Chris serves as Head of Vinson & Elkins’ Complex Commercial Litigation practice and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Chris is a trial lawyer who practices before courts and arbitration panels across the United States. He has tried and litigated a range of commercial cases involving merger disputes, environmental matters, antitrust, corporate governance, intellectual property, tax, constitutional rights, Internet media, class actions, and other commercial matters. He has earned recognition for his practice from leading legal publications, including Chambers USA, Legal 500, Lawdragon, and Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers.
Experience
(Tex.) – Obtained 8-0 ruling that local taxing unit did not have statutory authority to retain private attorney on contingent fee to pursue a taxpayer for an alleged $60 million in unpaid property taxes
(La. Dist. – Orleans Parish) — Secured $125 million judgment following a jury verdict for Huntsman Corporation in its contract dispute with gas supplier, Praxair, Inc.
(W.D. Tex.) — Defended a Fortune 500 company against federal and state antitrust claims involving the allergy testing and allergy immunotherapy markets
(AAA Arbitration) — Represented an international oil and gas production and exploration company in an arbitration related to an indemnity dispute arising from extensive property damage caused by a collapsed well
(AAA Arbitration) — Obtained a $15.6 million (net) arbitration award for a global biotechnology tools company against a major competitor in connection with a breach of a licensing agreement involving DNA-based identity testing; we were lead trial lawyers
(U.S.); (5th Cir.); (W.D. Tex.) — Obtained the complete dismissal of a landmark suit filed against a social networking website involving a sexual assault committed against one of its users; successfully defended the trial court’s dismissal in the Fifth Circuit and United States Supreme Court
(AAA Arbitration) — Obtained complete defense award on behalf of a global biotechnology tools company in a $300 million dispute involving a shareholder dispute over earnout provisions in a merger agreement
(AAA Arbitration) – Won a complete defense award for the owner of a midstream bulk liquids terminal after a two-and-a-half week arbitration against the former operator of the terminal; the operator sought $27 million in lost profits damages, plus attorneys’ fees, after our client terminated its contract for performance issues. The operator recovered nothing on its claims, and was ordered to pay damages our client incurred in connection with the operator’s performance.
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Obtained seven figure (net) settlement for an international temporary staffing company in a breach of contract and tortious interference suit against a local IT-infrastructure contractor
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Assisted in obtaining the dismissal of a multimillion dollar shareholder dilution case on behalf of an independent offshore oil and gas company
(W.D. Tex.) — Obtained declaratory and injunctive relief against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission prohibiting it from enforcing statutes which prohibited out-of-state entities from operating as wholesalers in Texas (second chair)
(AAA Arbitration) — Obtained a settlement on behalf of a silicon gas manufacturer in a breach of contract dispute with a major competitor (monetary damages)
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Obtained a fraud verdict against the former officers and directors of a heavy equipment company in connection with the sale of the company’s assets through a merger (monetary damages) (second chair)
(Tex. Dist. – Orange Cnty.) – Defending private equity sponsor of a chemical company in an MDL involving a plant explosion
(E.D. La.; W.D. La.) — Defending an international mining company against environmental claims brought by the state of Louisiana involving the erosion of the Louisiana coast
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Obtained favorable settlement and assignment of patent rights for a global oilfield services company in a theft of trade secret dispute
(Tex. Dist. − Harris Cnty.) — Obtained a temporary restraining order and favorable settlement on behalf of an international oilfield services company in connection with a former employee’s theft of trade secrets
(AAA Arbitration) — Defeated certification and obtained a favorable settlement in a class action filed by certain limited partners against management of gas compression services company for alleged mismanagement and failure to pay tax distributions
(D.N.M.) — Defeated certification of a nationwide class action filed against an insurance company involving the proper calculation and payment of lost wage claims (second chair)
(S.D. Miss.) — Won complete dismissal for an e-commerce retailer in a suit involving the alleged sale of recalled products by third parties on website
(Tex. Dist. − Bexar Cnty.) — Assisted in obtaining the complete dismissal of a suit filed against an on-line dating service which sought to hold the dating service responsible for a sexual assault committed against one of its subscribers (second chair)
“Protecting the In-House Attorney Client Privilege,” Texas State Bar Conference, June 14, 2012 (co-presenter with Jennifer Poppe)
“How to Ethically and Efficiently Manage Litigation Costs,” Corporate Counsel Section of the State Bar of Texas, November 2011 and May 2012 (co-presenter)
“How to Respond to Cease and Desist Letters in the Patent and Trade Secret Context,” University of Texas Corporate Counsel Institute, April 2012 (co-author with Chris Ryan)
“U.S. Supreme Court Goes Back to Basic on Materiality Under Federal Securities Laws,” V&E Securities Litigation and Enforcement E-communication, April 5, 2011 (co-author with David Woodcock)
“The Practical Implications of Twombly, Iqbal, and the New Federal Pleadings Standards,” Texas State Bar’s 33rd Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course, October 20, 2010 (presenter)
Recognitions
Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial (Houston), 2022–2026
Legal 500 U.S., Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas, 2018 and 2023; Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2022–2026; Dispute Resolution: Securities Litigation: Defense, 2024, Dispute Resolution: M&A Litigation: Defense, 2024; Energy Litigation: Electric Power, 2026
Selected to the 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon, 2023−2026
Selected to the 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, 2022–2026
Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023–2026
Selected to the 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2025 and 2026
Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2020–2025
Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2005, 2008–2016
This presentation surveyed the rapidly expanding landscape of data center disputes, highlighting the breadth of litigation already underway and the emerging risks on the horizon.
In the first quarter of 2026, the Texas Business Court continued to make progress through the ever-growing number of lawsuits appearing on its dockets.
In the final quarter of 2025, the Texas Business Court closed its first calendar year of operation with a full slate of notable opinions. The Business Court continued to release opinions clarifying its jurisdiction, including on removal requirements and recent changes enacted by House Bill 40.
The Legal 500 US 2025 recommended Vinson & Elkins as a leading law firm in 43 practice categories. In total, 133 attorneys are recognized, many in more than one category. Vinson & Elkins attorneys earned multiple special designations, such as “Leading Trial Lawyer,’ “Hall of Fame,” “Leading Partner,” “Next Generation Partner,” and “Leading Associate.”
Please note that any communication with Vinson & Elkins via e-mail through this website does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship with V&E. Please do not send any confidential information. A conflicts-of-interest procedure must be completed by V&E prior to establishment of an attorney-client relationship. When you execute an engagement letter from V&E you will be our client, and you may then exchange information freely with a V&E attorney.
By clicking “Accept,” you agree that we may review any information you transmit to us. You recognize that our review of your information, even if it is highly confidential and even if it is transmitted in a good faith effort to retain us, does not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter where that information could and will be used against you.