Consistently ranked at the top of the legal profession by peers and ratings publications, Schiffer Odom Hicks & Johnson PLLC is a boutique litigation and arbitration firm that handles matters across the U.S. and internationally. We litigate in court at trial and appellate levels, appear on behalf of clients before tribunals and government agencies, and also represent our clients’ position at the negotiating table.

Our lawyers have litigated cases in more than twenty states, representing clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies, venture funds and emerging companies to individuals. From disputes involving energy, healthcare, high tech and telecommunications clients to claims relating to construction, corporate and securities matters, torts and personal injury, we are prepared to represent our clients in virtually any type of dispute.

TECH SAVVY APPROACH

We use technology efficiently to perform superior work with fewer lawyers in less time. Integrating a cutting-edge document processing and review system, advanced technologies to enhance presentation of evidence, and experienced trial presentation and paralegal support, we manage large cases effectively and cost-efficiently.

IMPRESSIVE WINS

We are experienced, tenacious trial lawyers, with a track record of success in state and federal courts. Recent representations include an eight week trial in the largest oil and gas case then pending in the State of Mississippi and obtaining a zero-liability win for our client. Click here for an article about the case. We also recently served as co-lead trial counsel for a Fortune 50 company in an ERISA class action with potential liability approaching $1 billion. Our victories have been featured by The National Law Journal, Law360, Bloomberg, CNBC, Marketwatch, the Houston Chronicle, and other publications.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

• Represented a publicly traded national engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, winning a substantial federal court jury verdict against the project owner. The verdict was recognized by The National Law Journal as one of its “Verdicts of the Week” and included on the “NLJ 100” list of the largest verdicts of the year.
• Represented a major government contractor in a breach of contract action related to a civil construction project in Iraq. We obtained dismissal of the case on jurisdictional grounds, and our client subsequently reached a favorable settlement.
• Represented an engineering company in its claims against the owner of an oil refinery in Siberia, in the Former Soviet Union, under Russian law.

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  • Represented a national hotel chain in a multimillion-dollar breach of warranty case regarding exterior-wall products.
  • Represented a power company on a multimillion-dollar claim against the power plant contractor for liquidated damages based on unexcused delays.
  • Represented an international, publicly traded engineering, procurement, and construction company in a contract dispute with a subcontractor relating to the installation of fiber-optic cable in the central business district of a major U.S. city.

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES

• Successfully represented a manufacturer and operator of automated teller machines in a dispute related to defective switch processing services and software provided by a software manufacturer. After defeating our opponent’s motion for summary judgment, we obtained a favorable settlement for our client.
• Defended a publicly traded software manufacturer in a breach of contract and fraud action related to a software design project. Obtained a favorable settlement for our client prior to trial.
• Represented a radio broadcasting company in a breach of contract action against the radio tower and station owner. Obtained an injunction to prevent the tower and station owner from taking our client “off the air” in violation of the parties’ agreements.

CORPORATE & SECURITIES

• Defending an investment fund manager in Texas state court against shareholder oppression and waste claims, among other claims, under Delaware law. We successfully compelled arbitration of certain affirmative claims asserted by the minority owner and CEO of the oil and gas exploration company in which our client invested $80 million.
• As lead counsel, tried a $10 million bad-faith insurance case in federal court on behalf of a national pharmacy chain. Our client reached a favorable settlement during trial.
• Represented an Australian energy company in a $100 million breach of contract/fraudulent inducement case that related to the attempted purchase of oil and gas assets located in Indonesia. Obtained dismissal of all claims.
• Obtained with other attorneys dismissal with prejudice of a $23 million dollar lawsuit against a publicly traded insurance company. The case involved claims of tortious interference with contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and civil conspiracy.
• As part of the team, represented a publicly traded investment bank in a $250 million professional negligence case.

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  • Representing a Fortune 50 company in an ERISA class action alleging wrongful cutbacks to employee discounts that allegedly constitute defined-benefit pension plans.
  • As part of the team, represented a publicly traded recreational vehicle manufacturer in a class action. We obtained reversal of certification of class of consumers alleging breach of warranty claims against our client.
  • Represented a publicly traded financial services firm in a multimillion-dollar broker-dealer case that involved allegations of “churning” investment products. While the case was pending in South Texas, we reached a favorable settlement for our client.
  • As part of team, represented a national law firm in a professional malpractice case related to the alleged development of tax shelters.
  • As part of team, represented plaintiffs in multimillion-dollar securities fraud action.
  • As part of team, represented a publicly traded financial institution in a consumer class action.
  • As lead lawyer, successfully prosecuted a million-dollar breach of contract claim on behalf of publicly traded utility company against local power provider.
  • As lead lawyer, successfully prosecuted a breach of contract claim on behalf of a publicly traded financial institution on claims related to the factoring of accounts receivable. The case was favorably resolved with our client receiving a substantial payment.

ENERGY INDUSTRY

• Defending an energy company in a $120 million breach of gas sales agreement and fraud action related to the development of a gas field in West Texas.
• Represented the plaintiff net-profits interest holders in a case related to excessive wastewater disposal charges totaling well in excess of $10 million. We favorably settled the case for our client on the eve of trial.
• Obtained dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims against our client, a major energy company, in an indemnity dispute related to potential environmental and personal injury liabilities associated with assets the plaintiff calcining company had purchased from our client.

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  • Represented a natural gas exploration company in a dispute with a drilling contractor related to damaged drilling equipment. The case settled after we obtained a favorable ruling on a critical venue motion.
  • Representing a major energy company in multiple disputes with surface owners related to our client’s seismic exploration program. These cases have been filed in numerous counties throughout Texas and have involved obtaining temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions to enable our client to complete its seismic operations.
  • Defending a major oil company against groundwater contamination claims asserted by a number of municipalities and private water purveyors in California.
  • Representing a major oil company in multiple disputes with franchisees and marketers.
  • Defended an oil-field services company in Texas state court against tortious interference with contract, breach of contract, and fraud claims.
  • Representing a major gasoline refiner in a variety of price-fixing and price-gouging investigations.

HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

• Obtained summary judgment on all claims for a regional medical provider in a fraud case arising out of proposed construction of a hospital.
• Obtained the dismissal of a putative class action in Illinois filed against our clients, a third-party claims administrator and a healthcare cost recovery company.
• Defending a boutique hospital against claims brought by a health insurer seeking the disgorgement of approximately $15 million in claims paid due to allegedly improper coding of claims.

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  • Represented a national hospital developer in a dispute with its former partner who opened a competing surgery center. The case was successfully settled prior to trial.
  • Represented a freestanding emergency department in a dispute with a health insurer regarding underpayment of claims (and defended against insurer’s claim of improper coding and violations of Texas law). With approximately $7 million in controversy, we negotiated a confidential settlement for our client the weekend before trial.
  • Representing a publicly traded healthcare company in a multimillion-dollar fraud and breach of fiduciary duty case against a financial advisory firm. We obtained an injunction to prevent the defendants from selling or otherwise encumbering our client’s stock.
  • Represented a physician in a breach of noncompete agreement action related to the sale of a privately owned hospital. We obtained a confidential favorable settlement for the client prior to trial.
  • Representing a third-party claims administrator and a healthcare cost-recovery company in ERISA litigation pending in Missouri.
  • Represented a healthcare company in a breach of contract and fraud action against an equipment supplier.