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James Leader, Jr.
James Leader, Jr.
Partner — Commercial & Business Litigation
E: jleader@velaw.com T: +1.713.758.3242
VCard BIO PDF
Partner — Commercial & Business Litigation

James Leader, Jr.

James Leader, Jr.
Houston
T: +1.713.758.3242
F: +1.713.615.5047

Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002

E: jleader@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
James Leader, Jr.

James is a litigator whose practice centers around business disputes between commercial parties.  While the subject matter, forum, and industry focus of these disputes vary greatly, James specializes in untangling complex cases for the judge, jury, or arbitrator and meeting challenges with efficient, creative problem solving.

In recent years, James has represented an arbitration respondent in successfully enforcing important consent rights in a multi-billion dollar infrastructure project and developed a challenge to the legality of a governmental entity’s contingent fee arrangement with a private attorney that ended in an 8-0 victory before the Supreme Court of Texas.  James has also served as lead counsel in representing private equity clients in addressing post-closing disputes and representations and warranties claims well as other matters before Texas state courts.  James has litigated and arbitrated a range of commercial cases involving constitutional rights, antitrust, merger disputes, tax issues, trade secrets, and numerous corporate governance and fiduciary duty claims.

James served on the board of the Houston Bar Association’s pro bono services organization (HVL) from 2019 through 2025 and now serves on the Executive Committee of the Houston Ballet’s Board of Trustees. At the firm, James is the Talent Lead for the Complex Commercial Litigation group’s Houston office and as the Houston Hiring Lead for the University of Texas School of Law.

Commercial & Business Litigation

  • (AAA Arbitration) – Represented large investment fund in a week-long arbitration hearing related to a minority owner’s consent and payment rights related to the expansion of a large export facility; presented and cross-examined fact and expert witnesses on finance concepts and contract formation issues

  • (Harris Cnty.) – Defended a sports entertainment organization in trade secrets case brought by an individual, resulting in a walk-away settlement just before a motion to dismiss hearing

  • (JAMS Arbitration)  Represented an e-commerce solutions provider in dispute related to a long-term, exclusive contract

  • Represented an equipment manufacturer in connection with a post-merger dispute arising from alleged breaches of representations and warranties

  • Involved in multiple state and federal court matters related to director and officer fiduciary duties, involving both Texas and Delaware law

  • (Harris Cnty.) — Briefed and argued a summary judgment motion enforcing a liquidated damages provision in an installment contract; ultimate resolution included a substantial payment of attorney’s fees

  • Represented a private equity firm in connection with threatened litigation from minority owner of a portfolio company sold pursuant to a “drag right” provision

  • (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; managed discovery efforts, deposed fact and expert witnesses, and presented and cross examined witnesses at hearing

  • (W.D. Tex.) – Representing physician and his practice in case involving antitrust claims brought by hospital and physicians group; district court awarded summary judgment, dismissing all claims

  • (D.D.C.) – Representing several large shippers in the Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation (No. II), an MDL alleging that major railroads conspired to adopt fuel surcharges

  • (S.D. Tex.) — Defended a large global steel distributor in a six-week jury trial of claims that steel distributors and steel mills conspired to boycott new entrant in the market 

  • (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

  • (W.D. Tex.); (5th Cir.) — Took a lead role in preparing briefs that maintained an injunction that prevented the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission from enforcing unconstitutional state statutes; also took primary role in briefing before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals where the district court order was affirmed

  • (10th Cir.) — Prepared Respondent’s brief in support of district court’s decision that turned on the citizenship of a master limited partnership; District court decision affirmed by the Tenth Circuit

Credentials

  • The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 2012
  • Georgetown University, B.A., History (Honors) and Political Economy cum laude, 2009
  • Legal 500 U.S., Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Ones to Watch,” (Houston): Commercial Litigation, 2021–2025; Criminal Defense: White–Collar, 2022; Antitrust Law, 2023–2025
  • Global Investigations Review (GIR) 30, 2024
  • Chair of the HBA Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section (2017–2018)
  • Texas
  • Southern District of Texas
  • Western District of Texas
  • Fifth and Tenth U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal
  • “Tenth Circuit’s Grynberg Decision Gives Clarity in Determining Citizenship of MLPs,” V&E Energy Series E-communication, November 9, 2015 (co-author)

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