Solving real problems for real people is why I’m a trial lawyer. Solving these problems successfully is why my clients come back again and again.
“Tom Paterson is absolutely one of the best and the brightest in his field. His insight, patience, diplomacy, honesty, intelligence, creativity, candor and diligent professionalism reflect well on him and on me, as my in-house clients have often congratulated me for finding the right lawyer for the job.”
Janice Hartrick, Former General Counsel, Seagull Energy
I began working with Janice Hartrick in 1991, when she was at Seagull Energy. I worked with her and her colleagues on 18 separate matters, successfully defending and protecting them against millions of dollars in potential exposure.
“Tom Paterson is smart and creative. From day one, he takes the initiative and drives his cases to success. He provides good judgment, wise counsel and consistently good results.”
Ray Albrecht, Former Head of Litigation, Enterprise Products
I began working with Ray Albrecht of Enterprise Products in 2004. I worked with him and his colleagues on dozens of matters involving hundreds of millions of dollars.
“I have repeatedly hired Tom Paterson to resolve complex, commercial disputes. He is always prepared. His counsel is strategic. Tom consistently delivers.”
David Castro, Former Chief Legal Counsel, Hess Corporation
David Castro hired me in 2011 to work on a matter in the Eagle Ford. We resolved it. Since then I have worked with Hess on multiple matters valued at hundreds of millions of dollars in the Utica, the Bakken and in the deep water Gulf of Mexico.
“As a practicing lawyer for 35 years and the former GC of a large public corporation, I have provided legal services and also hired and worked with many lawyers. I retained Tom for a personal legal matter and found him to be an exemplar of the legal profession. Tom is smart, prepared, creative, and responsive. He was dedicated to my best interests. He listened, counselled, and collaborated with me on approach and acceptable outcomes. Tom spotted the relevant issues and efficiently coordinated needed experts to provide the best representation, both in terms of dispute resolutions and costs. He demonstrated integrity, civility, and determination that were foundational to effective advocacy and timely resolution. While I was a client with a very small legal matter, Tom treated me like I was his most important priority.”
Gayla Thal, Former SVP-Law & GC, Union Pacific Railroad Co., Inc.
How I Work
My objective with any legal dispute I take on is simple: keep as much money in my client’s pocket as possible. Over 35 years of successfully litigating and trying cases has made me keenly aware of the fact that there are times when it is in my client’s best interest to take their case through trial and appeal and there are times when another deposition or another skirmish isn’t worth the cost. I am straightforward with clients about which route I recommend. This is true whether the client is the plaintiff or the defendant, both of whom I have a proven history of representing effectively.
At the onset of any case, I immediately become an expert on the facts and the law. If the matter can be resolved early, without filing it or incurring extensive expenses associated with litigation, I pursue that route. Thinking creatively and acting swiftly can be critical – a fact I proved when I resolved a dispute for Dixie Pipeline within two months, from filing to completing trial. Another example of this is when I resolved a matter in six weeks that had been lingering for more than 30 years. In that case, we told the defendant that its leases would be cancelled if the jury agreed with us on our contract allegations – the defendant promptly settled.
Focus on Energy
For close to three decades, I have represented E&P companies, gas processors, mid-stream companies and royalty owners in disputes, often against major, integrated companies. My knowledge and experience in this area is vast. I have tried cases spanning the entire energy chain and involving disputes over contracts, public and private royalty owner lawsuits, and industry consolidation, realignment, and energy-related antitrust matters.
More broadly, my experience includes issues relating to the obligation to develop leases, claims of environmental and other damage, audit disputes, disputes over joint accounting procedures under COPAS, drilling disputes, preferential-purchase-right claims, claims arising under gas gathering, processing and gas balancing agreements, rights to seismic and other geologic data, litigation over farmout and AMI agreements and the right to revoke acceptance of oilfield goods under the UCC. The lawsuits I have handled have given me substantial experience with issues arising from oil and gas exploration and production and mid-stream operations
This is all a natural fit for someone who grew up near mining communities in the Southwest. My Ph.D. in applied economics with a heavy emphasis on empirical research enables me to undertake large, complex cases requiring extensive expert discovery and testimony.
Recognition
It is not just clients who have recognized my legal talents. I have been recognized by several leading legal publications for my litigation successes. Most recently, I was ranked by Chambers U.S. as a “Recognized Practitioner” in Energy: Natural Resources, Texas. I was also named a “Recommended Lawyer” by The Legal 500 in Energy Litigation – Oil and Gas.
Contact Me
I’ve told you why I’m a trial lawyer, how I work my cases, and why my clients keep returning. If you have a problem, I’m available to discuss it and candidly assess whether I can help you resolve it. I’ll tell you straight if I can help or refer you to someone else if I can’t. Contact me at (713) 653-7815 or tpaterson@susmangodfrey.com.