Andrew Zeve

Representative matters:

• BMC Software — following a federal trial, obtained a $1.6 billion breach of contract and fraud judgment on behalf of BMC against IBM.* This representation recently won the Houston Business Litigation of the Year at the Houston Corporate Counsel Awards.
• Juniper Capital Advisors — represented Juniper Capital in two matters claiming trade secret misappropriation related to potential oil and gas investments. In both matters, the plaintiffs' claims were dismissed – one on a motion to dismiss and the other on a motion for summary judgment after the plaintiff's expert opinions were excluded. In both matters, Juniper's counterclaims remained prior to settlement.*
• Hilcorp Energy Company — in a precedent-setting fuel-gas royalty class action. The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit sided with Hilcorp resolving a longstanding issue surrounding "fuel gas" royalties and their calculation in the content of mineral leases.
• Southwest Energy – Secured a victory by obtaining a dismissal of all four class actions filed in federal court in Kansas. All class actions are comprised of consumers of natural gas that accused Southwest Energy, along with other defendants, of price gouging and violation of Kansas consumer protection statues in connection with high natural gas prices during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.
• Action Energy Management, a portfolio company of Old Ironsides Energy, LLC in a Texas state court lawsuit relating to the alleged breach of three oil and gas leases covering acreage in McMullen County, Texas.
• BD Energy Systems – represented BD Energy in a dispute regarding the design and construction of reformer tunnel systems for two hydrogen plants.
• Foro Energy — defended Foro Energy in a week-long trial involving the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets relating to the design of an offshore umbilical deployment system. Foro prevailed on all claims.*
• Juno Energy, LLC — successfully represented as first chair in the trial of an eight-figure title dispute involving oil and gas properties in west Texas; on the second day of trial, secured a settlement with one party, but continued the trial against the other remaining party; after a week-long bench trial, the judge ruled immediately after closing arguments that Juno had title to the property.*
• Baker Hughes — represented Baker Hughes in suit brought by German entity regarding equipment installed in more than 25 large natural gas storage caverns throughout Germany.*
• Triple Crown Energy LLC — successfully represented Triple Crown Energy and BCF Minerals as first chair in the jury trial in Tulsa, Oklahoma, involving a dispute with a land services broker over commissions related to several large mineral rights and leasehold acquisition projects; plaintiff sought over $2 million in connection with various contract and tort claims; after a week-long trial, the jury returned a verdict denying the plaintiff any commissions and rejecting all tort claims.*
• Water Standard Separation Systems — represented Water Standard in a bench trial related to a dispute over a development project in Saudi Arabia. All of the relief requested by Water Standard, including attorney's fees, was granted.*
• Southwestern Energy — represented Southwestern in a title arbitration involving over 100 disputed leases following the sale oil and gas properties in West Virginia.*
• Rover Petroleum — represented Rover Petroleum in dispute regarding various title issues, including failure to produce in paying quantities and failure to meet continuous drilling obligations.*
• Key Energy — represented the plaintiff in a patent infringement suit related to the monitoring of workover services; client sought both economic damages and a permanent injunction against the defendants; a favorable settlement was reached for the client after three days of trial and the defendant ceased its infringing activities in Mexico immediately.*
• Charger Energy, Inc. — represented an oilfield operator in a dispute with the joint operator in a gas field in East Texas; after a three-day arbitration, the client prevailed on its claims and defeated the claims asserted by the joint-operator.*
• Chart Industries, Inc. — represented the manufacturer of brazed aluminum heat exchangers in a breach of contract and trade secret dispute involving technology used in cryogenic plants.*
• Tall City Exploration LLC — represented in a dispute related to drag along rights in large sale of oil and gas assets.*
• AJ Lucas Group PTY Ltd. — represented in a lawsuit seeking recovery of $70 million in connection with investment in an East Texas oilfield.*
• Kinder Morgan, Inc. — represented in a series of class action disputes alleging nuisance claims related to its operation of treating facilities in natural gas compressor stations; after defeating class certification, all cases were settled.*
• Vetco Gray Inc. — represented in multiple summary judgment wins, establishing the validity of a reduced royalty rate license covering subsea well completion technology; Vetco prevailed in arbitration at the district court level and on appeal.*
• M&G Finanziaria S.r.l. — representing a subsidiary of a large Italian conglomerate in a dispute relating to the construction of a large petrochemical plant; dispute includes claims made by and against the owner of the plant, the general contractor, several subcontractors and multiple materialmen.*
• PL Propylene LLC — represented in an arbitration dispute with the EPC contractor regarding warranty claims raised by the owner and delay claims made by the EPC contractor; a favorable settlement was reached in mediation just two weeks before arbitration.*
• CIT Group — represented as the lead defense attorney at a bench trial, which resulted in all of the plaintiff's claims being dismissed and granting all relief sought by CIT Group.*

*Matters prior to joining White & Case