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Biography
Doug Daniels is a trial lawyer with over a quarter-century of experience advocating for clients in the courtroom. He is a native Texan but has represented clients from all fifty states. He has appeared in courtrooms across the country and handled cases as a lead advocate in over a dozen states and six foreign countries.
After graduating from Duke University and the University of Texas School of Law, Doug was a partner in a large Houston law firm representing both corporate and individual clients. He co-founded Daniels & Gentle, LLP in 2012 to focus on representing victims and aggrieved parties in civil disputes. In 2015, he became a partner at Daniels & Tredennick, LLP.
Doug has handled hundreds of commercial disputes, both large and small, in a variety of business settings, including oilfield services, real estate finance and development, residential and industrial construction, banking and finance, insurance coverage disputes, judgment collection efforts, and ERISA claims, to name only a few. Mr. Daniels’ philosophy is that a trial lawyer is always “in trial,” meaning every aspect of the case should be prepared and handled as if a judge and jury are present and looking on. He believes the two most important attributes of any successful trial lawyer are courage and credibility.
Energy & Construction:
- Representation of international manufacturer of industrial storage facilities in dispute over interpretation and scope of non-competition provisions in agreement to sell North American assets.
- Representation of fuel blending and tank operator in dispute against transport company for property damage caused by loading improper product.
- Representation of investor in natural gas processing venture to recover on defaulted loans.
- Representation of royalty owners in royalty dispute with multi-national exploration and production company in the Permian Basin.
- Representation of private investors in oil and gas exploration venture for claims against operator arising out of mismanagement and misallocation of lease operating costs.
- Representation of major interstate energy transportation company in dispute over contaminated product.
- Representation of energy consulting and technology company in trade secret dispute with major gas producer.
- Representation of oilfield equipment manufacturer in suit to pierce corporate veil and recover assets fraudulently transferred from judgment debtor to avoid payment of judgment.
- Representation of private oil and gas investor against former partner and partner’s co-conspirators for deprivation of partnership opportunities and tortious interference in offshore oilfield exploration venture.
- Representation of oil and gas investors in claim against co-venturers for damages from breach of contract and usurpation of business opportunities.
- Representation of independent well operator in claim for destruction of well from nearby fracking operation by major exploration and production company.
- Representation of international pipeline construction contractor in contract dispute arising from construction of Mariner East 2 Pipeline in Pennsylvania state court.
- Representation of independent well operator against major oilfield services contractor in arbitration regarding failed casing and cementing job.
Business Transactions and Asset Sales:
- Representation of insurance consulting and services provider in dispute for tortious interference with contract to acquire competing business.
- Representation of agricultural equipment manufacturer in dispute for breach of contract and tortious interference to acquire manufacturing assets of competing business.
Corporate Management, Executive Employment, & Compensation:
- Representation of founding shareholder and director of technology company in connection with for-cause removal of co-founder.
- Representation of former commodities futures trader in compensation dispute with prior employer over pre-resignation trades.
- Representation of nationwide event promoter and immersive entertainment experience creator in shareholder dispute in New York state court.
- Representation of former management executive of large construction contractor in negotiations for resignation and severance, including retention of deferred compensation benefits.
- Representation of key producer for nationwide talent recruitment and executive compensation consulting firm in resignation and employment with competing firm.
- Representation of former senior management executive of large publicly owned international chemical manufacturing company in resolution of dispute over ERISA retirement benefits.
- Representation of commercial construction contractor in trade secret case against allegations of tortious interference with non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
- Representation of former C-suite executive of large construction contractor in negotiations for resignation and severance, including retention of deferred compensation benefits.
- Representation of former chief executive and minority investor of national retail clothing company in New Jersey state court for case involving fraud and misrepresentation by private equity-owned majority investor.
- Representation of private investors in various energy, food services, health and wellness, and technology businesses for claims related to investment fraud, mismanagement, and failure to comply with investment agreements.
- Representation of owners in various manufacturing, food services, real estate, and technology businesses in disputes related to termination and winding up of business ventures (so-called “business divorces”).
Insurance Coverage & Recovery:
- Representation of entertainment and content provider in suit against D&O insurer for reimbursement of defense costs in shareholder derivative lawsuit.
- Representation of statewide healthcare system in first-party property insurance coverage disputes.
- Representation of international oilfield services contractor in arbitration over D&O coverage for securities fraud litigation.
- Representation of multiple professional football, basketball, and soccer teams in cases involving complex insurance coverage issues.
- Representation of large offshore oilfield services contractor in international arbitration over complex insurance coverage dispute stemming from a catastrophic oilfield disaster.
- Representation of high-net-worth individual in first-party property insurance claims against multiple insurers arising out of water damage to high-rise luxury condominium.
- Representation of condominium owners’ association for reimbursement of defense costs from D&O insurance company arising out of suit for mismanagement and improper termination of condominium.
- Representation of various commercial real estate owners and developers in coverage disputes against title insurance companies.
Real Estate & Construction:
- Representation of statewide healthcare system in commercial construction disputes.
- Representation of large data center against community members’ complaints alleging nuisance and adverse community impact in North Dakota state court.
- Representation of various commercial landlords in resolution of lease disputes involving early terminations, non-payment, and other breaches by commercial tenants.
- Representation of large event complex in architectural malpractice dispute over expansion project.
- Representation of landowner and commercial real estate developer in boundary dispute and trespass claim against independent oilfield operator over placement of wellsite access road.
- Representation of REIT in electricity contract dispute arising out of Winter Storm Uri.
- Representation of multi-unit residential developer in tortious interference dispute over contract to purchase real estate.
Financial Services:
- Representation of retired Fortune 500 chief executive in FINRA arbitration regarding investment account churning and unauthorized trading.
- Representation of nationwide REIT in FINRA arbitration regarding margin account trading losses.
- B.A., Duke University, cum laude, 1992
- J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1995
Texas Law Review – Member 1993-1995
Order of the Coif
- Texas Super Lawyers (2010-2012, 2014-2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Houstonia Top Lawyers (2021, 2022)
- Texas
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States District Court for the District of Colorado
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- Public Investors Advocate Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
Representative Matters
Energy & Construction:
- Representation of international manufacturer of industrial storage facilities in dispute over interpretation and scope of non-competition provisions in agreement to sell North American assets.
- Representation of fuel blending and tank operator in dispute against transport company for property damage caused by loading improper product.
- Representation of investor in natural gas processing venture to recover on defaulted loans.
- Representation of royalty owners in royalty dispute with multi-national exploration and production company in the Permian Basin.
- Representation of private investors in oil and gas exploration venture for claims against operator arising out of mismanagement and misallocation of lease operating costs.
- Representation of major interstate energy transportation company in dispute over contaminated product.
- Representation of energy consulting and technology company in trade secret dispute with major gas producer.
- Representation of oilfield equipment manufacturer in suit to pierce corporate veil and recover assets fraudulently transferred from judgment debtor to avoid payment of judgment.
- Representation of private oil and gas investor against former partner and partner’s co-conspirators for deprivation of partnership opportunities and tortious interference in offshore oilfield exploration venture.
- Representation of oil and gas investors in claim against co-venturers for damages from breach of contract and usurpation of business opportunities.
- Representation of independent well operator in claim for destruction of well from nearby fracking operation by major exploration and production company.
- Representation of international pipeline construction contractor in contract dispute arising from construction of Mariner East 2 Pipeline in Pennsylvania state court.
- Representation of independent well operator against major oilfield services contractor in arbitration regarding failed casing and cementing job.
Business Transactions and Asset Sales:
- Representation of insurance consulting and services provider in dispute for tortious interference with contract to acquire competing business.
- Representation of agricultural equipment manufacturer in dispute for breach of contract and tortious interference to acquire manufacturing assets of competing business.
Corporate Management, Executive Employment, & Compensation:
- Representation of founding shareholder and director of technology company in connection with for-cause removal of co-founder.
- Representation of former commodities futures trader in compensation dispute with prior employer over pre-resignation trades.
- Representation of nationwide event promoter and immersive entertainment experience creator in shareholder dispute in New York state court.
- Representation of former management executive of large construction contractor in negotiations for resignation and severance, including retention of deferred compensation benefits.
- Representation of key producer for nationwide talent recruitment and executive compensation consulting firm in resignation and employment with competing firm.
- Representation of former senior management executive of large publicly owned international chemical manufacturing company in resolution of dispute over ERISA retirement benefits.
- Representation of commercial construction contractor in trade secret case against allegations of tortious interference with non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
- Representation of former C-suite executive of large construction contractor in negotiations for resignation and severance, including retention of deferred compensation benefits.
- Representation of former chief executive and minority investor of national retail clothing company in New Jersey state court for case involving fraud and misrepresentation by private equity-owned majority investor.
- Representation of private investors in various energy, food services, health and wellness, and technology businesses for claims related to investment fraud, mismanagement, and failure to comply with investment agreements.
- Representation of owners in various manufacturing, food services, real estate, and technology businesses in disputes related to termination and winding up of business ventures (so-called “business divorces”).
Insurance Coverage & Recovery:
- Representation of entertainment and content provider in suit against D&O insurer for reimbursement of defense costs in shareholder derivative lawsuit.
- Representation of statewide healthcare system in first-party property insurance coverage disputes.
- Representation of international oilfield services contractor in arbitration over D&O coverage for securities fraud litigation.
- Representation of multiple professional football, basketball, and soccer teams in cases involving complex insurance coverage issues.
- Representation of large offshore oilfield services contractor in international arbitration over complex insurance coverage dispute stemming from a catastrophic oilfield disaster.
- Representation of high-net-worth individual in first-party property insurance claims against multiple insurers arising out of water damage to high-rise luxury condominium.
- Representation of condominium owners’ association for reimbursement of defense costs from D&O insurance company arising out of suit for mismanagement and improper termination of condominium.
- Representation of various commercial real estate owners and developers in coverage disputes against title insurance companies.
Real Estate & Construction:
- Representation of statewide healthcare system in commercial construction disputes.
- Representation of large data center against community members’ complaints alleging nuisance and adverse community impact in North Dakota state court.
- Representation of various commercial landlords in resolution of lease disputes involving early terminations, non-payment, and other breaches by commercial tenants.
- Representation of large event complex in architectural malpractice dispute over expansion project.
- Representation of landowner and commercial real estate developer in boundary dispute and trespass claim against independent oilfield operator over placement of wellsite access road.
- Representation of REIT in electricity contract dispute arising out of Winter Storm Uri.
- Representation of multi-unit residential developer in tortious interference dispute over contract to purchase real estate.
Financial Services:
- Representation of retired Fortune 500 chief executive in FINRA arbitration regarding investment account churning and unauthorized trading.
- Representation of nationwide REIT in FINRA arbitration regarding margin account trading losses.
Education
- B.A., Duke University, cum laude, 1992
- J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1995
Texas Law Review – Member 1993-1995
Order of the Coif
Honors & Awards
- Texas Super Lawyers (2010-2012, 2014-2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Houstonia Top Lawyers (2021, 2022)
Court Admissions
- Texas
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States District Court for the District of Colorado
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- United States Court of Federal Claims
Community Involvement
- Public Investors Advocate Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation