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Laura B. Rowe Partner, Hicks Thomas LLP

Education/Clerkships: University of Virginia (B.A., 1987); University of Texas (J.D., with honors, 1992); Judicial Clerkship, Justice Priscilla R. Owen, Supreme Court of Texas.

Areas of Specialty: Commercial litigation and appeals, with extensive experience in oil and gas, business tort, and class actions.

Representative Cases/Clients:

• U.S. ex rel. Wright v. AGIP Petroleum Co., et al. Trial counsel for Burlington Resources Inc. in multi-billion dollar industry-wide case under the False Claims Act. Conducting defense of claims including alleged fraudulent underpayment of gas royalties and improper deduction of treating and transportation costs for coal bed methane gas.
• Peoples Energy Production-Texas, L.P. v. Sierra 2002, et al. Lead trial counsel for energy producer in dispute over acquisition rights under an AMI agreement. Successfully defended breach of contract, tortious interference, and fraud claims on summary judgment; trial pending.
• Tractebel Energy Marketing, Inc., et al. v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. Lead appellate counsel for Tractebel in breach of contract case involving pollution emission reduction credits. On appeal, successfully obtained reversal of jury finding on “commercial impracticability,” resulting in a multi-million dollar award for client on appeal. Successfully defended appellate court ruling before the Supreme Court of Texas.
• U.S. ex rel. Johnson v. Shell, et al. Counsel for 2 major oil and gas producers in case alleging the fraudulent underpayment of oil royalties to the federal government. Managed case through pre-trial discovery and motion stages before negotiating a successful confidential settlement for client.
• King Ranch Inc. et al. v. William Warren Chapman, et al. Selected as appellate counsel in the Supreme Court of Texas for major Texas energy producer. Successfully obtained Supreme Court ruling for client reversing lower of court's opinion.

Accomplishments/Honors: Named one of the best attorneys in Business Litigation, Texas Monthly magazine and Texas Super Lawyers magazine, (2005, 2006). Named one of the top lawyers in Houston, H Texas magazine (2005). Selected as one of Texas ' “Rising Stars” in Texas Monthly magazine and Texas Rising Stars magazine (2004, 2005).

Direct Line: 713.547.9120
Email: lrowe@hicks-thomas.com