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Practice Areas: Energy Law, Commercial Litigation, Emergency Response and Crisis Management, Environmental and Energy, Securities Litigation, Regulatory Enforcement, White Collar Criminal Defense, Corporate Investigation

Additional Information: W. Ray Whitman is Group Chair of the firm’s national Litigation Group.

Mr. Whitman graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in geophysics. Upon graduation, he began work in the oil and gas industry as an exploration geophysicist and gained extensive experience in oil and gas exploration, seismic acquisition and drilling and production practices.

Mr. Whitman has successfully represented energy, oilfield service and technology companies in a wide variety of litigation and business-related issues.

Mr. Whitman was selected as a “Texas Super Lawyer” from 2004 through 2007, and in 2005 was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who in American Law. Mr. Whitman also speaks at CLE presentations on the issue of Direct and Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses.

The following is a list of Mr. Whitman’s representative matters:

* Representation of a major oil and gas company in a lawsuit involving claims of oil and gas lease termination and bad faith trespass, where the plaintiffs sought $2 billion in damages. At trial, a take-nothing judgment was entered against the plaintiffs.

* Successfully represented one of the largest drilling contractors in America in a dispute concerning the drilling of a deep over-pressured well in the Gulf Coast. The lawsuit resulted in a judgment in favor of the client.

* Provided advice and led the investigation team concerning allegations of employee fraud and other inappropriate acts. This representation included advice regarding reporting requirements under Sarbanes-Oxley.

* Successful representation of a minority shareholder in a multiparty lawsuit involving assertions that a biomedical firm and related third parties systematically defrauded the minority shareholder.

* Representation of an oilfield service company in a patent infringement lawsuit which resulted in the validity of the subject patents being acknowledged and royalties being paid.

* Representation of a bankruptcy trustee concerning the sale of numerous on-shore and off-shore properties resulting in substantial benefit to the bankruptcy estates.

* Representation of a major pipeline company concerning a pipeline spill in the western United States. This matter resulted in a settlement favorable to the client.

* Representation of a business-to-business Internet company in an action involving theft of trade secrets and enforcement of non-compete agreements. The lawsuit resulted in the return of the client’s trade secrets and closure of the competing business.

* Representation of exploration and production companies and numerous oilfield services companies in cases involving downhole failures, resulting in successful outcomes.

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Firm Members: John Ghezzi Joyce Margarce James Moore Paul Francis S. Stephens Troy Allen Douglas D'Arche Tyler Doyle Bradley Jones Julia Bennett-Jean Shanisha Smith