Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP

Shipley Snell Montgomery is a “highly regarded litigation boutique” known for expert representation in a wide range of energy sector disputes. The firm can advise on many areas including commercial, environmental, and personal injury cases. The team is often sought out for its strengths in trials.

As noted by clients, "Shipley Snell Montgomery has very talented lawyers from top to bottom. They're strategic thinkers who are excellent at assessing litigation risks and enabling businesspeople to reach reasoned judgments."

Main Areas of Practice: 

• Complex Litigation & Appeals: The firm's attorneys have prosecuted and defended lawsuits in trial and appellate courts nationally, with an outstanding record of decisions in their clients’ favor.
• Domestic & International Arbitration: Shipley Snell Montgomery has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients in a wide variety of arbitration venues.
• Business, Contractual, Partnership & Joint Venture Disputes: Shipley Snell Montgomery successfully navigates, untangles, and defends businesses in contract, partnership, and joint venture disputes.
• Environmental & Natural Resources: The firm's attorneys have developed a detailed understanding of the law, the regulations, and the science that promotes their clients’ success in environmental disputes.
• Trade Secrets, Unfair Competition & Intellectual Property: The firm achieves success based on the legal issues and underlying business ramifications in trade secret and intellectual property disputes.
• Construction & Projects: Clients depend upon the firm's deep knowledge of their legal and business issues for the successful resolution of construction and project disputes.
• Risk Analysis & Advice: The firm's litigation experience and industry knowledge help clients discover key facts, evaluate risks, and avoid litigation or enforcement actions.

Representative Matters: 

1. Shipley Snell Montgomery Secures $70 Million Judgment For Client In Indemnity Dispute: In May 2023, Shipley Snell Montgomery won a judgment in excess of $70 million following an eight-day jury trial in Galveston County, Texas. The judgment in favor of Marathon Petroleum Company LP arose from contractual indemnity claims against an industrial contractor.
2. Client Recovers $20 Million In Damages Resulting From A Ship Collision And Oil Spill: Shipley Snell Montgomery represented Kirby Inland Marine, LP in an Oil Pollution Act and maritime lawsuit arising from a collision and petroleum spill in the Houston Ship Channel. After a bench trial, the court held that Kirby had no fault for the collision. Kirby recovered $20 million in vessel damages and clean-up costs.
3. International Joint Venture Wins Multiple Multijurisdictional Suits Against Major Engineering, Procurement, And Construction Contractor: Rome, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) were the venues for this multijurisdictional lawsuit resolved favorably by Shipley Snell Montgomery for its client. Shipley Snell Montgomery represented HOVENSA LLC, a joint venture between subsidiaries of Hess Oil Corporation and Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), in multiple lawsuits against a large international EPC contractor.
4. Petrochemical Client Successfully Resolves International “Bet-The-Venture” Arbitration: Shipley Snell Montgomery represented an international petrochemical company in a complex international commercial arbitration conducted under the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration of Business Disputes.
5. Client Saves $9.6 Million In AAA Arbitration Of Contract Dispute Regarding Natural Gas Plant Re-Firing: Shipley Snell Montgomery represented a power generation facility owner in an AAA arbitration arising from an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contract dispute for the re-firing of a natural gas power plant.
6. Shipley Snell Montgomery Successfully Represents Joint Venture Partner In Valuation Dispute: Shipley Snell Montgomery represented POSM II Properties Partnership, LP, a joint venture partner owned by LyondellBasell Industries N.V., in a valuation dispute with its joint venture partner BASF Corp.
7. Multiple Plaintiffs And Defendants In Louisiana Environmental Cases Require Significant Untangling And Customized Strategies: For several years, Shipley Snell Montgomery has defended a Houston-based pipeline and electric utility in a number of environmental cases filed in Louisiana. Shipley Snell Montgomery has assisted its client in successfully resolving these complex cases, including one case with more than 500 plaintiffs.
8. In A Major Hurricane Ike Claim By Commercial Construction Client, Shipley Snell Montgomery Defeats Insurance Company’s Efforts To Deny Coverage And Bury The Case In High-Volume Discovery: Shipley Snell Montgomery represented a prominent commercial construction firm in a dispute with its builder’s risk insurance carrier over coverage for extensive damages caused by Hurricane Ike.

Industries Served: 

• Energy & Utilities
• Chemicals & Petrochemicals
• Construction & Engineering
• Financial Services & Securities
• Professional Services & Consulting
• Technology & Manufacturing

Office Location & Contact Information:

Address: 717 Texas Ave., Suite 1800 | Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713.652.5920

Email: [email protected]