Mike Oldham
Mike Oldham focuses his practice on litigation and arbitration in a wide scope of complex commercial disputes, including intellectual property, securities, anti-competitive conduct, fiduciary duty, construction and energy litigation. Mike handles matters for both plaintiffs and defendants, corporations and individuals.
Prior to the commencement of his career as a trial lawyer, Mike accepted a judicial clerkship with Judge Jacques L. Wiener, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (June 1996 to May 1997). Following his judicial clerkship year, Mike joined the law firm Gibbs & Bruns LLP in late 1997 and became a partner in 2003. In 2009, Mike left that firm to form Reynolds, Frizzell, Black, Doyle, Allen & Oldham, L.L.P.
Education
University of Texas, J.D., with high honors, 1996
Vice-Chancellor (2nd-highest class ranking)
Order of the Coif
Associate Editor, Texas Law Review
Universidad de Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1995
International Legal Studies
University of Texas, 1993
B.A., Plan II, with high honors
B.B.A., Honors Business Program, with highest honors
B.B.A., Finance, with highest honors
Recognition
Named a “Top Lawyer for the People” in Business Litigation by H Texas magazine, 2009
Named a “Texas Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyers, 2003-2010
Named one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers” by H Texas magazine, 2007, 2009, 2010
Named one of Houston’s “Top Forty Under Forty” Lawyers by H Texas magazine, 2004
Significant Cases
J.V. Industrial Companies, Ltd. v. Victoria WLE, LP
Represented Plaintiff J.V. Industrial in arbitration dispute arising out of construction project to repower and expand the Victoria Power Station in Victoria, Texas. After completing the project, J.V. Industrial commenced arbitration against the owner, seeking recovery of certain unpaid invoices for its work. Owner counterclaimed, arguing that J.V. Industrial mismanaged the project and seeking recovery of approximately $30 million for alleged delays and cost overruns. Case settled favorably before final arbitration hearing, and J.V. Industrial received a payment of $14.7 million from the defendant-owner.
Electronic Data Systems Corp. v. Chrysler LLC
Represented Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff Chrysler in lawsuit arising out of a failed program to outsource to EDS the procurement and management of all of Chrysler’s non-production inventory needs. EDS filed suit to recover $32 million in allegedly valid and unpaid invoices. Chrysler counterclaimed for damages it contends were caused by deficiencies in EDS' performance. The suit was suspended as a result of Chrylser's bankruptcy filing.
Nevada Power Company v. Nevada Cogeneration Associates #2
Assisted in the representation of Nevada Cogeneration Associates #2, a company co-owned by Chevron and Dynegy, in a contract dispute with Nevada Power Company. NCA #2 developed a qualified cogeneration facility to produce power for the Las Vegas area which Nevada Power Company purchased under a terms of a 30-year power purchase agreement. Nevada Power Company filed for arbitration, asserting that NCA #2 owed refunds for all “cumulative excess payments” at the end of a 30-year contract term, which it estimated would equal approximately $360 million. The dispute was arbitrated in July 2008, and NCA #2 prevailed on all claims, including a judgment that NCA #2 is not required to pay any money to Nevada Power Company at the end of the contract term.
Bluebonnet Drive, Ltd., et al v. SprintCom, Inc., et al.
Two weeks before trial, was hired as additional trial counsel to represent plaintiff Bluebonnet in the trial of a lawsuit against CenterPoint and Sprint for trespass and injunction over placement of a cell tower on plaintiff's commercial property. Case proceeded to trial and resulted in jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff and a judgment awarding the plaintiff damages and in injunction requiring removal of the cell tower. After the cell tower was removed, the judgment was eventually reversed and rendered based on the appellate court's reversal of certain legal rulings made by the district court during the summary judgment phase of the case.
Boyce, et al. v. AIM Management Group, Inc., et al.
Represented Defendants AIM Management Group, Inc., INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., AIM Advisors, Inc., AIM Distributors, Inc., and certain individual defendants in a putative class action filed on behalf of investors in various mutual funds, alleging excessive fees and breaches of fiduciary duty. The court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss, and entered final judgment rejecting the plaintiffs’ claims.
Gray v. Waste Resources, Inc.
Hired by defendant after a trial which had resulted in a jury verdict of fraud against it, along with a finding of $1.5 million in damages. Prepared and argued post-verdict motions on behalf of the defendant, and obtained a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, rejecting the plaintiff’s claims and awarding final judgment in favor of defendant. Judgment was upheld on appeal.
In re Enron Corp. Securities Litigation
Assisted in the representation of certain former outside directors of Enron Corporation in securities class actions and ERISA class actions and other related litigation arising out of the failure of Enron Corporation.
Icoworks Holdings, Inc. v. Network International, Inc.
Represented Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff Network International in a dispute arising out of Network International’s attempts to sell a division of the company. Plaintiff claimed that Network International wrongfully reneged on an agreement to sell the division to Icoworks and sought more than $30 million in damages, in addition to injunctive relief. Obtained a favorable settlement in which Network International paid no damages and was able to sell the division for a figure near its original asking price.
In re Friede Goldman Halter, Inc.
Assisted in the representation of certain former directors of Halter Marine Group, who were named as defendants in securities litigation seeking personal liability in excess of $100 million. Case was resolved favorably.
Coho Energy, Inc. v. Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Equity Fund IV, LP, et al.
Assisted in the representation of the plaintiff in breach of contract case against Hicks, Muse. Hicks, Muse had entered into agreement to purchase 51% interest in Coho, but then terminated the contract under “Material Adverse Change” clause. Case settled favorably before trial.
Network Oil, Inc. v. Petrocosm Corporation et al.
Assisted in representation of plaintiff Network Oil in a suit against Petrocosm alleging violation of Network Oil’s non-competition agreements with former employees (including its chief software architect), and inevitable disclosure of trade-secrets. Both plaintiff and defendant were “dot-coms” who provided e-auction houses for drilling equipment and services. Proceeded to bench trial within 2 months of filing case, and achieved judgment in favor of plaintiff, which included a permanent worldwide injunction against Petrocosm. Case settled favorably pending appeal.