agreement shortly before trial was scheduled to begin. While most of the terms of the settlement agreement were confidential, the Executor resigned from his position as a result.
Plains Gas Solutions, LLC v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, et al.
Represented Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, in lawsuit relating to gas processing contract and divesture of certain offshore pipeline assets by TGP to a third company. The parties settled on the eve of trial, with TGP paying nothing under the settlement agreement.
Houston Community College v. Renee Byas
Represented Houston Community College in lawsuit with former General Counsel and Acting Chancellor, who alleged termination in retaliation for attempts to expose allegedly illegal activity by college’s Board of Trustees. The case settled favorably prior to trial.
University of Texas, J.D., highest honors, 2013
Grand Chancellor
Order of the Coif
Texas Law Review, Notes Editor
Davidson College, B.A., 2008
Recognized by Legal 500 US
General Commercial Disputes, 2022
General Commercial Disputes – Rising Star, 2019-2021
Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
Commercial Litigation, 2021-2023
Litigation – Antitrust, 2023
Named in Benchmark Litigation, 2022-2024
”40 & Under” Hot List, 2022-2024
Named a “Texas Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters’ Texas Super Lawyers, 2023
State Bar of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Southern District of Texas