PARTNER Georgetown University Law Center J.D., 2000 magna cum laude Order of the Coif Executive Editor, Georgetown Law Journal Advocate, Order of the Barristers, Moot Court Team, Legal Research and Writing Fellow Loyola College B.A. Political Science, 1987 Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society Loyola Presidential Scholar Texas Rising Star 2005, 2006 Texas Monthly Magazine Certificate in Advanced Arbitration Skills from the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center of the University of Houston Law Center Admitted to Practice Texas, 2000 Printer Friendly Version SHAWN M. BATES sbates@yetterwarden.com  |   713.632.8019   |     vCard Mr. Bates graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. He has focused his practice on litigation and arbitration of complex commercial disputes, including business torts, breach of contract, fraud and construction cases, for companies in the oil and gas, energy, finance, medical, and other industries. He also manages a trial docket for a prominent regional utility, and oversees e-discovery issues for the Firm. Mr. Bates has first-chaired cases to verdict in jury trial, bench trial and arbitration settings and holds a Certificate in Advanced Arbitration Skills from the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center of the University of Houston Law Center. He has been involved in numerous complex commercial disputes, among them including: Representation in Nevada state court of a plaintiff mining company in a fraud and breach of contract case against a worldwide engineering firm, resulting in a $137 million jury verdict and $101 million settlement (the largest actual damages verdict and settlement in Nevada history). First-chairing the defense of a Fortune 10 company being sued in a $240 million fraud case involving oilfield tools, resulting in obtaining an indemnity from a co-defendant a month before trial, followed by a non-suit by plaintiff just two weeks from trial and on the same day plaintiff would have had to respond to our pending motion for summary judgment, and then being asked to join the remaining defendant's trial team, which secured a near-zero value settlement in the fourth week of trial. Heading the legal team in a $50 million ad hoc arbitration involving a dispute between a national pipeline company and an international compression company, involving allegations of breach of contract and fraud, and achieving an extremely favorable pre-trial settlement. First-chairing prosecution of a $15 million breach of contract claim against a prominent wireless communications company, resulting in a very favorable pretrial settlement. First-chairing the defense of a prominent regional pipeline company being sued in an $8 million fraud and theft case. First-chairing prosecution of a $6 million lawsuit in which our client, a national pipeline company, sued its subcontractor for failure to perform. First-chairing prosecution of a $3.3 million breach of contract claim against a prominent telecommunications company, resulting in a full-value pretrial settlement. First-chairing the defense of a Fortune 10 company being sued in a $2 million breach of warranty and DTPA case involving oilfield tools. First-chairing the defense of a national telephone company against charges of breach of contract and fraud in two separate multi-million dollar lawsuits by former customers, with both cases resulting in extremely favorable pre-trial settlements for pennies on the dollar. First-chairing a AAA arbitration on behalf of a national natural gas and electric company in a breach of contract dispute with a major soft drink bottling company over a high-six figure dispute. First-chairing a AAA arbitration on behalf of the claimant and obtaining a high-six figure award against the claimant's former investment advisor for professional negligence. First-chairing the bench trial of a negligent misrepresentation case in Colorado on behalf of a Canadian citizen seeking lost investment damages against U.S. and Canadian defendants. Advising a prominent local hospital during intense negotiations between it and a prominent local medical school over complex issues stemming from the medical school¹s decision to end the institutions' 50-year collaboration. First-chairing the defense of a local utility in various lawsuits involving claims of negligence and breach of easement; First-chairing prosecution of various lawsuits for plaintiff local utility company against telecommunications and cable television companies failing to pay for joint use of facilities. Handling complex negotiations for a local medical device distributor wishing to terminate on favorable terms its agreement with its supplier. Mr. Bates spoke in 2004 at the University of Houston on "Litigating the Big Document Case." In December 2005 and 2006 he spoke before the annual meeting of the Government Treasurers of Texas on "Developing an Ethics Policy for the Investment Officer." In September 2006 Mr. Bates spoke before more than 150 attorneys and legal professionals on a roundtable panel discussing the topic of e-discovery. Mr. Bates' article "Arbitration Clauses for Ongoing Relationships," was published in the Jan/Feb 2005 issue of The Houston Lawyer. The article was named Outstanding Legal Article for 2005 by the Houston Bar Foundation. In December 2006 Mr. Bates spoke at The Arbitration Institute on the topics of "To Arbitrate or Not: Practical Considerations." In August 2008, Mr. Bates' article "Be Careful What You Ask for, the Other Guy Might Get it: Attorney Fees in Arbitration" was published in The Houston Lawyer. Mr. Bates has been named a Texas Rising Star by Texas Monthly Magazine for 2005 and 2006, and one of Houston's Top Lawyers for 2006, 2007 and 2008 by H Texas Magazine. Mr. Bates is a United Way Young Leader and a United Way Community Investment Volunteer. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Santa Maria Hostel, a Houston-based non-profit organization that provides in-patient treatment for women battling addiction and abuse, and their children. Mr. Bates is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the College of the State Bar of Texas (2004- present), Houston Bar Association and Houston Young Lawyers Association. He served as a member of the Legal Advisory Committee for the Paralegal Studies Program at North Harris College (2004-2006). He has served on various HBA committees, and currently serves on The Houston Lawyer Committee of the HBA. He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Texas and the United States Supreme Court. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Bates worked for the United States Government in 1990-1998, first as Defense Analyst with Science Applications International Corporation, and then as Senior Auditor with the U.S. General Accounting Office (National Security and International Affairs Division) and the U.S. Department of State, Office of Inspector General.