Conor McEvily focuses his practice on high-stakes appellate litigation and complex dispute strategy, advising clients on dispositive motions and pleas, jury charge issues, post-trial proceedings, error preservation, mandamus petitions, and appeals in state and federal courts. He is routinely engaged at the earliest stages of litigation and works seamlessly with trial teams to shape and sharpen legal theories and position matters for success on appeal. A strong brief writer and a skillful advocate who has briefed or argued cases in nearly every Texas Court of Appeals along with the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, and D.C. Circuits, Conor’s practice has spanned a range of practice areas including antitrust, energy, banking and finance, construction, intellectual property, labor and employment, real estate, and bankruptcy.
Conor joined Gibbs & Bruns after practicing in the appellate section of Vinson & Elkins LLP in Houston. He was also a regular contributor to SCOTUSblog.
Trial & Appellate Counsel in $20 Billion+ Antitrust Matter Against Visa and Mastercard
Represented major national retailers, including Target, Macy’s, Staples, Office Depot, and others, in antitrust actions against Visa and Mastercard alleging interchange-fee price fixing and other anticompetitive conduct. The cases sought more than $20 billion in damages and were resolved shortly before a scheduled two-month federal trial in New York.
Six Appellate Victories Securing Dismissal of High-Stakes Claims Against Port Leadership
Represented the CEO, commissioners, and the Port Authority of Corpus Christi in a series of state and federal disputes involving a multi-billion-dollar port project. Obtained dismissals with prejudice, prevailed in six appellate proceedings, including before the Fifth Circuit, and helped achieve a favorable global settlement after nearly seven years of litigation.
Plaintiffs’ Representation of Cockrell Investment Partners in Groundwater Permitting and Exporting Dispute – Texas Supreme Court Victory
Represented Cockrell Investment Partners in consolidated Texas Supreme Court appeals involving groundwater permitting and administrative-exhaustion requirements. Secured a unanimous Texas Supreme Court reversal and remand for further proceedings, establishing that Cockrell properly exhausted its administrative remedies.
In re LIBOR-Based Financial Instruments Antitrust Litigation
Represents Fannie Mae in antitrust litigation arising from alleged LIBOR suppression by major financial institutions. Obtained significant confidential settlements and continues to pursue claims on appeal before the Second Circuit.
MSJ Win on Eve of Trial for Client CEO of Kinetik in High-Stakes $500 Million Litigation Against Energy Transfer
Obtained summary judgment on the eve of trial for the CEO of Kinetik in a business dispute involving claims exceeding $500 million.
Appellate Victory Compelling Arbitration in High-Dollar Commercial Dispute
Represented a major energy company in an interlocutory appeal arising from a high-dollar tortious interference and commercial dispute. Secured unanimous reversal of the trial court’s denial of a motion to compel arbitration, with the Fourteenth Court of Appeals directing that the Texas litigation be stayed and the dispute proceed to arbitration in British Columbia.
Appellate Victory in $90 Million Acquisition Dispute
Represented GR entities in a dispute arising from a $90 million asset purchase agreement. Secured a unanimous appellate victory reversing a nearly $2.5 million attorneys’ fee award, with the Fourteenth Court of Appeals adopting GR’s arguments to overrule four of its prior decisions and resolve a longstanding split with the First Court of Appeals.
$22.5 Million Tortious Interference Dispute – Complete Defense Victory and Appellate Reversal
Secured a complete defense victory for two individual defendants in a $22.5 million tortious interference case. Obtained reversal and rendition of a take-nothing judgment in the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, followed by a substantial attorneys’ fee award under the TCPA.
Jury Trial Victory in Nextier Completion Solutions, Inc. v. Hi-Crush Permian Sand LLC
Obtained a complete defense verdict for Hi-Crush after a two-week jury trial in a commercial contract dispute. The jury found no contract amendment and no breach, resulting in a take-nothing judgment and zero damages. Among other things, the trial court adopted Hi-Crush’s jury charge instructions on a critical legal issue, which required the court to depart from the Texas Pattern Jury Charge and adopt instructions more consistent with recent Texas caselaw to the contrary.
Multiple Matters Arising from Stanford Financial Group Collapse
Represented Trustmark National Bank in multiple lawsuits and appeals arising from the collapse of Stanford Financial Group and R. Allen Stanford’s multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme. The litigation involved claims for billions of dollars in alleged damages and extensive federal multidistrict proceedings, ultimately resulting in a global settlement resolving the litigation against Trustmark.
$200 Million Complex Multi-District Family Dispute Involving Timber, Real Estate and Oil & Gas Assets
Represents parties in a multi-jurisdictional family business dispute involving approximately $200 million in timber, real estate, and energy assets across Texas and Illinois courts.
$100 Million Complex Private Client Defense – Irwin “Buddy” Herz Jr.
Represents a prominent private client in a high-stakes dispute involving claims exceeding $100 million.
Insurance Defense Matter for National Union with Nationwide Implications
Represents National Union in litigation concerning the attempted reinstatement of a Texas company dissolved decades earlier. Obtained a favorable appellate ruling addressing interstate judgment enforcement and the scope of Texas corporate-revival statutes.
Victories in the Bayou Corne Sinkhole Litigation
Represented Occidental Chemical in dispute arising from the Bayou Corne Sinkhole. Secured multiple favorable rulings, including at trial, at arbitration, and on appeal, culminating in a successful confidential resolution.
David M. Dunwoody, Jr. v. EnVen Energy Corp. et al.
Represented the former president of EnVen Energy. Successfully defended a $12.4 million judgment, obtaining affirmance of all trial court rulings on appeal before the Texas intermediate and Supreme Courts.
Plaintiff’s Contingency Trade Secret Case – Successful Resolution
Represented Sanchez Oil & Gas in a trade secret and employee-raiding dispute. Defeated dismissal efforts through multiple appellate proceedings and ultimately achieved a favorable confidential settlement.
Reversal and Remand in 9th Circuit Immigration Appeal
Represented asylum seeker in appeal from Board of Immigration and Immigration Judge’s determinations that she was not entitled to relief under the Convention Against Torture. After arguing before the 9th Circuit, obtained reversal and remand after a finding that substantial evidence did not support either the Board or the Judge’s decision.
Reversal and Remand in 4th Circuit Habeas Appeal
Served as lead brief writer in a successful appeal of a district court’s denial of federal habeas relief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Federal Habeas Challenge to Texas Capital Sentence
Served as court-appointed advocate in federal habeas proceeding challenging a Texas inmate’s capital sentence in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
U.S. Supreme Court Merits Briefing in Elonis v. United States
Represented petitioner in Elonis v. United States in merits briefing before the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in an 8-1 victory, with the case reversed and remanded.
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2011
The Georgetown Law Journal, Senior Administrative Editor
University of Notre Dame, B.A., English, 2007
University Honors Program
Named in Legal 500 US
Named a “Leading Associate” for Commercial Disputes – Boutique Firms, 2026
Named in The Best Lawyers in America
Commercial Litigation, 2026-2027
Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2023
Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
Named to Lawdragon Guide:
“500 Leading Litigators in America,” 2027
“The 500 X – The Next Generation,” 2026
Named a “Texas Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters, 2023-2026
State Bar of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
St. Thomas High School, Foundation Board Member (2020 – Present)
Boulevard Oaks Civic Association, Director (2026 – Present)
Houston Bar Association, Member
“Looking Ahead: October Term 2015,” CATO SUP. CT. REV. (2015) (co-authored)
“Vested Interests: The Felon Body-Armor Ban and the Continuing Vitality of Scarborough v. United States,” 100 GEO. L. J. 1341 (2012)