William Maines

Work Highlights

• Represented multinational industrial gas supplier in litigation arising from disruption of electricity markets following extended power outages in Texas.

• Represented premier medical school and research center in multiple commercial disputes, first amendment cases, issues relating to scientific research, securities, and real estate.

• Represented Texas-based energy company seeking $30 million in damages in claim arising from construction of offshore production facility (London Court of International Arbitration).

• Represented Texas-based energy company and subrogated insurers seeking $30 million in damages in products liability claim arising from blow-out in offshore well.

• Represented London-based energy insurance underwriters in claim for over $100 million in damages arising from Energy Package Policy.

• Trial counsel for insurance underwriters in claim arising from destruction of offshore oil and gas facilities; plaintiff sought damages of $30 million; jury awarded $9.5 million following six-week jury trial.

• Trial counsel for world-scale petrochemical manufacturer and supplier in claim against buyer for breach of open price term contract to purchase polystyrene; buyer asserted counterclaims for price discrimination under state and federal law antitrust laws, breach of the UCC’s duty of good faith and fraud, and sought over $5 million in damages; following a two week jury trial, obtained jury verdict in favor of supplier and against buyer on all claims.

• Trial counsel for CEO of energy company accused of breaching oral partnership agreement to form private equity fund; following jury trial in which plaintiff sought $7.3 million in damages, obtained take nothing judgment in defendant’s favor; affirmed on appeal.

• Trial counsel for senior executive in claims against former employer for value of equity stake in multiple limited partnerships organized by private equity firm; parallel litigation filed by partnerships against executive in Delaware Chancery Court; confidential resolution following arbitration hearing.

• Trial counsel for United States and European insurance underwriters in claims arising from Energy Package Policy; plaintiff sought $500 million in damages; lawsuit settled after one week of trial.

• Represented energy company in products liability action against firing head manufacturer and oilfield service provider in claim arising from destruction of oil and gas well resulting in $30 million in damages; confidential settlement following extensive discovery and motion practice.

• Trial counsel for oilfield service provider supplying flowback services that allegedly destroyed independent energy company’s oil and gas well; energy company sought $16 million in damages reflecting attempted restoration and redrill costs; confidential settlement following extensive discovery and motion practice.

• Represented directors of upstream master limited partnership in merger and acquisition litigation; plaintiff sought injunctive relief and attorney’s fees.

• Trial counsel for onshore drilling company accused of destroying oil and gas well; plaintiff sought over $10 million in damages; two-week trial resulted in mixed jury verdict; court of appeals entered take-nothing judgment on plaintiff’s claims and rendered judgment in favor of defendant-client on counter-claim.

• Trial counsel for London-based insurance underwriters in lawsuit filed by independent energy company against underwriters and brokers; energy company alleged underwriters breached energy package policy and violated statutory and common law duties of good faith and fair dealing by refusing to cover all of the company’s damages following a hurricane and sought over $30 million in damages; confidential settlement following three week jury trial.

• Trial counsel for non-profit hospital system in antitrust lawsuit filed by for-profit acute-care hospital that went out of business; plaintiff alleged hospital system engaged in conspiracy to cause health insurers to refuse to deal with plaintiff; plaintiff sought damages exceeding $100 million; confidential settlement following jury selection.

Practice Areas

Litigation and arbitration arising from commercial transactions, biotech and life sciences, electricity markets, energy insurance and subrogation, and professional and fiduciary relationships.

Career

Mr. Maines began his career serving as a law clerk on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He has extensive first chair trial experience representing litigants in state and federal court and domestic and international arbitrations. He represents and advises energy and industrial companies, a world-class medical school and research center, energy insurance underwriting syndicates, and lawyers and law firms. Prior to joining Hall Maines Lugrin, he was a partner with Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP.

Awards/Rankings

• Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, 1997-present

• Chambers USA, Commercial Litigation

• Texas Super Lawyers, Top 100 in Houston, 2014-2024, Thomson Reuters

• 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers

• Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation 2008-2023, Antitrust 2011-2023, Securities 2011-2023, Insurance 2017-2023; Lawyer of the Year in Houston, Antitrust Litigation, 2022

• AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association

• State Bar of Texas

• American Board of Trial Advocates, Associate

• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

• Houston Bar Foundation, Fellow

Expert in these Jurisdictions

• Texas

• U.S. Supreme Court

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Federal Circuits

• U.S. District Courts of Texas (all districts)

Education