Profile
Mark Stratton has broad experience in the areas of commercial, partnership, oil and gas, real estate, transportation, securities, construction, products liability, professional liability and personal injury litigation. Mark is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has tried more than 50 cases to verdict in both state and federal courts, including some of the most challenging jurisdictions in the country. He has also argued cases before the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the 1st, 3rd, 9th, and 14th Courts of Appeals in Texas. In his spare time, Mark enjoys hunting and fishing with his wife and sons.
Concentrations
- Litigation and Trial law
- Bankruptcy litigation
- Commercial litigation
- Construction litigation
- Energy, oil and gas, and natural resources litigation
- Insurance litigation
- Intellectual property
- Partnership corporate disputes
- Professional liability litigation
- Products liability litigation
- Real Estate litigation
- Securities litigation and FINRA arbitrations
Capabilities
Experience
- Provided in house CLE to associates on the effective use of appellate counsel throughout the trial process, 2023.
- Represented a minority investor in investigation and prosecution of claims against a general partner related to the development of a hotel, 2023.
- Represented a governmental entity in response to a claim for noise related issues, 2022.
- Represented noteholders of an electric utility production facility in a claim for rejection damages in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2022.
- Represented a governmental entity responding to a third-party subpoena, Travis County, Texas, 2022.
- Represented a surveying company related to claims by two oil and gas operators, Travis County, Texas, 2022.
- Represented a partner in a AAA Arbitration with a minority partner related to the sale of property and disbursement of funds, 2022.
- Represented a Japanese company in a trade secrets dispute in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas – Houston Division 2022.
- Represented a Chinese company in a dispute over intellectual property in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas – Waco Division 2022.
- Represented a U.S.-based company in a dispute over intellectual property in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas – Waco Division 2022.
- Represented an EB-5 regional center in a claim by an investor and obtained a summary judgment on its behalf in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas – Austin Division, 2021.
- Represented Unsecured Creditors’ committee in depositions in a complex business bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2021.
- Prepared for and deposed over 30 experts in an MDL related to implantable medical devices, nationwide 2020.
- Represented a member of the board of directors of a private company in a claim made by a stockholder, Delaware 2020.
- Represented a group of business owners impacted by a municipalities’ imposition of impact fees unrelated to development, Texas 2019.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in a class action lawsuit involving the calculation and payment of royalties, Texas 2019.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in a claim against another oil and gas operator arising out of a dispute related to the contractual construction of a purchase and sale agreement, 2019.
- Provided trial advocacy training to Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana through a grant provided by the Department of Interior, Louisiana 2019.
- Represented a commercial tenant in a lease dispute with its landlord, Texas 2019.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in a dispute arising out the purchase of various oil and gas interests, Harris County, Texas 2019.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in a dispute arising from the sale of various oil and gas interests, Fayette County, Texas 2018.
- Represented an individual in litigation related to his intellectual property and trade secrets, Wharton County, Texas 2018.
- Represented an oil and gas operator involving payment of royalties, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas 2018.
- Assisted a non-party pharmaceutical company protecting its trade secrets in litigation, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas 2018.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in an interpleader, Martin County, Texas 2018.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in conjunction with claims for personal injury by a subcontractor’s employee, Harris County, Texas 2018.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in a class action royalty dispute, Oklahoma 2018.
- Obtained a summary judgment for an oil and gas operator in conjunction with a dispute with its private equity lender, Dallas County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in conjunction with claims for personal injury by a subcontractor’s employee, Yoakum County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in conjunction with claims by investors of an acquired company, Harris County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in conjunction with claims against investors of an acquired company, Harris County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an insurance agent in conjunction with errors and omissions litigation in Dallas County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in conjunction with the issuance of permits by a governmental entity, Madison County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in conjunction with claims for personal injury by a subcontractor’s employee, Madison County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in conjunction with claims related to ad valorem taxes, Harris County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas operator in conjunction with a trade secret dispute, Travis County, Texas 2017.
- Represented a non-party private equity firm in responding to a subpoena issued in a trade secret dispute, Southern District of Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas services company in conjunction with claims for personal injury, Pecos County, Texas 2017.
- Represented an oil and gas operator responding to subpoena issued in a damage to well dispute, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2016.
- Obtained a summary judgment for an Oil and Gas Operator on multi-million dollar lease dispute, Karnes County, Texas 2016.
- Defended and oil and gas service provider in conjunction with wrongful death claim, Pecos County, Texas 2016.
- Defended and oil and gas service provider in personal injury trial, Jim Wells County, Texas 2016.
- Defended oil and gas service provider in conjunction with wrongful death claims , Jim Wells, County, Texas 2016.
- Defended oil and gas service provider in conjunction with personal injury claims, Jim Wells, County, Texas 2016.
- Prosecuted a declaratory judgment action involving a joint exploration agreement, AAA Arbitration, Austin 2015.
- Defended an insurance company in a “bad faith” trial, Travis County, Texas 2015.
- Defended a trucking company in a trial involving personal injuries, Travis County, Texas 2014.
- Obtained a dismissal with prejudice without payment for an oil and gas operator in a lawsuit in Zavala County, Texas, that involved the largest jury verdict in Texas in 2013.
- Defended manufacturer of sporting goods in trial involving products liability lawsuit, Tarrant County, 2013.
- Tried a products liability case to verdict, Hood County, Texas 2013.
- Defended a long haul trucking company in trial in a wrongful death case, Bell County, Texas 2012.
- Prosecuted a FINRA Arbitration on behalf of an investor, Houston, Texas 2011.
- Defended an oil field hauling company in a wrongful death trial, Falls County, Texas 2011.
- Defended an FINRA Arbitration on behalf of a broker dealer, Austin, Texas 2011.
- Defended a nationwide restaurant chain in a trial, Bell County, Texas 2010.
- Prosecuted a FINRA Arbitration on behalf of an investor, Houston, Texas 2010.
- Defended an insurance agent in trial, Cameron County, Texas 2009.
- Defended a FINRA arbitration on behalf of a broker dealer, Dallas, Texas 2008.
- Defended a FINRA Arbitration on behalf of a broker dealer, Dallas, Texas 2007.
- Defended products liability case through trial, Duval County, Texas 2006.
- Defended FINRA Arbitration on behalf of a broker dealer, Dallas, Texas 2004.
- Defended FINRA Arbitration on behalf of broker dealer, Dallas, Texas 2004.
- Defended FINRA Arbitration on behalf of broker dealer, Dallas, Texas 2003.
- Defended professional liability defendant in trial, Wise County, Texas 2003.
- Defended personal injury trial, Jim Wells County, Texas 2003.
- Defended personal injury trial, Travis County, Texas 2002.
- Defended construction company in trial, Travis County, Texas 2002.
- Defended personal injury trial, Travis County, Texas 2001.
- Board Certified – Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2002, recertified 2007, 2012, 2017, 2022)
Recognition & Leadership
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Litigation; Oil, Gas and Energy Resources; and Construction Sections
- Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Member, Travis County Bar Association
- Member, Independent Petroleum Association of America
Credentials
Education
-
J.D., Oklahoma City University School of Law
- Merit Scholar
- Member, Phi Delta Phi
- B.B.A., Finance, Economics, Cameron University
Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma