Gibbs & Bruns LLP > Houston, United States > Firm Profile

Gibbs & Bruns LLP
1100 LOUISIANA
SUITE 5300
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
TEXAS
United States

Email firm Visit website 1 713 650 8805 1 713 750 0903

Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas Tier 1

Houston-based Gibbs & Bruns LLP offers a boutique litigation practice which consistently handles complex business and commercial litigation in the energy sector, where it represents major energy industry companies on a variety of contentious matters, including oil and gas contract and royalties disputes as well as force majeure disputes. Long-standing experience in high-end commercial litigation matters, founding partner Robin Gibbs

commands the practice together with litigation expert Kathy Patrick

, noted for her prowess in environmental and energy litigation, and Barrett Reasoner, also well-versed in energy litigation proceedings. Other names to note include force majeure disputes specialist Brian Ross, and oil and gas litigation experts Mark Giugliano and Sam Cruse.

Leading lawyers

Brian Ross – Gibbs & Bruns LLP

Hall of Fame

Robin Gibbs

– Gibbs & Bruns LLP

Practice head(s):

Robin Gibbs; Kathy Patrick; Barret Reasoner

Other key lawyers:

Brian Ross; Mark Giugliano; Sam Cruse

Key clients

Occidental Petroleum

Lone Star Production Company

Waterbridge Operating LLC

Pioneer Natural Resources

Workrise

Quantum Energy Partners

Patriot Natural Gas LLC

Mesquite Energy

Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP

Hi-Crush Inc.

Kinder Morgan

Berry Global

Chevron Pipeline Company

GR Lift

Tanos Exploration

Phillips 66

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

Jonah Energy

Work highlights

Represented Patriot Natural Gas LLC in a breach of contract and fraud case involving a terminated $115 million purchase agreement.
Represented WaterBridge Resources in a $90 million trade secret and patent defense matter involving SCADA – Systems for Water Disposal Facilities.

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 2

Kathy Patrick

at Gibbs & Bruns LLP in Houston continues to be involved in ongoing high-profile cases such as a high value alleged damages case in an antitrust matter against Visa and Mastercard as well as being ongoing counsel for Occidental in which a court ordered a supplemental summary judgment in June 2023. Patrick regularly represents Occidental in high profile matters, an indication of her ability to represent large corporates. Patrick’s workload, though, displays a wide range of cases, which include large environmental harm cases and securities litigation.Robin Gibbs

in Houston, who founded litigation boutique Gibbs & Bruns LLP, is well versed in trials, handling an array of commercial disputes in a variety of sectors. In 2023, he was one of the team at the firm who acted as the lead counsel for Trustmark National Bank in a billion-dollar putative class action which settled in May 2023. Gibbs is also active in the energy sector, and oil and gas in particular.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3

Litigation boutique Gibbs & Bruns LLP handles both plaintiff and defense-side work across the banking, energy, technology, and financial services sectors, among others. Three attorneys jointly head up the practice out of Houston: Founding partner and experienced trial lawyer Robin Gibbs

is well-versed in the full gamut of commercial disputes, including contract, energy, oil and gas, antitrust and trade secret issues, among many others. Fellow co-chairs Kathy Patrick and Barrett Reasoner are also important points of contact for high-end commercial disputes and energy litigation, respectively.

Practice head(s):

Robin Gibbs; Kathy Patrick; Barrett Reasoner

Other key lawyers:

David Sheeren; Brian Ross; Sam Cruse; Ayesha Najam; Mark Giugliano; Andi Gulley; Ashley Kleber; Mike Absmeier; Anthony Kaim

Work highlights

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: plaintiff Tier 3

Gibbs & Bruns LLP in Houston continues to handle cases related to mortgage-backed securities (MBS), the area in which it made its presence felt in the securities litigation market. Key partner David Sheeren recently won significant victories for PIMCO in cases concerning the calculation of termination prices owed in “clean-up calls” for legacy RMBS trusts, with more than $100m at stake. Also on behalf of PIMCO, Sheeren also secured a $242m settlement of RMBS claims with First Franklin and Bank of America. Standout partner Kathy Patrick

, who has a stellar track record in high-stakes matters, secured $40m for key client Occidental Petroleum Corp. and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. in breach of contract litigation against Wells Fargo concerning the sale of Occidental shares. Partner Sam Cruse remains a prominent advisor to clients in the financial services and energy sectors. Cruse worked closely with Patrick on the $800m Libor suit against nine banks on behalf of Fannie Mae arising from alleged manipulation of bank borrowing rates.

Leading lawyers

David Sheeren – Gibbs & Bruns LLP

Hall of Fame

Kathy Patrick – Gibbs & Bruns LLP

Practice head(s):

David Sheeren; Kathy Patrick

Other key lawyers:

Sam Cruse

Key clients

BlackRock, Inc.

Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO)

Trustmark National Bank

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM)

Fannie Mae

The TCW Group, Inc.

Kore Advisors LP

BlackRock Financial Management

MetLife

Work highlights

Victories in Two Precedent-Setting Matters for PIMCO in California and New York. As lead counsel for PIMCO, the firm obtained victories in two precedent-setting matters in California and New York concerning the calculation of termination prices owed in “clean-up calls” for legacy RMBS trusts, with over $100 million at stake.
Acting as lead counsel for TCW and PIMCO, the firm obtained and achieved court approval of two RMBS settlements totaling $249 million, following a June 2023 trial in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Also obtained and act as lead trial counsel in a related $88 million settlement for TCW and PIMCO, which was tried in October 2023 and remains pending.
Representing the Federal National Mortgage Association in litigation involving the suppression of Libor. Fannie Mae brought claims against major financial institutions, including Bank of America, Credit Suisse, and others. Fannie Mae has secured significant, confidential settlements with four defendants. Fannie Mae continues to pursue claims against its remaining defendants.

Gibbs & Bruns lawyers are trial lawyers who know courtrooms and courtroom success:

We have recovered more than $23 billion in damages for our plaintiff clients in trials and arbitrations.
We have defeated claims for hundreds of millions of dollars as defense counsel in trials and arbitrations.

Our litigation boutique is engaged exclusively in high-stakes litigation. The firm is acclaimed for its high-value and precedent-setting work across the banking, energy, technology, and financial services sectors, among others. Exceedingly rare for a litigation firm, we routinely practice on both sides of the docket. With both plaintiff and defense experience, we bring a higher level of insight and strategy to complex disputes. Our lawyers excel in creative approaches to disputes in the context of dynamic and ever-changing industry landscapes.

Creative, resourceful, committed, responsive, talented across the board.
A pleasure to work with.
– The Legal 500 US

As top-flight as it gets. A boutique staffed with outstanding lawyers.
An excellent high-stakes litigation firm – top-notch across the board.
– Chambers USA

Founded by Robin Gibbs, named “Father of the Litigation Boutique in Texas” by The Texas Lawbook, the firm sustains a forward-thinking culture of creativity and a personal approach to managing its client matters. Reciprocity is at the core of all the firm’s client engagements. Risk sharing with clients and innovative fee arrangements are a hallmark of Gibbs & Bruns’ practice. The firm’s 40-year track record of successes for clients (since 1983) attests to the talents, creativity, and dedication of the firm’s trial lawyers.

Recent results demonstrate the significance of our firm’s impact on the nationwide litigation scene:

$8.5 Billion Countrywide RMBS Precedent–Setting Settlement Obtained for 22 Institutional Investor Clients (2015)
$7 Billion Allowed Claim – ResCap Bankruptcy Settlement with 17 Institutional Investors (2013)
$4.5 Billion Settlement with JPMorgan on Behalf of 21 Institutional Investors (2013)
$2.4 Billion Settlement with Lehman Brothers on Behalf of 14 Institutional Investors (2017)
$1.7 Billion Net Settlement Package for Huntsman; including $1.1 billion in financing and $632 million in cash, the largest cash settlement payment ever recovered with respect to a busted LBO (2009)
$1.13 Billion Settlement with Citigroup on Behalf of 18 Institutional Investors (2014)
$1 Billion Take Nothing Arbitration Win for Energy Major (2023)
$1 Billion in Total Recoveries for Clients, Including $400 Million Settlement with Credit Suisse – National Century Financial Enterprises (NCFE) Securities Litigation (2013)
Major Defense Win in Multi-Billion Dollar Environmental Trial for Waste Management; settlement was less than one percent of the government’s demand (2014)
Total Victory for Institutional Investors PIMCO, Blackrock and Others in $266 Million RMBS IO Payment Dispute (2022)
$242 Million Settlement of RMBS Claims with First Franklin Corporation & Bank of America Parties (2022)
$196 Million Judgment Win for Plaintiff Client D. Bobbitt Noel Jr. against Devon Energy (2011)
$115 Million Settlement for Plaintiff Client Enterprise Products in Massive Engineering/Construction Suit Involving $1 Billion+ in Cost Overruns (2022)
Summary Judgment Win for Private Client in $100 Million Breach of Fiduciary Duty Suit (2023)
$100 Million Value Arbitration Award for Venoco against Denbury Onshore (2014)
$56 Million Take-Nothing Success for Natural Resource Partners (2019)
Take Nothing Judgment for Private Client in $40 Million Trade Secrets Dispute (2021)
Major Summary Judgment Win for Oxy in $40 Million Securities Dispute with Wells Fargo (2023)
$37.2 Million Recovery for Client Against the Port of Houston (Verdict 2010, Finalized 2017)
$35 Million in Settlements for ERG re: Contract Dispute in the Republic of Columbia (2017)
$12.4 Million Judgment for Private Client in Dispute with EnVen Energy Corp. (2021)
$5.65 Million in Damages Awarded in Trial Win for U.S. Pipeline (2018, Affirmed by Nebraska Supreme Court 2019)
$4.58 Million Jury Verdict for Plaintiff Client SourceGas in Dispute against Noble Energy (2011)
Successful resolution of seven-year dispute for Chevron re the transfer of its responsibility for massive future dismantling and restoration costs of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline; the firm succeeded on each aspect of the legal disputes involved in this matter (2019)

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Co-Managing Partner	Mike Absmeier	mabsmeier@gibbsbruns.com	+1.713.751.5235
Co-Managing Partner	Ashley Kleber	akleber@gibbsbruns.com	+1.713.751.5225
Founding Partner	Robin Gibbs	rgibbs@gibbsbruns.com	+1.713.751.5217
Senior Partner	Kathy Patrick	kpatrick@gibbsbruns.com	+1.713.751.5253
Senior Partner	Barrett Reasoner	breasoner@gibbsbruns.com	+1.713.751.5244

Name	Position	Profile
Mr Michael Absmeier	Co-Managing Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Sam W. Cruse, III	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Ms Denise Lambert Drake	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Robin Gibbs	Founding Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Mark Giugliano	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Ms Aundrea (Andi) Gulley	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Jorge Gutierrez, Jr.	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Anthony Kaim	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Gabriel Kaim	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Ms Ashley Kleber	Co-Managing Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Ross MacDonald	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Ms Ayesha Najam	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Ms Kathy Patrick	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Barrett Reasoner	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Brian Ross	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Charles Rosson	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr David Sheeren	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile
Mr Brice Wilkinson	Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP	View Profile