Will represents clients in litigation and international arbitration primarily in the fields of energy, construction, and commercial disputes. Will has taken scores of cases through jury verdict, final arbitration hearing, and appeal as first chair. He is an adjunct professor of International Commercial Arbitration at the University of Houston Law Center, and has served two terms as the Chair of the Houston Bar Association’s International Law Section. He is a member of the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources section and is on the steering committee of the firm’s Latin American Business Group. Will is fluent in Spanish and has handled numerous cases involving Latin American parties and projects.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Service as sole ICDR arbitrator in Houston arbitration arising out of international oil field services commercial dispute.
Service as co-arbitrator in ICDR international arbitration under AAA Commercial Rules for Large Complex Commercial Disputes arising out of international seismic services agreements.
Service as co-arbitrator under AAA Rules for Large Complex Commercial Disputes in dispute arising out of termination of operating agreement at U.S. petrochemical plant.
Service as sole ICDR arbitrator in Houston arbitration arising out of international oil field services commercial dispute.
Service as co-arbitrator in ICDR international arbitration under AAA Commercial Rules for Large Complex Commercial Disputes arising out of international seismic services agreements.
Service as co-arbitrator under AAA Rules for Large Complex Commercial Disputes in dispute arising out of termination of operating agreement at U.S. petrochemical plant.
Service as co-arbitrator in appeal of consumer commercial dispute under the AAA Commercial Rules.
Service as sole ICDR arbitrator in Houston arbitration arising out of oil well snubbing and demobilization services between U.S. and Chinese parties.
LCIA, Houston: Representation of claimant in proceedings to terminate long-term gas pipeline construction and management agreements.
LCIA, Houston: Defended confidential arbitration seated in Houston representing the U.S. affiliate of a foreign power utility in disputes arising out of natural gas commodity supply agreements (NAESB) and financial transactions impacted by gas index price spikes during Winter Storm Uri.
LCIA, Houston: Represented respondent/counterclaimant in LCIA arbitration seated in Houston representing U.S. natural gas company in disputes relating to natural gas commodity supply interruptions under multiple major, long-term (NAESB) and short-term contracts relating to the purchase, sale, index pricing, and transportation of natural gas. The disputes generated several domestic 1782 cases, civil cases, and confirmation proceedings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas: CFE International LLC et al v. Whitewater Midstream Logistics LLC, Case No. 4:24-cv-02069.
USDC, SDTX: Representation of plaintiff in breach of fiduciary duty claims against former executives arising out of the award of various natural gas commodity supply agreements as well as pipeline construction, operation, and optimization agreements. CFE International LLC v. Guillermo Turrent Schnaas et al., Case No. 4:22-cv-03385 (S.D. Tex.).
ICC, Houston: Representation of respondent flexible pipe manufacturer in ICC arbitration involving warranty/contract dispute arising out of sale of flexible pipe and alleged failures.
AAA, Houston: Representation of respondent E&P company in trade secret/breach of contract claim seeking in excess of $100 million arising out of IP issues relating to plugging and abandonment technology in Norway and North Sea.
Administrative ADR Proceedings: Representation of multiple clients from upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors in scores of Texas ERCOT and PUC ADR proceedings, State Office of Administrative Hearings administrative proceedings, as well as court proceedings arising out of 2021 Winter Storm Uri and related to natural gas pricing, force majeure, ERCOT / PUC power and ancillary services pricing, and other regulatory issues.
S. Ct. of Texas: Representation of retail electricity provider (REP) in landmark challenge to the PUC and ERCOT’s power pricing during Winter Storm Uri. PUC of Tex. v. Luminant Energy Co. LLC, 691 S.W.3d 448 (Tex. 2024); Luminant Energy Co. LLC v. PUC of Tex., 665 S.W.3d 166 (Tex. App.—Austin 2023, rev’d). See PUC Pricing Orders Rightly Nixed, Texas High Court Told
U.S. Dist. Court, Houston, Austin: representation of U.S. natural gas trading company and foreign governmental energy company in multiple Section 1782 applications seeking discovery in aid of Mexican criminal proceedings arising out of long-term gas supply and pipeline construction projects.
ICDR, New York: Representation through final hearing of Claimant in obtaining $71 million arbitration award in dispute regarding farm-in drilling interests in China between U.S. oil companies.
U.S. Dist. Court, New York: Representation of seller of gas storage facility in fraud case regarding due diligence by buyer’s accounting and engineering experts.
CPR, Houston: Representation of seller of natural gas production assets and pipeline asset in fraud case regarding alleged financial representations in purchase sale agreement.
AAA, Houston: Representation of petrochemical manufacturer in cost allocation dispute with plant owner/operator addressing methodologies to allocate and account for unmetered equipment costs as well as shared labor and services costs.
Texas State Court: Representation of Canadian independent against U.S. oilfield services company regarding design of completion operations in Central America.
CPR, Houston: Representation of exploration and production company claimant against manufacturer of pipeline for failure and replacement damages.
Texas State Court: Prosecution of claim by major U.S. oil and gas company against Mexican natural gas company regarding purchase and sale agreement.
U.S. Dist. Court: Defense of a Guatemalan oil company in an action by U.S. company alleging fraud relating to its interests in Guatemala.
ICSID: Prosecution of breach of contract claim for natural gas licenses, expropriation, and violation of bilateral investment treaty.
ICSID: Representation of major U.S. oil and gas company in a $100 million cost recovery dispute against a South-Asian government.
Court & Arbitration: Prosecution and defense of multiple traders of petroleum and petrochemical products in breach of contract, UCC and CISG claims.
Texas State Court: Representation of drilling company against pipeline company regarding interference with land use rights and property damage.
ICC, New York: Representation of claimant in supply and construction claim for delay and disruption claims regarding offshore wind turbine renewables project.
ICC, Mexico City: Representation through final hearing of claimant subcontractor against general contractor in construction and installation cost claim and defending major delay damages counterclaim arising out of enhanced recovery modifications on production platforms in the Bay of Campeche.
AAA, Houston: Representation of multinational industrial power equipment company in claims against Mexican construction company in breach of contract claims arising out of supply of industrial power equipment for project in Mexico.
ICC, Mexico City: Preparation of claim by U.S. construction company in dispute with foreign national oil company over delay damages and change orders arising out of offshore platform construction.
ICDR, Mexico City: Representation of U.S. chemical company against subcontractor supplier for contractual disputes, delay, and disruption damages.
ICC, Frankfurt: Representation of respondent major U.S. construction company through final hearing defending in arbitration in London under German law arising out of a plant explosion in the United States.
Ad Hoc, Houston: Defense of Mexican industrial boiler manufacturer in dispute with EPC contractor regarding construction of power plant in Venezuela.
Texas State Court: Prosecution through trial of claim for major U.S. chemical company against valve manufacturer arising out of plant explosion caused by valve failure. Damages model exceeded $16 million, and case settled during trial for confidential amount.
Texas State Court: Prosecution of claim by U.S. chemical company against fired heater manufacturer arising out of plant explosion generating over $20 million in damages.
ICDR, New York: Representation of claimant trading house seller in arbitration arising out of failure of buyer to perform commodities contract alleging force majeure relating to tariff changes.
Preparation and prosecution of multiple applications for discover under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1782 throughout Texas Federal Courts.
LCIA, London and ICDR, Virginia: Representation of prime contractor in over a dozen LCIA and ICDR arbitrations brought by various subcontractors in London and Virginia of claims arising under state contractual law and government contracting issues relating to multibillion-dollar prime contract with U.S. government for logistical support. Cases resolved in various ways: some through final hearing and award, and some by agreement.
Texas State Court: Representation of industrial power equipment manufacturer against engineering company in payment claims arising out of PDVSA natural gas project in Venezuela.
ICDR, New York: Representation of Central-American power company against U.S. company in dispute arising out of fuel supply agreements.
U.S. District Court: Defense of Mexican affiliate of major bottling company in commercial dispute arising out of Mexican arbitration award seeking over $75 million.
Texas State Court: Prosecution of fraud and breach of contract action by Mexican investors in U.S. real estate venture. Case resolved under confidential settlement terms.
Texas State Court: Prosecution of fraud action by French environmental company against Mexican and U.S. individuals based on allegations of fraudulently increasing EBITDA in target company.
AAA, Austin: Representation of claimant investors through final hearing in movie project against film’s promotors asserting claims for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and securities act violations, among other claims. Arbitration awarded actual damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and arbitration costs.
Texas State Court: Prosecution through trial of fraud, breach of contract, conspiracy, and theft of trade secrets case. Jury awarded $7.65 million, including $3 million in punitive damages. (PBHS v. Omni, No. 200643325).
U.S. District Court: Defense through judgment and settlement of $20 million+ guaranty case regarding loans for acquisition and operation of intrastate barge business.
AAA, Houston: Representation of healthcare provider in defense of ERISA fee forgiveness claim.
AAA: Representation of multiple claimants and respondents in arbitrations arising out of chemical purchase and sale agreements under UCC and CISG laws.
Texas State Court: Prosecution through settlement of multimillion dollar claims regarding failure to pay commissions in fuel blending and trading business.
U.S. District Court: Successful defense of major U.S. chemical company in claim to reform supply contract seeking over $20 million in damages.
U.S. District Court: Defense through appeal of Mexican waste company in letter-of-credit litigation with U.S. waste company through appeal in Fifth Circuit (Residuous Industriales Multiquim, S.A. de C.V. v. Waste Management, Inc., 372 F.3d 339 (5th Cir. 2004); 19(6) Mealey’s International Arbitration Report 9 (June 2004)).
Texas State Court: Defense of U.S. chemical company in breach of contract/force majeure action arising out of sale of commodity chemical.
Texas State Court: Prosecution of copyright and misappropriation of trade secrets action on behalf of bank for software programs misappropriated by former employees.
Texas State Court: Representation of U.S. construction firm in defense of indemnity claim arising out of wrongful death explosion case.
Texas State Court: Defense of Texas power co-operative in Texas Winter Storm Uri Multidistrict Litigation proceedings. In Re Winter Storm Uri Litigation¸ Cause No. 2021-41903, in the 281st District Court of Harris County Texas.
Texas State Court: Defense of major chemical company against allegations by severely burned plaintiff that epoxy resin dust caused subject fire.
Texas State Court: Defense through trial of $18 million fraud action against lawyer and insurance company arising out of a malpractice action related to a down-hole oilfield tool patent infringement action. Jury reached a defense verdict.
Texas State Court: Defense through trial of medical malpractice action based upon alleged misdiagnosis. The jury deliberated less than one hour to reach defense verdict.
Texas State Court: Defense through trial of a medical malpractice action against plastic surgeon. Jury reached a defense verdict.
Texas State Court: Defense through trial and appeal of law firm on equitably subrogated legal malpractice action. Successful in both trial and appeal.
Ad hoc, Houston: Defense through ad hoc arbitration final hearing of legal malpractice case arising out of an insurance coverage opinion. Result confidential.
Texas State Court: Prosecution through trial of medical malpractice case regarding failure to diagnose occluded artery causing loss of kidneys and subsequent death of patient.
Texas State Court: Defense of toxic tort actions (exposure to silica dust, asbestos, benzene, and others) against hundreds of individual plaintiffs.
Pro bono
Pro bono
Representation of multiple children for almost a decade in conjunction with Kids in Need of Defense (“KIND”) on asylum, SAPCR, and associated immigration proceedings
Representation of prisoner in federal death penalty habeas petition regarding mitigating evidence.
Recognitions
Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for International Arbitration – Commercial, 2022-present
- Adjunct Professor at University of Houston Law Center, teaching International Commercial Arbitration, 2019-present
- Recognized as a notable practitioner in The Legal 500 Latin America for International Arbitration, 2018-present (2022: “Will Russell has been a superstar for our matters. He is particularly great for a gut-check as well as making sure we do not have many blind sides”)
Credentials
Education
Education
- South Texas College of Law, J.D., Order of the Barristers; Magister of the Order of the Lytae, Texas Law Review, Assistant Editor; Mock Trial and Moot Court (1995 ABA National final round)
- Southern Methodist University, B.A.
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- Texas
Court admissions
Court admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- Adjunct Professor of International Commercial Arbitration, University of Houston Law School, spring 2019 to present
- Houston Bar Association International Law Section: Chair, 2018-2019, 2019-2020; Vice-chair, 2018; council, 2017, 2021-present
- AAA Roster of Neutrals; AAA National Energy Panel of Neutrals
- ICDR International Panel of Neutrals
- State Bar of Texas, Grievance Committee
- Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Advisory Committee
- Asociación Latinoamericana de Arbitraje
- Houston International Arbitration Club (founding member)
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Media mentions
Insights
Blogs
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Events
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