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William A. Harrison

Senior Counsel
fax +1 832.397.3530

William A. Harrison is a litigator with extensive first chair experience in a broad range of contract, tort, commercial and intellectual property matters that includes trials, appeals, mediations and arbitrations.

His engineering background lends itself to the efficient handling of complex and technically demanding matters in the Energy, Marine, Manufacturing and Financial Services industries in which he principally practices. In more recent years, his practice includes the negotiation, structuring and drafting of agreements and insurance provisions required by clients to manage the liabilities and risks involved in these industries.

Education

LL.B., University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1967
B.S., University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 1964, Engineering

Memberships

Texas Bar Association, Member

Houston Bar Association, Member

Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Member

Maritime Law Association of the United States, Member

Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Member

University of Houston Executive MBA Program, Adjunct Professor of Business Law (2010-present)

South Texas College of Law, Adjunct Professor ofInsurance Law (1973-75)

State Bar Licenses

Texas

Court Admissions

U.S. District Ct., S.D. of Texas
U.S. District Ct., E.D. of Texas
U.S. District Ct., W.D. of Texas
U.S. District Ct., E.D. of Louisiana
U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit

Experience

  • BASF v. Missouri Fuel Recyclers (MFR), Inc., 2009. Lead counsel for MFR’s interests in $37 million loss to BASF’s Freeport, Texas plant resulting from catastrophic explosion of cyclohexanone oxime. Multiple suits in federal court in Missouri and Brazoria County, Texas; settled for nuisance value on eve of trial.
  • Ice Brothers, Inc. v. Enstor, Inc. Lead counsel for Plaintiffs’ mineral interests in $52 million suit in 2006 Pecos County, TX for damage to Plaintiffs’ oil and gas wells resulting from negligent fracing by Defendants during construction of gas storage facilities. Case settled after TRRC hearings before trial.
  • PetrEX International, Inc. v. Petroleum Extension Service, USDC, SD Tx, Hou. Div., 2005. Lead counsel seeking declaratory judgment of no infringement on federal and common law trademarks claimed by defendant who threatened suit. Case settled after temporary injunction hearing.
  • Sterling Chemicals, Inc. v. Praxair, Inc. f/k/a Union Carbide, 2004. Lead trial counsel in two week jury trial in Galveston County, Texas involving more than $8.5 million contract claim for defective design and construction of industrial gas plant. Verdict for Plaintiff client plus attorney’s fees.
  • Lubrication System Company v. Alemite, 2001. Lead counsel in U.S. Patent infringement suit regarding computerized oil mist lubrication systems in refineries in suit in USDC, SDTX Case successfully settled after Markman Hearing.
  • Hilda Bayardo, et al. v. Occidental Chemical Corp. Nueces County, Texas St. Ct. Class action toxic gas (butadiene) release in Robstown, Texas involving approx. 8,700 claimants. Eight week trial with subsequent appeals. Cases successfully settled for $200 million less than Plaintiffs’ “final trial demand.”
  • Southampton Refining Co. v. Stennis Corp.AG. and UPD. Lead trial counsel in a 4 week jury trial in USDC, EDTX re. breach of refinery production contract and business interruption case. Favorable jury verdict for client, affirmed as to client by 5th Cir. Court of Appeals .
  • L.D. Harris v. Allis Chalmers Corp. Lead trial counsel in one week bench trial in USDC,SDTX in a maritime products liability suit re. spinal cord injury (paraplegic). Judgment for client Defendant.nGetty Oil Company v. Sharp Drilling Co. Lead trial counsel in two week jury trial in Pecos,Texas federal court, concerning a $10,000,000+ gas well blowout and rig loss due to BOP failure.
  • Don Giller and Chris Cooper, Deceased, et al. v. American Exploration Company. Counsel for lead defendant in gas explosion in West Texas hunting cabin supplied with casing head gas from adjacent well head, two burn deaths and one survivor. suits filed in Harris, Dallas, Travis, and Sutton counties as well as USDC, EDTX with settlement after case fully development and three separate mediations.
  • Porous Media, Ltd. v. Perry Equipment Co., USDC, SDTX, 2003. Federal Lanham Act claim against client for multi-million dollar loss of profits and sales of natural gas production filters for alleged false statements under the. Jury verdict for client, affirmed on appeal.
  • Enduro Systems d/b/a Velcon v. Specialty Equipment Conveyor Co., 2001. Lead counsel for defendant in patent infringement case filed in USDC, SDTX involving computer controlled drum fillers for chemical industry. Successfully settled at mediation after depositions taken.nEGP Fuels (Enron) v. Anthony Crane Rentals. Lead counsel for plaintiff in suit for physical damages and business interruption losses in excess of $12 million due to damage and defective repair of catalyst screens in client’s MTBE plant. Successfully settled on eve of trial.
  • Chevron v. B.J. Hughes. Counsel for plaintiff oil company in suit US Dist.Ct, SDLA for damages re. well loss and underground blowout on H2S well where elevators catastrophically failed during well control efforts on rig offshore Mississippi due to metallurgical defects. Claim of approximately $130 million ultimately settled for $72 million.