Robert D. O'Conor

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Education

Bobby received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law, where he received the Dean's Achievement Award for Brief Writing and Oral Advocacy. Prior to law school, Bobby received a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Plan II Honors Program of the University of Texas.

Experience

Since being licensed in 1988, Bobby has participated in literally hundreds of cases in federal and state courts. His practice is focused on oil and gas and commercial litigation. In the course of his practice, Bobby has brought multiple million dollar lawsuits to a favorable resolution. Bobby is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Academics

Bobby has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Center, teaching pre-trial litigation and deposition classes. He earned a five year service award from the school. He also attended the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Institute and has conducted and participated in hundreds of mediations.

Work History

Prior to joining the firm, Bobby practiced with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in San Antonio from 1988 to 1992. In 1992, he joined practice with his father, former U.S. District Judge Robert O'Conor, Jr., in Houston and worked with him until 2004. In 2004, he joined Cotham, Harwell & Evans, P.C. and in 2011 was named partner in Cotham, Harwell & O'Conor, P.C.

Appointments

Bobby has been appointed as a Special Commissioner to hear property valuation disputes. He's received numerous court appointments as a mediator.

Legal Honors

• Nominated by the Honorable Grant Dorfman as a Texas Bar Foundation Fellows
• AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell (lawyers.com). This is the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards
• Dean's Achievement Award for Brief Writing and Oral Advocacy
• 5 year service award from the University of Houston School of Law for his work as an Adjunct Professor.

Bar Admissions

• Texas Supreme Court
• All Texas Courts
• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• United States District Court, Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas

Family

Bobby is married to Anne. The O'Conors have three children. Bobby's hobbies include golf and other outdoor activities.

Representative Sample

Port Isabel Logistical Offshore Terminal, Inc., Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant v. Subsea 7 Port Isabel, LLC, Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff, Cause No. 2014-DCL-04383, in the 107th Judicial District Court, Cameron County, Texas

Summary: This was a complex commercial dispute related to whether a substantial lease at Port Isabel, an important facility serving the Gulf oil and gas industry, had been effectively renewed. Our client, the landlord (Plaintiff), disputed that its tenant, a major international offshore services provider, had renewed the lease in accordance with the lease’s requirements. The tenant had made more than $40 million in capital improvements at the facility, so this was the definition of “high stakes” litigation. Accordingly, the tenant engaged the services of a large international law firm, which has recently been named the national law firm of the year in energy law by a leading publication. The tenant alleged that certain oral representations had been made by our client’s former president, which amounted to the renewal of the lease. The case was tried to a Cameron County jury in September 2016, with the jury agreeing that there had been no effective renewal and that the lease had accordingly terminated, resulting in a significant win for our client, the Plaintiff. The case is now on appeal.

Chieftain Exploration Company, Inc., et al., v. TXCO Resources, Inc., et al. , Adversary No. 09-5120-RBK, in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division.

Summary: This case involved claims by a 1/16th mineral interest owner on over 66,000 gross mineral acres arising from breach of his oil and gas leases. This case involved complex legal and factual proof on over 70 wells drilled on the lease.

David Beer, et al v. Chesapeake Exploration, LLC, Civil No. 2:09-CV-347 (TJW) pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division.

Summary: This case resolved claims of breach of an agreement to pay a lease bonus on Haynesville Shale acreage. Bobby represented the Plaintiff in this lawsuit.

Varco, L.P. v. Clyde H. Bohnsack v. Guy McClung III d/b/a Guy McClung P.C., C.A. , No. 4:08-cv-01481, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

Summary: This case involved legal malpractice, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and other claims made by the Defendant against Plaintiff and the third party Defendant. Bobby was able to negotiate a non-suit with prejudice just before trial started on behalf of his client. Before that, Bobby had successfully filed a motion for summary judgment that disposed of all but the fraud claim made against his client.

Billy D. Davis, et al v. GeoSouthern Energy Corporation, et al , No. 70-00177-10, American Arbitration Association.

Summary: This arbitration involved claims against the defendants, one of which was Bobby's client, for significant working interests in wells being drilled in the Eagle Ford Shale play.

Delores Aker, individually and as Attorney in fact for Frank L. James v. Carol Kimble ; Cause No. 2012-13035, in the 61st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.

Summary: This case involved a temporary injunction seeking the return of several hundred thousand dollars taken from an elderly man's checking account by a family member. The injunction our client received resulted in the immediate return of the money taken.

HEP Oil Company, Ltd. v. Howard W. Mays, Jr., et al. v. Thomas Hartman, Debbie Hartman, et al. , Cause No. 2008-0000155M-CV, in the District Court, Montague County, Texas, 97th Judicial District.

Summary: This case involved an action for declaratory judgment filed by HEP and counterclaims filed by Bobby's client, Howard Mays, Jr. (then 95 y.o.), to recover unpaid lease bonus and royalty for an oil and gas lease on which Bobby's client did not own the executive rights. The executive rights owners were joined and sued based on breach of their fiduciary duties owed to Mr. Mays.

Darrell Whitley v. Consolidated Graphics, Inc. ; Cause No. 2005-77380, in the 152nd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.

Summary: This case involved a suit by Bobby's client, Darrell Whitley, to recover compensation due for stock options that vested and were owed during an employment dispute.

Publications/Appearances

In 2010, while at Cotham, Harwell & Evans, P.C., Bobby O'Conor co-authored and presented with Mark Cotham and Mark Harwell a paper on Aggressive Top Leasing in Texas at the Texas Land Institute in Houston, Texas (November 10, 2010).

Read the paper presented. (link to paper)

Community Involvement

Bobby O'Conor is active in St. Luke's United Methodist Church, including singing in its Veritas Men's Choir. He has served as President of the Pure Sound Youth Choir's parent organization.