Joel Z. Montgomery

Principal

Direct  713 652 3054
Email Joel Montgomery

The Facts

  • J.D. (with honors), The University of Texas School of Law, 1997

  • B.A. (with honors), English, The University of Texas at Austin, 1994

  • Certification in Advanced Arbitration Skills, A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center, University of Houston Law Center, 2014

Biography

Joel Montgomery’s practice focuses on complex commercial arbitration and litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He has significant experience representing companies in contract disputes, construction, joint venture, personal injury, and property litigation. Clients include corporations throughout the energy sector involving such issues as commercial torts, breach of contract, property, and significant personal injury claims.

In addition to an active trial practice in Texas courts, Joel represents clients in Texas appellate courts and in proceedings before the American Arbitration Association (AAA), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), and other arbitration tribunals.

Selected Matters

  • Lead trial counsel for Marathon Petroleum in securing judgment in excess of $70 million following jury trial for contractual indemnity claims.

  • Obtained jury verdict on liability and affirmative defenses and securing judgment granting prescriptive easement rights in pipeline dispute.

  • Lead counsel for CenterPoint Energy in multi-district litigation involving hundreds of lawsuits and thousands of plaintiffs bringing personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, and business interruption claims arising out of Winter Storm Uri.  “Electric Cos. Join ERCOT In Request For Winter Storm MDL;” “ERCOT Granted MDL For Texas Winter Storm Suits” - Law360, June 11, 2021.

  • Lead trial counsel for CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor Reliant Energy in obtaining multiple favorable jury verdicts and dismissals involving commercial and personal injury claims arising from electrical contact, easement, and property disputes.

  • Represented a private equity firm specializing in buyout investments in the energy sector in successfully resolving a series of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract disputes regarding the redevelopment of electric generation facilities in south Texas.

  • Represented a Guatemalan consortium in ICDR arbitration for claims arising from an electric generation plant development project.

  • Successfully defended $170 million valuation dispute for petrochemical joint venture partner in multiple AAA arbitrations arising from a styrene/propylene oxide manufacturing facility and related operating and offtake agreements.

  • Represented a former executive in AAA arbitration on breach of contract claims against a national industrial gas distribution company, and successfully defended counter-claims for tortious interference, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breach of non-competition agreement.

Selected Reported Cases

  • Industrial Specialists, LLC v. Blanchard Refining Co. LLC, 652 S.W.3d 11 (Tex. 2022) 

  • Jordan v. CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC, No. 14-18-00663-CV, 2019 WL 5565978 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019, pet. denied) 

  • ODIN Demolition & Asset Recovery, LLC v. Marathon Petroleum Co., LP, No. 01-17-00438-CV, 2018 WL 4131038 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018, no pet.) 

  • Newman v. CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC, No. 14-16-00007-CV, 2017 WL 2292577 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017, no pet.) 

  • Alattar v. Ganim, 355 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. App.-Houston [14 Dist.] 2010, pet. denied as improvidently granted) 

  • Koelsch v. Industrial Gas Supply Corp., 132 S.W.3d 494 (Tex. App.-Houston [1 Dist.] 2004, pet. denied)

Details

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Texas

COURT ADMISSIONS

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas

AFFILIATIONS

  • American Board of Trial Advocates

  • Houston Bar Association

  • Texas Bar Foundation

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Rated AV® Preeminent™ by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell

  • Ranked Band 3 in Litigation: General Commercial - Texas: Houston & Surrounds by Chambers and Partners

  • Multi-year recognition as a "Texas SuperLawyer” (a Thompson Reuters Service)