George Shipley

Principal

Direct  713 652 3045
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The Facts

• J.D. with Honors, Baylor University School of Law, 1982

• B.A. magna cum laude, Baylor University, 1979

• Chambers and Partners Band 1, Texas Trial Lawyers

• American Board of Trial Advocates

• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Biography

What clients say, according to Chambers and Partners:

“George Shipley is a superb lawyer.” Chambers USA, 2021

“He is one of those superior lawyers that you run into every generation or so. He brings that magic to cases.” Chambers USA, 2021

“He is smart, prepared and viewed as having the highest level of ethics. He is incredibly persuasive on his feet with great insight into legal issues and problems.” Chambers USA, 2021

“He is the total package and the real deal.” Chambers USA, 2021

In his 40 years as a trial lawyer, George has become a trusted ally to businesses and individuals both in the U.S. and abroad. His record of successful trials, arbitrations, and appeals cuts across numerous industries and types of cases including: energy, oil and gas, securities litigation, patent litigation, insurance, construction, maritime, contracts, and business torts. George co-founded Shipley Snell Montgomery in 2006 with the goal of creating a firm that offers clients the advantages that years of big-firm experience can provide but in an alternative format, with the kind of efficiency and tailored service that many clients – including most Fortune 500 companies – now seek. The common threads of George’s practice are exemplary results, enduring relationships he builds with clients, and the respect of his adversaries.

George has handled cases and argued appeals before state and federal courts, including courts in Texas, New York, Delaware, California, New Jersey, Alabama, Virginia, Louisiana, Utah, Oklahoma, Missouri, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He has represented clients in numerous domestic and international arbitrations including ad hoc proceedings and proceedings administered by the ICC, ICDR, AAA, FINRA, CPR, and JAMS. He has served as an arbitrator in energy, oil and gas, and construction disputes.

Selected Matters

• Brought in as co-counsel for plaintiffs shortly before the trial of a patent infringement case, George partnered with the existing team of patent lawyers in Delaware federal court and helped achieve a $125 million settlement.

• Represented an international petrochemical company in AAA arbitration that involved complex accounting, non-competition, and contractual issues arising from a 50-year joint venture. George obtained a judgment of $120 million on his client’s counterclaim and a take-nothing award on the claims against his client which exceeded $200 million.

• Defended a petrochemical company accused of breaching a 99-year contract in which damages were alleged to be over $600 million. The case was settled on favorable terms.

• Currently representing (as co-counsel) an energy company in a securities putative class action proceeding in the Southern District of Texas.

• Currently defending a major energy company in royalty litigation.

• Successfully tried, to conclusion, two ship collision/oil spill cases involving thousands of OPA claims and cleanup costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

• Represented a private equity firm specializing in energy sector buyout investments in successfully resolving a series of disputes arising out of the redevelopment of electric generation facilities in south Texas.

• Represented a general contractor in an insurance coverage dispute arising out of damages caused by Hurricane Ike.

• Represented several entities of an electric and natural gas distribution utility in two Louisiana lawsuits arising out of alleged groundwater and soil contamination.

• Represented a joint venture between subsidiaries of two major oil and gas companies in numerous international actions, including matters in New York State and federal courts, a court in Rome, and multiple hearings in the International Centre for Dispute Resolution.

• Represented a Finnish contractor in an ICC arbitration over the construction of a power plant in Guatemala, including recovery and confirmation in the United States District Court and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Represented a major manufacturer in connection with its voluntary withdrawal from the market of an aerosol tire inflator product and personal injury suits arising out of use of the product.

• Represented a major manufacturer in Lanham Act lawsuits brought by competitors.

• Represented Fortune 100 executive in his successful arbitration against his employer for severance benefits exceeding $1 million.

• Defended a national financial services company against securities fraud claims brought by approximately 600 plaintiffs alleging actual damages in excess of $150 million in federal and state courts.

• Represented a national wholesale grocery supplier against RICO, fraud, and breach of contract claims brought in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Utah.

Details