Since 2007, Gibbs & Bruns LLP has been recognized by Legal 500 for excellence in litigation. The 2023 edition ranks Gibbs & Bruns a “Tier 1″ firm in Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas – the firm has held this top ranking position since 2007.
Gibbs & Bruns is also recognized in top tiers for Leading Trial Lawyers – Tier 2, General Commercial Litigation – Tier 3 and Securities Litigation: Plaintiff – Tier 3.
Eleven Gibbs & Bruns trial lawyers are highlighted in the 2023 editorial.
ENERGY LITIGATION: OIL AND GAS
TIER 1
Praised for its ‘elite courtroom skills’, Gibbs & Bruns LLP exclusively handles high-profile commercial litigation. While based in Houston, the firm has a national reach and represents a broad client base, ranging from tech start-ups to major entities in the oil and gas sector. Founding partner Robin Gibbs is a veteran of the industry, with over 50 years’ experience in handling high-stakes business and commercial litigation, while Kathy Patrick is relied upon by industry powerhouses, such as Occidental, in handling high-end issues. Barrett Reasoner is adept in handling business-critical disputes for energy companies and Brian Ross is highly recommended, with a docket that includes prominent force majeure disputes stemming from Winter Storm Uri. Mark Giugliano is another key contact in the group, with considerable experience in multi-party commercial litigation, while Sam Cruse, who is commended as ‘a highly effective courtroom lawyer and negotiator’, is noted for his expertise in the energy and finance sectors.
Testimonials
Excellent lawyers, subject-matter experts, great use of technology and elite courtroom skills.
Sam Cruse is my first call for high stakes oil and gas litigation matters. He has successfully handled several high stakes oil and gas contract and royalties disputes for us. He is a highly effective courtroom lawyer and negotiator.
ENERGY LITIGATION: OIL AND GAS
Tier 1 Firms
Leading Lawyers
Brian Ross – Gibbs & Bruns LLP
Hall of Fame
Robin Gibbs – Gibbs & Bruns LLP
Practice Heads
Robin Gibbs; Kathy Patrick; Barret Reasoner
Other Key Lawyers
Brian Ross; Mark Giugliano; Andi Gulley; Sam Cruse; David Sheeren
LEADING TRIAL LAWYERS
TIER 2
Houston-based Kathy Patrick is noted for the depth and breadth of her practice, representing a diverse range of clients including Occidental Petroleum Corp., ExxonMobil and BlackRock. As well as assisting clients pursuing recoveries for securities fraud internationally, she has extensive commercial experience representing clients enforce leveraged buyouts, construction contracts, and corporate indemnities. Patrick currently acts as lead trial counsel for Target and a large group of retailers in a complex antitrust matter against Visa and Mastercard, with the plaintiffs seeking damages in excess of $17 billion.
With half a century of experience in high-stakes litigation, Houston-based Robin Gibbs’ practice focuses exclusively on business and commercial litigation across a broad range of areas including contract, antitrust, trade secret, energy and securities. Also adept in the field of construction disputes, Gibbs recently recorded another significant win for Enterprise Products Operating in a lawsuit against Amec Foster, in which after years of prolonged litigation, Enterprise received a settlement of $115 million in April 2022.
A quintessential generalist trial lawyer, Houston-based Barrett Reasoner’s practice focuses on complex commercial disputes across a broad array of areas, including securities, energy, construction, environmental, and IP. Reasoner continues to handle a number of high-stakes mandates, including representing Trustmark National Bank before the Southern District of Texas in a trial scheduled for February 2023, the case concerns three lawsuits related to the collapse of Stanford Financial Group and alleged damages in excess of $5 billion.
Leading Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame
Robin Gibbs
Kathy Patrick
Barrett Reasoner
GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISPUTES
TIER 3
Houston-based law firm Gibbs & Bruns LLP specializes in handling commercial disputes, with a focus on the banking, energy, technology, and financial services sectors. The firm’s experienced team is capable of representing both plaintiffs and defendants across a broad range of subjects. Robin Gibbs is highly regarded for his extensive experience as a trial attorney, while Kathy Patrick has regularly returned successes for longstanding high value clients. Barrett Reasoner is an expert in handling energy-related disputes and co-leads the practice alongside Gibbs and Patrick. Brian Ross is particularly knowledgeable in the oil and gas industry and has expertise in market defining cases. Other notable members of the team include securities specialist Sam Cruse , energy and construction advisor Ayesha Najam , and David Sheeren . Denise Lambert Drake and Jorge M. Gutierrez Jr. were promoted to partner in October 2022.
Practice Heads
Robin Gibbs; Kathy Patrick; Barret Reasoner
Other Key Lawyers
Brian Ross; Sam Cruse; Ayesha Najam; David Sheeren; Denise Lambert Drake; Jorge M. Gutierrez Jr.
SECURITIES LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF
TIER 3
Gibbs & Bruns LLP in Houston became a prominent player in the securities litigation having brought many successful claims relating to mortgage-backed securities, and the firm continues to handle some long-running matters arising from the global financial crisis. Key partner David Sheeren, who has ‘excellent industry knowledge of securitization litigation issues’, worked with newly promoted partner Denise Lambert Drake to bring a case for PIMCO and BlackRock concerning 156 Countrywide RMBS trusts, ultimately securing a $266m settlement. Sheeren and highly regarded Kathy Patrick, who together lead the practice, acted for PIMCO and TCW as investment managers for funds and accounts holding over $200m of certificates issued by a legacy RMBS deal sponsored by First Franklin / Merrill Lynch., which were pursued for selling loans into the Trust that breached a variety of representations and warranties, leading to significant losses. Approval of a $242m settlement is currently pending. Partner Sam Cruse also plays a key role in the practice, notably for clients in the financial services and energy sectors.
Testimonials
David Sheeren has excellent industry knowledge of securitization litigation issues.
Other Key Lawyers
Denise Lambert Drake; Sam Cruse
About Legal 500
For 33 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions, the results of which can be viewed free of charge using the “Rankings” tab at the top of the page.
The rankings are based on a series of criteria, but simply put, we highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel. Our research is based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers, and a team of researchers who have unrivalled experience in the legal market.
