George Shipley

principal

Direct  713 652 3045
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THE FACTS

  • J.D. (with honors), Baylor University School of Law, 1982

  • B.A. (magna cum laude), Baylor University, 1979

  • Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Litigation by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization


Biography

In his more than 35 years as a trial lawyer, George Shipley has become a trusted ally to businesses and individuals both in the U.S. and abroad. His record of successful trials and appeals cuts across numerous industries and types of cases. Mr. Shipley co-founded Shipley Snell Montgomery with the aim of creating a firm that would offer clients all of the advantages that years of big-firm experience can provide but in an alternative format, with the kind of efficiency and tailored service that many clients – including Fortune 500 companies – now seek. The common threads of Mr. Shipley’s practice are exemplary results, the lasting relationships he builds with his clients, and the respect of his adversaries.

George Shipley has handled cases and argued appeals before state and federal courts, including courts in Texas, New York, California, New Jersey, Alabama, Virginia, Louisiana, Utah, Oklahoma, Missouri, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He has also represented clients in ad hoc arbitrations and before numerous domestic and international arbitration tribunals including the ICC, ICDR, AAA, NASD (now FINRA), CPR, and JAMS.

Selected Matters

  • Represented an international petrochemical company in AAA arbitration that involved complex accounting, non-competition, and contractual issues arising from a 50-year joint venture. Shipley Snell’s client recovered $120 million and defeated all of the damage claims against it, which exceeded $200 million.

  • Represented a private equity firm specializing in buyout investments in the energy sector in successfully resolving a series of disputes regarding the redevelopment of electric generation facilities in south Texas.

  • Represented a general contractor in an insurance coverage dispute arising out of damages caused by Hurricane Ike.

  • Represented a leading producer of industrial chemicals in a multimillion dollar contract dispute and counterclaim.

  • Represented several entities of an electricity and natural gas distribution utility in two Louisiana lawsuits arising out of alleged groundwater and soil contamination.

  • Represented a joint venture between subsidiaries of two major oil and gas companies in numerous international actions, including matters in New York State and federal court, a court in Rome, and multiple hearings in the International Centre for Dispute Resolution.

  • Represented a family trust in securities litigation against a commercial real estate finance company and a title and escrow company for “aider and abettor” liability under the Texas Securities Act and for statutory fraud, arising out of a 1031 exchange and tenant in common investment.

  • Represented a Finnish contractor in an ICC arbitration over the construction of a power plant in Guatemala, including recovery and confirmation in the United States District Court and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

  • Represented a major manufacturer in connection with its voluntary withdrawal from the market of aerosol tire inflator product and personal injury suits arising out of use of the product.

  • Represented a major manufacturer in Lanham Act lawsuits brought by competitors.

  • Represented Fortune 100 executive in his successful arbitration against his employer for severance benefits exceeding $1 million.

  • Defended a national financial services company against securities fraud claims brought by approximately 600 plaintiffs alleging actual damages in excess of $150 million in federal and state court.

  • Represented an energy company in Louisiana groundwater contamination lawsuits brought by more than 500 plaintiffs.

  • Represented a national wholesale grocery supplier against RICO, fraud, and breach of contract claims brought in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Utah.

  • Represented a municipality in litigation involving warranty, products liability, and business disparagement claims arising from purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment for fire department.

  • Represented a joint venture of energy and petrochemical companies in defending against a contractor’s claims, alleged to be in excess of $60 million.

Selected Reported Cases

  • Wärtsilä Finland Oy v. Duke Energy Int’l Guat. y CIA, S.C.A., 518 F.3d 287 (5th Cir. 2008);

  • BAYPO Ltd. P’ship v. Tech. JV, LP, 940 A.2d 20 (Del. Ch. 2007)

  • In re Raymond James & Assocs., Inc., 196 S.W.3d 311 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006 (no pet.)

  • IQ Prods. Co. v. Pennzoil Prods. Co., 305 F.3d 368 (5th Cir. 2002) (also reported at 2002-2 Trade Cases P 73, 816 and 64 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1622)

  • Pennzoil Co. v. Arnold Oil Co., 30 S.W.3d 494 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000, no pet.)

  • Faulk v. Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp., 48 F. Supp. 2d 653 (E.D. Tex. 1999) and companion case Vanouwerkerk v. Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp., No. 1:99CV179 TH, 1999 WL 335960 (E.D. Tex. May 26, 1999)

  • Ortiz v. Fibreboard Corp., 527 U.S. 815 (1999)

  • Ahearn v. Fibreboard Corp., 162 F.R.D. 505, 517 (E.D. Tex. 1995), aff’d sub nom. In re Asbestos Litig., 90 F.3d 963 (5th Cir. 1996)

  • Owens-Illinois, Inc. v. Chatham, 899 S.W.2d 722 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, writ dism’d)

  • State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Mower, 917 S.W.2d 2 (Tex. 1995), rev’g & remanding State Farm Lloyds v. Mower, 876 S.W.2d 914 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993)

  • Employers Nat’l Ins. Co. v. Gen. Accident Ins. Co., 857 F. Supp. 549 (S.D. Tex. 1994)


Details

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Texas

COURT ADMISSIONS

  • All U.S. District Courts

  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Tenth Circuits

  • U.S. Supreme Court

AFFILIATIONS

  • American Bar Association

  • International Bar Association

  • Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation

  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation

  • Fellow, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

  • Member, The Houston International Arbitration Club

  • Advisory Board, Institute for Transnational Arbitration

  • Member, London Court of International Arbitration

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

  • Member, American Board of Trial Advocates

  • Ranked by Chambers & Partners in the 2012-2017 Editions of Chambers USA, America's Leading lawyers for Business

  • Named as a "Top 100 Attorney" in Texas, (a Thomson Reuters service) 2011

  • Named as a "Top 100 Houston Region Attorney," (a Thomson Reuters service) 2009-2014

  • Named as a "Texas SuperLawyer," (a Thomson Reuters service) 2003-2017

  • President, Texas Association of Certified Trial and Appellate Specialists, 2011-2012