GIBBS & BRUNS - Key Persons
Andi Gulley's practice is devoted exclusively to high stakes commercial litigation on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. Andi has represented clients in state and federal courts, before state and federal governmental agencies, in governmental proceedings, and in arbitration. The scope of her litigation experience includes securities, antitrust, appellate, municipal, contract, environmental, construction, oil and gas, intellectual property, director and officer liability matters, data privacy compliance, and medical and legal malpractice.
Andi joined Gibbs & Bruns in 2001 after beginning her career with Jenner & Block LLC in Chicago, Illinois. Andi has been a partner with the firm since 2007. Andi is licensed in both Illinois and Texas.
Ann first joined Gibbs & Bruns as an associate in 2007, after clerking for the Honorable Will Garwood of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2006-2007. After a family move to Denver, Colorado, she practiced in the trial groups at Jacobs Chase, LLC (2010-2011) and Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP (2011-2014), where she litigated and tried cases in federal and state courts and in arbitration. In addition to her broad range of litigation experience, Ann has also worked as a solo practitioner both in Colorado and Texas, focusing exclusively on the oil and gas industry and various related title issues. After returning to Houston, Ann rejoined Gibbs & Bruns in 2021.
Anthony Kaim focuses his practice on commercial litigation in energy, oil and gas, fiduciary, construction, and employment disputes.
Anthony takes great satisfaction in his achievements on behalf of his clients who entrust him with their high-stakes disputes. Anthony's recent trial successes include a unanimous defense verdict on behalf of a commercial real estate broker; an eight-figure jury verdict on behalf of an oil-and-gas executive; a total defense victory for the same executive in Delaware Chancery Court against claims of breach of fiduciary duty; and an eight-figure arbitration award for an oil-and-gas operator on a warranty claim.
Short of trial, Anthony recently obtained a multi-million-dollar settlement for an oil-and-gas operator for near full damages just days before trial and, in another matter, defeated class certification defending a major energy client.
Anthony began his career at Gibbs & Bruns following a clerkship with Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His work has been recognized in Legal 500 and Best Lawyers in the areas of energy and general commercial litigation.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Co - Managing Partner
Ashley Kleber focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation. Her experience spans a diverse array of areas including financial, securities, energy, oil & gas, trade secrets, and private client matters. Ashley serves as one of the firm's co-managing partners.
Following law school, Ashley was a law clerk to Judge Edith H. Jones, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 2007 to 2008.
Ashley is a very sharp and professional lawyer who is very attentive to the details.
Ashley Kleber is a strong performer across a breadth of commercial disputes, with notable experience in energy and finance disputes. She's a great lawyer, really smart. Terrific.
Ayesha Najam focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, with a more recent focus on disputes involving energy, construction, and fiduciary duties. Since joining the firm in 2005, Ayesha's client base has spanned a swath of industries, including energy, manufacturing, health care, software, construction, and commercial real estate.
Following law school, Ayesha was a law clerk to Judge Stephen H. Glickman, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, from 2004 to 2005.
She is a consummate professional and unflappable. She is a great trial lawyer.
Job Titles:
- NAMED NEW HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
- Rosson and Families Featured in the Houston Lawyer
Barrett recently served as a Representative for District 4 on the State Bar of Texas' Board of Directors. He is a former President of the Houston Bar Association, the fifth largest metropolitan bar association in the nation with nearly 12,000 members. He is currently a member of the Houston Bar Association Foundation Board.
Job Titles:
- AMERICAN COLLEGE of TRIAL LAWYERS FELLOW
Represented Cele Briscoe Carpenter and her family against her brother, Dolph "Chip" Briscoe, II, in a dispute over the Briscoe family's decades-old South Texas ranching business. Founded by former Governor of Texas, Dolph Briscoe, Brisco Ranch, Inc. (BRI) is one of the nation's largest ranching operations, owning over 600,000 acres of land, valuable interests in several Texas banks, and other assets. We filed a derivative lawsuit based on Chip's actions as the President and Chairman of BRI after the Governor's death. Specifically, the Carpenters alleged that Chip violated his legal obligations as an officer and director of BRI in an effort to eliminate Cele and her family's ownership and participation in the company by Chip secretly usurping corporate opportunities by purchasing approximately 50,000 acres of nearby South Texas ranch land for himself or his own personal entities-rather than for BRI. Additionally, the Carpenters alleged that Chip refused to responsibly invest BRI cash or issue shareholder dividends, and instead hoarded some $243 million in low interest-bearing accounts at the First State Bank of Uvalde-a bank at which Chip himself served as Chairman. In these and other ways, the suit alleged that Chip attempted to superficially devalue the Carpenters' shares so that he can purchase them at a discount and "squeeze" the Carpenters out of the family business.
Brice Wilkinson focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation. He has successfully represented clients in various industries, including oil and gas, computer software, healthcare, private equity, and automotive. Brice has experience in breach of contract, trade secrets, antitrust, fiduciary duty, products liability, class actions, federal computer statutes (including the CFAA, DMCA, and Copyright Act), and other business tort matters. Brice also has appellate experience in state and federal courts.
Following law school, Brice was a law clerk to Judge Raymond M. Kethledge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, from 2010 to 2011.
In college, Brice was a three-year starting offensive lineman on the Yale football team.
Bruce Baldree focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation.
Education
University of Texas Law School, J.D., with honors, 2019
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Executive Director of the Rikers Debate Project
- Named Member of the State Bar of Texas Pro Bono College
- Young Lawyer of the Year ( Beyond the Practice ) " 2023 ALM National Finalist
- Young Lawyer on the Rise Honoree
Caitlin Halpern focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation. Caitlin is also Executive Director of the Rikers Debate Project and co-founded the Houston Chapter in 2019 - The New Yorker Radio Hour: The Rikers Debate Project.
Following law school, Caitlin was a law clerk to Judge Paul Adam Engelmayer, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2014-2015; and Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2015-2016.
Caitlin joined Gibbs & Bruns in 2019 after beginning her career with Appellate Advocates in New York. Caitlin also serves as the firm's pro bono liaison.
Caitlyn Cowan focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation.
Following law school, Caitlyn was a law clerk to Chief Judge Priscilla Richman, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, from 2020 to 2021.
Charles Rosson devotes his practice to complex commercial litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court and in domestic and international arbitrations. Charles' experience includes antitrust, breach of contract, transnational law, and energy matters.
Charles joined Gibbs & Bruns in 2017 after beginning his litigation career with Vinson & Elkins, LLP in Houston.
Connor Burwell focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation.
Connor was a law clerk to Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, from 2022 to 2023.
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2022
Job Titles:
- DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION CO
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Former President of EnVen
Lead appellate counsel representing David Dunwoody, co-founder and former president of EnVen, in a dispute under his employment agreement. Following a three-week trial, the jury awarded Mr. Dunwoody full damages, resulting in a $12.4 million final judgment in his favor. EnVen appealed, but a three-judge panel from the Fourteenth Court of Appeals unanimously "overruled all of the issues raised by EnVen." In its 29-page opinion, the Court of Appeals explained that the summary judgment and directed verdict rulings in Mr. Dunwoody's favor, his damages model, and his legal and factual arguments before and during trial gave rise to no error. Accordingly, it affirmed the trial court's judgment in full.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- LAWYER on the RISE"
- Media Highlights
David Sheeren knows his stuff and I rate him very highly.
Erica Krennerich focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation with a concentration in antitrust matters. Erica represents both plaintiffs and defendants from a broad array of industries, including oil and gas, commodity and specialty chemicals, securities, telecommunications, and technology. Erica has extensive experience with legal issues related to electronic discovery and presents regularly to clients and peers regarding electronic discovery topics.
Erica began her career with Vinson & Elkins in Houston where she spent more than three decades as part of the complex commercial and business litigation section.
Education
The University of Texas, J.D., with honors, 1987
Represented RP West Ltd., developer of an apartment complex, in breach of contract case against Internacional Realty, Inc.; won $4 million for client which was upheld on appeal.
Gabriel Kaim focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation with concentrated experience in the energy, aviation and construction arenas.
While in law school, Gabriel was a judicial intern for Judge David Hittner, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and for Chief Judge Marvin P. Isgur, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Gabriel joined Gibbs & Bruns in 2019 after beginning his litigation career with Norton Rose Fulbright (formerly Fulbright & Jaworski) in Houston.
Job Titles:
- Construction Case for Plaintiff Client H.B. Zachry
Represented Plaintiff H.B. Zachry in dispute concerning construction costs and delay expenses with respect to the building of $700 million ethylene cracking plant. Achieved favorable confidential settlement.
Job Titles:
- Lawyers Association, Member
Jeff Kubin focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and civil appeals in a broad array of areas, including contract, securities, intellectual property, fiduciary duty, oil and gas, and legal and professional malpractice matters.
Denise Drake focuses her practice on appellate law and on complex commercial litigation.
Denise was a law clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, from 2016 to 2017. She was also law clerk to Judge Charles R. Breyer, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, from 2014 to 2015; and to Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, from 2013 to 2014.
Prior to law school, Denise was an analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York on the Emerging Markets Foreign Exchange and Derivatives Desk. Denise co-founded an African investment hedge fund which is currently managed by its co-founder.
Kathy's cases run the gamut of high profile, high dollar, and high risk cases. She has represented clients pursuing recoveries for securities frauds in Brazil, Thailand, and Indonesia, the private prison industry, the waste disposal industry, and in mortgage-backed securities. She has also pursued commercial cases for clients seeking to enforce leveraged buyout agreements, construction contracts, and corporate indemnities. On the defense side, she successfully defended a client accused of a market allocation conspiracy in the North Sea, defended the outside directors of Enron and Westar in regulatory investigations and securities litigation, and is leading the defense of a large energy company in environmental and energy litigation. Kathy's representative clients include: Occidental Petroleum Corporation, ExxonMobil, PIMCO, BlackRock, Trust Company of the West, Invesco, Western Asset Management, the former outside directors of Enron Corporation and the State of Arizona.
In the wake of the financial crisis, Kathy led a team that pursued recoveries for a group of 14 large institutional investors who purchased securitized mortgages that contained fraudulent or ineligible loans. Over a period of five years, Kathy and her team recovered more than $20 billion in cash and additional billions of dollars in mortgage servicing reforms from major financial institutions including Bank of America, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Residential Capital, and Lehman Brothers. Forbes magazine profiled Kathy's RMBS efforts and called her "the woman Wall Street fears most" and the Wall Street Journal called her "the secret weapon for big bond investors seeking to recover billions of dollars on faulty mortgage-backed securities."
Kathy Patrick is a great lawyer with a complex practice. She really is a star and is feared. She is very good at what she does.
I've seen her in action and she is phenomenal. You do not want to be on the other side!
Kathy is a leader in the litigation space.
She is an outstanding lawyer and a very strong and formidable adversary.
Kathy is a standout and extraordinary lawyer with great courtroom skills.
She's very knowledgeable in her area, represents clients well and contributes a lot. She's smart, she understands what she wants to achieve and will figure out a way to achieve it. She has a really good presence and is very effective in what she does. She achieves all results and everyone respects her.
Job Titles:
- Admitted As Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow of the Both International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- HIGHLIGHTED in NLJ's "COUNSEL to COUNSEL" FEATURE by PIMCO's GC
- the American Lawyer Details Gibbs & Bruns 's Opening Arguments in Huntsman Trial
- to WINNING WOMEN FEATURE by TEXAS LAWYER
Kathy is a Fellow of the both International Academy of Trial Lawyers, where she serves on the Board of Directors, and the American College Trial Lawyers.
Job Titles:
- Admitted As Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Job Titles:
- TRUSTEE on BEHALF of the JEFFREY P. DOBBS IRREVOCABLE TRUST, ET AL. V. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC., ET AL.
Laura Cassidy focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, including municipal, securities, and contract disputes.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Former Executive of KIPP
Represented KIPP, Inc., a charter school network, and the KIPP Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for KIPP schools, in a defamation suit brought by Michael Feinberg, a co-founder and former executive of KIPP. Mr. Feinberg was terminated from both organizations following an independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, and he alleged that KIPP made defamatory statements in connection with his termination. KIPP moved to dismiss pursuant to the Texas Citizens Participation Act ("TCPA"), and the trial court granted the motion and dismissed all claims.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Co - Managing Partner
Represented Defendant Tulsa Inspection Resources, Inc., a Tulsa-based inspection company, in a lawsuit brought by Panhandle, a pipeline owner, seeking over $42 million in damages allegedly caused by defective welding performed during the installation of a new, 31-mile pipeline in Indiana in 2007. Secured a favorable, confidential settlement early in the discovery phase of the case.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Former President of EnVen
Represented David Dunwoody, co-founder and former president of EnVen, in a dispute under his employment agreement. Mr. Dunwoody sought damages for his severance benefits package, including the value of his unvested shares, which EnVen had refused to provide for more than two years. After a three-week trial, the jury returned its verdict finding that Mr. Dunwoody had multiple, independent grounds for contractual "Good Reason," each entitling him to his severance benefits package, and awarded Mr. Dunwoody full damages. In September 2021, the court entered a $12.4 million final judgment in favor of Mr. Dunwoody.
Represented David Dunwoody, former co-founder and President of EnVen, in a case brought in Delaware Chancery Court by his former company alleging that Dunwoody breached his fiduciary duties. After a week-long trial in July 2023, the Chancellor announced her impressions, all in favor of Mr. Dunwoody. After receiving the Chancellor's remarks, EnVen dismissed its claims against Dunwoody with prejudice for zero dollars.
Represented David Dunwoody, co-founder and former president of EnVen, after the company squeezed him out and refused to pay his Severance benefits. After a three-week trial in Harris County, the jury found that Mr. Dunwoody had multiple, independent grounds for contractual Good Reason entitling him to Severance. The court awarded our client over $12 million.
Represented Richard Murphy, a subsea tree engineer, in a misappropriation of trade secrets case brought by FMC Technologies, his former employer, against Mr. Murphy and Mr. Murphy's new employer, Dril-Quip. FMC Technologies sought almost $40 million in damages and an injunction against both Mr. Murphy and Dril-Quip. After a three-week trial, the jury ruled entirely in favor of Mr. Murphy and Dril-Quip, finding that FMC did not prove the existence of any alleged trade secrets. The First Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court victory, August 2023.
Job Titles:
- Assistant General Counsel
Job Titles:
- Partner
- and KATHY PATRICK - LEAD DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAWYERS
Represented the Charles T. Bauer Foundation, a charitable organization created by the late Ted Bauer, founder of AIM Investments. The Foundation was an intervener in a lawsuit brought by Mr. Bauer's estranged spouse against Mr. Bauer's estate alleging that Mr. Bauer mismanaged community property during his lifetime. Plaintiff alleged over $300 million in damages, an amount that would have depleted all of the Foundation's funds. The lawsuit was settled on very favorable terms, and the Foundation was able to continue its charitable giving without substantial interruption.
Following law school, Justin was a law clerk to Judge Jerry Smith, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2015-2016; and Judge Lee Rosenthal, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2016-2017.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder Oppression Suit Involving $100 Million in Damages
Represented Keeneland Capital Management, LLC ("KCM") in a shareholder derivative and individual suit involving its investment in Martin Resources Management Corporation ("MRMC"), a closely-held energy corporation in the business of transportation, storage, terminalling and processing of energy resources. KCM purchased a significant number of shares in MRMC from a key stakeholder, and was assigned that seller's causes of action against members of management and the Board of Directors for, among other claims, shareholder oppression, breach of fiduciary duty, wrongful entrenchment and dilution, abuse of control, gross mismanagement and fraud stemming from the Directors' alleged improper issuance of well over $50 million of MRMC stock for the purpose of entrenching management and diluting certain minority shareholders. MRMC and the MRMC Employee Stock Ownership Trust also opposed KCM in this action, and, along with the other defendants, asserted counterclaims for over $20 million in alleged damages against all plaintiffs and other third parties. After two years of intense litigation that involved several other related lawsuits, the case settled favorably for KCM for a confidential amount on October 2, 2012.
Job Titles:
- Dean 's Award for Academic Excellence
Job Titles:
- Business Development, Recruiting & Media
Job Titles:
- Founder of AIM Investments