Adam Carlis
Partner
Houston Office Phone: (713) 653-7831 Email Download vCard Print Bio to PDF
Education
  • Tufts University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2003)
  • Columbia Law School (J.D., with highest honors, 2010)
Judicial Clerkship

Law Clerk to the Honorable Gerard E. Lynch, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2010-2011

Law Clerk to the Honorable Myron H. Thompson, United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, 2011-2012

Adam Carlis
Partner

“It is remarkable to meet an individual with as much enthusiasm and capacity to absorb an immensely complex problem.”
Energy Industry Client, Confidential Arbitration

“Adam is an excellent attorney. He is very smart, composed, and tenacious. He is a true partner and will work tirelessly to the best outcome for you and your case.”
Arthur Herbst, plaintiff in Brand v. Promega

I represent a diverse group of clients in courtrooms and arbitrations across the country. My practice focuses on cases involving complex financial, technical, or contractual issues. These disputes require a lawyer who understands the factual nuances better than the other side and can recast them as a straightforward story the judge and jury will understand. Clients have praised my ability to do just that.  And the results speak for themselves: I have recovered tens of millions of dollars for my energy industry, antitrust, and intellectual property clients and, on the defense side, forced previously bullish plaintiffs to settle for a small fraction of their claimed damages.

Before joining Susman Godfrey, I clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. I graduated with highest honors from Columbia Law School where I served as Articles Editor for the Columbia Law Review.

Notable Representations

Ballengee v. Whiting Petroleum. Defending Whiting Petroleum Corporation in a Texas state court against claims it tortiously interfered with a purchase and sale agreement for Bakken crude oil. The case is pending in Dallas County, Texas.

Brand et al. v. Promega et al. Secured more than $300 million — one of the largest shareholder oppression recoveries in the U.S. —  for minority shareholders in Promega Corp., on claims related to control, governance, liquidity, and valuation after a month-long trial. The extremely favorable settlement occurred after the judge announced that she was “strongly leaning to find oppression here.”  Promega ultimately acquired our clients’ shares for a very substantial premium over the pre-suit redemption price and the valuation Promega argued at trial. (Texas LawyerWisconsin State Journal reporting – filingtrial, and resolution)

Energy Industry JOA Dispute. Won a $19.4 million award (100% of damages sought, plus interest) in a confidential energy industry arbitration involving obligations under a joint operating agreement. The nature of the dispute and specifics about the award are confidential.

Energy Industry Joint Venture Dispute. Successfully defended a publicly traded energy industry client against breach of contract and tort claims arising out of a joint venture agreement.  Plaintiff’s expert had calculated approximately $160 million in damages. We settled the case on highly favorable terms on the eve of arbitration. The settlement amount is confidential.

Insurance Coverage Dispute. Recovered more than ten million dollars in settlements on behalf of publicly traded energy industry client that had been wrongfully denied coverage by its D & O carriers.

Patent Litigation. Represented individual inventors and patent owners, Amit Jaipuria and Pradeep Jaipuria, in patent litigation against LinkedIn filed in a Texas federal court. The case settled for a confidential sum on the eve of trial.

Price Fixing (Antitrust). Recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of a Fortune 100 corporation alleging price fixing by many of the world’s biggest technology manufacturers.

Honors and Distinctions

Selected as a “Rising Star” by Law & Politics Magazine 2017 – 2021 (Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters)

Articles Editor, Columbia Law Review, Vol. 109

James Kent Scholar (2007-2010)

Hamilton Fellow

Professional Associations and Memberships

State Bar of Texas

State Bar of New York