Danny David > Baker Botts L.L.P. > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

The ‘great commercial litigators’ at Baker Botts L.L.P. are active across a number of sectors, notably energy, defending corporate clients and their directors and officers facing merger-related suits in Delaware, Texas and the federal courts, in addition to offering assistance in related securities and derivative disputes. In Houston, managing partner Danny David and Amy Hefley lead on high-value disputes for clients and in 2024 defended Camber Energy, Inc. in a suit arising out of its 2023 merger with Viking Energy Group, with a former shareholder of the latter accusing Camber’s CEO of breach of fiduciary duties. Securities litigation and white collar matters form the core of head of the litigation team Bridget Moore‘s Washington DC-based practice. Richard Harper, who heads the firm’s New York office, is sought after by TMT sector clients facing M&A suits, including assisting Liberty Media in settling a shareholder derivative action related to the buyback of $2bn-worth of SiriusXM shares, of which Liberty is the controlling shareholder, alleging that Liberty directors had breached their fiduciary duties and effected a short term merger.

Primarily centered from its Texas heartland, the ‘hardworking and very experienced’ team at Baker Botts L.L.P. has a strong reputation defending corporates, and directors and officers, facing a wide range of securities fraud and shareholder derivative cases. While the team regularly secures success at a motion to dismiss stage, leveraging the expertise of a number of first-rate trial advocates it is also willing and able to try cases, of particular benefit given the overall uptick in opt-out cases in state courts. Although by no means limited to work in the sector, the firm’s overarching prowess in the energy space accounts for a significant proportion of the mandates, including for the ‘very impressive’ David Sterling, who is leading on a number of 10b-5 class actions brought against the likes of Apache and Concho Resources. Amy Hefley is also very active within the energy sector, and alongside Sterling and Dallas-based John Lawrence, recently secured a notable class certification win for Apache against allegations that it made misleading statements about the company’s large oil and gas resource in the Permian Basin. Danny David, who co-heads the team alongside Hefley and Washington DC-based Bridget Moore, is also a key member of the team, combining his duties as managing partner with a vibrant fee-earning practice. All named practitioners are based in Houston unless otherwise indicated.

Boasting a strong background in trade secrets, breach of contract and product liability disputes, Baker Botts L.L.P.’s broad litigation practice spans the gamut of commercial disputes. Based in Houston, Danny David is a go to for high-stakes disputes, including class actions, political crises and investigations. Richard Harper in New York spearheads the team’s involvement in business tort and contractual disputes, regularly called upon by tech, media and entertainment clients. Houston-based Amy Hefley co-chairs the litigation department and leads the firm’s securities litigation team. Linda Martin joined the team in New York from Freshfields in April 2025.