Michael Murphy

Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.

Energy and Construction Litigation

• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of exploration and production company in breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets dispute arising from non-disclosure agreement.
• Successfully defended developer of solar power facility in litigation against municipality arising from the construction of a solar generation facility and alleged breaches of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
• Successfully defended global manufacturer in litigation arising from alleged breach of its obligations under Load Resource program governed by ERCOT.
• Represented multiple energy clients in disputes arising from Winter Storm Uri and related claims of force majeure.
• Advised global energy company in disputes over purchase and sale of renewable energy credits.
• Advised an exploration and production company in disputes involving a tribal lessor and regulator.
• Successfully defended a mining company in litigation involving valuation and ownership of mining interests.
• Defended a large midstream company successfully in a class action arising from a crude oil spill involving claims of strict liability for ultra-hazardous activity, violations of the Oil Pollution Act, trespass, negligence, negligence per se, public nuisance, continuing private nuisance, and a prayer for permanent injunction
• Obtained a favorable pre-suit settlement for the purchaser of a natural gas storage facility in a dispute involving alleged acquisition misrepresentations.
• Represented an exploration and production company in litigation arising from the loss of a well during completion operations.
• Advised a private equity portfolio company on litigation issues related to the acquisition of an international exploration and production company.
• Represented upstream and midstream companies in disputes involving the Texas Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act.
• Represented a midstream oil and gas company in personal injury disputes arising from a fire and explosion at a pump station.
• Obtained a favorable settlement for an EPC contractor in a dispute with a refinery owner arising from a refinery expansion project.
• Defended an engineering and construction firm in litigation arising from a refinery expansion.

Commercial Litigation

• Obtained favorable judgment on behalf of private equity firm following week-long bench trial over alleged breach of non-disclosure agreement.
• Defended a global pharmaceutical manufacturer in a commercial dispute with its U.S. distributor.
• Represented an industrial air supplier in multiple disputes arising from bulk purchase agreements.
• Defended a former light heavyweight boxing champion against a purported advisor in a contractual dispute.
• Defended a movie producer in a two-week jury trial involving breach of contract and business tort claims arising from a failed film venture.
• Obtained take-nothing summary judgment for an international automobile manufacturer in a suit alleging breach of contract and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and additionally, secured full recovery of attorneys’ fees following a jury trial.
• Obtained a take-nothing judgment in an AAA arbitration on behalf of an international automobile manufacturer facing breach of contract and Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act claims.
• Represented an international automobile manufacturer in administrative hearings before the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings.
• Represented a mechanical pump seal manufacturer in a copyright and trade secrets dispute involving alleged misappropriation of proprietary engineering drawings by a competitor.
• Defended the former chief executive of an offshore seismic company in a lawsuit alleging trade secret misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duty and related claims.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a media conglomerate and its subsidiary in a defamation action arising from a nationally televised broadcast.

Products Liability Litigation

• Served as national trial counsel for a global appliance manufacture in litigation arising from alleged occupational exposure to harmful chemicals.
• Served as lead Texas counsel for a global valve manufacturer, overseeing litigation involving hundreds of products liability matters.
• Served as lead counsel for a global plumbing distributor and retailer in asbestos litigation in Texas and New Mexico and obtained dismissal of all claims.
• Represented a leading pharmaceutical company as Texas counsel in diet drug litigation filed by plaintiffs opting out of a related class action.
• Defended a leading pharmaceutical company as Texas counsel in hormone replacement therapy litigation.
• Represented a global chemical supplier in litigation involving alleged exposure to benzene and butadiene.
• Served as lead Texas counsel for a luxury automobile manufacturer in multiple Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act cases.

Toxic Tort and Environmental Litigation

• Defended a sand mining company in litigation involving more than 2,000 plaintiffs arising from flooding during Hurricane Harvey.
• Defended pharmaceutical manufacturers in litigation stemming from prescription drug use.
• Represented oil and gas companies in lawsuits alleging occupational asbestos exposure in Texas multidistrict litigation.
• Defended a Fortune 100 oil and gas company in multiple lawsuits involving alleged exposure to benzene and related products.
• Defended clients in Texas multidistrict litigation involving allegations of harmful silica exposure.
• Defended a midstream oil and gas company against claims involving alleged exposure to hydrogen sulfide during workover operations and obtained non-suit of all claims prior to hearing on motion for summary judgment.
• Represented a chemical manufacturer in a mass action involving alleged underground storage tank leaks.

Pro Bono

• Co-led a trial team that obtained a permanent injunction on behalf of prisoners housed in a geriatric medical facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Obtained asylum for a client from India based on religious persecution.
• Represented as first-chair trial attorney in an adult day care center in administrative licensure proceedings before the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings.
• Tried more than 15 jury trials to verdict as a volunteer prosecutor for the City of Houston.
• Represented pro bono clients in family law matters through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program.