Susan Soussan

Commercial litigator for 17 years, issues primarily involved: contracts, real estate, banking, partnership disputes and general business. Mass torts and class action disputes involving millions...

Experience

Commercial litigator for 17 years, issues primarily involved: contracts, real estate, banking, partnership disputes and general business.

Mass torts and class action disputes involving millions of dollars in controversy and in final settlement (3000+) cases, including medical devices, pharmaceutical, toxic tort exposure, oil & gas refinery plant explosions, automobile rollovers, tire failures, asbestos & silicosis;

Labor and Employment Law (1000+) cases have included Title VII, 1983, ADA, class actions, FLSA, non-compete, age ERISA, TCHRA - settlements in the 5, 6, 7 figure dollar range;

IP (300+) cases have included patent infringement, trade secret, copyright involving multi-million and multi-billion dollar demands and settlements particularly in the fields of technology (hardware & software disputes among all major computer related companies) and energy (tools, pipelines);

Oil & Gas/Energy (500+) multi-billion and million dollar disputes involving all facets of upstream, midstream & downstream issues, interpretation of Joint Operating Agreements with Areas of Mutual Interest, exploration, gathering, production and marketing of LNG agreements among all world-wide oil and gas/energy companies;

Insurance law (300+) cases having included contract interpretation & bad faith claims; partnership disputes, business separation, real estate, probate, medical & legal malpractice, securities, tax fraud, construction, breach of contract, defamation and personal injury (personal injury matters - 1000+ as a result of mass tort litigation). All demands and settlements in these cases have been in the 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 figure dollar range.

Work History

Mediator and Arbitrator, Susan S. Soussan, P.C., 1995-present; Partner, Greenberg Peden Siegmyer Oshman & Soussan, 1977-94; State District Judge, State of Texas, 1994.

Cases

6500+ pre and post litigation matters involving all facets of civil, state, federal, domestic and international, litigation since 1990, specializing in complex, high-profile cases (e.g. Exxon Valdez v. Lloyds of London, et al.; Hayes v. Robert Courtney, Eli Lilly and Co. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.). Also: Energy/Power Plants: 750+ cases multi-billion and million dollar disputes involving all facets of upstream, midstream & downstream issues (breach of contract, construction), interpretation of Joint Operating Agreements with Areas of Mutual Interest, exploration, gathering, production and marketing of LNG agreements among all world-wide oil and gas/energy companies. Mass torts and class action disputes: (3,000+ class members) involving millions of dollars in controversy and in final settlement cases, including medical devices, pharmaceutical, toxic tort exposure, oil & gas refinery plant explosions, automobile roll-overs, tire failures, asbestos & silicosis). Labor and Employment Law: 1000+ cases involving Title VII, 1983, ADA, FLSA – individual and 216(b) Collective Action and wage and hour class action claims, non-compete, age, ERISA, TCHRA - settlements in the 5, 6, 7 figure dollar range. IP: 300+ cases involving patent infringement, trade secret, copyright involving multi-million and multi-billion dollar demands and settlements particularly in fields of technology (hardware & software disputes among all major computer related companies) and energy (tools, pipelines). Insurance law: 300+ cases involving contract interpretation & bad faith claims; partnership disputes, business separation, real estate, probate, medical & legal malpractice, securities, tax fraud, construction, breach of contract, defamation and personal injury (personal injury matters - 1000+ as a result of mass tort litigation). All demands & settlements in these cases have been in the 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 figure dollar range.

Training

2016 AAA/ICDR/MEDIATION.ORG Panel Conference, February, 2016 3rd Annual ITA-IEL-ICC Conference on Intl Energy Arbitration, The Center for American and International Law, January, 2016. AAA Panel Dynamics: “Staying On Course When Things Don’t Go As Planned,” 2015 “Hearing and Managing the Evidence,” Sponsored by the American Arbitration Association, June, 2014 “Managing a Successful Arbitration”-College of Commercial Arbitrators and AAA, March, 2013 “Managing Your First Arbitration”-College of Commercial Arbitrators and AAA, November, 2011 AAA University- Chairing An Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, 2010 AAA, Efficient ADR-Saving the Client’s Money Through Technology and Common Sense, 2010 AAA, ADR Strategies That Save Time and Money, 2010 AAA Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New Arbitrators, 2009 College of Commercial Arbitrators Annual Meeting, 2006-2013 International Academy of Mediators Fall Meeting, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012 International Academy of Mediators Spring Conference, 2003, 2006 Institute for Transnational Arbitration of the Center for American and International Law Annual Workshop, Arbitral Advocacy, 2004 Association of Attorney-Mediators, Inc., Mediation Training, multiple years.

License(s)

Admitted to the Bar, Texas, 1977; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1979; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1980; U.S. Supreme Court, 1980.

Education

University of Texas (BA, with honors-1974); University of Houston (JD, Order of the Barons-1977).

Awards

One of “Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2016” by Houston Woman Magazine 2014 Woman on the Move sponsored by Texas Executive Women Texas Super Lawyer (Mediation and Arbitration) – Multiple Years Houston’s Top Lawyers – Multiple Years Texas Top Rated Lawyer – 2016 Houstonia Top Lawyer - 2016 H Texas Magazine Houston’s Top Women in Business - 2015

Panels

AAA Commercial Panel AAA Large Complex Cases Panel AAA Real Estate Panel AAA Mediation Panel CPR Panel of Neutrals CPR Employment Panel (Southwest Region) CPR Energy Oil & Gas Panel (Southwest Region) CPR Environmental Panel CPR Judicial Panel

Associations

STATE BAR OF TEXAS-COUNCIL MEMBER: ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SECTION 2011-2014 TEXAS MEDIATOR CREDENTIALING ASSOCIATION- CREDENTIALED DISTINGUISHED TEXAS ACADEMY OF DISTINGUISHED NEUTRALS AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION COLLEGE OF COMMERCIAL ARBITRATORS INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY LAW OF THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN & INTERNATIONAL LAW CPR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION PANEL OF NEUTRALS CPR EMPLOYMENT PANEL-SOUTHWEST REGION CPR ENERGY OIL & GAS PANEL-SOUTHWEST REGION CPR ENVIRONMENTAL PANEL INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDIATORS (IAM) ASSOCIATION OF ATTORNEY MEDIATORS, INC. ASSOCIATION OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION AMERICAN, TEXAS AND HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATIONS, (ADR AND LITIGATION SECTIONS) THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL LAW (CAIL) FELLOW: AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION TEXAS BAR FOUNDATION HOUSTON BAR FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDIATORS (IAM) COLLEGE OF COMMERCIAL ARBITRATORS AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CIVIL TRIAL MEDIATORS 1997-2000

Miscellaneous

Languages - Spanish