J. Chad Arnette

BIOGRAPHY

Chad Arnette represents corporate and individual clients and municipalities in a wide variety of business litigation in state and federal courts involving oil and gas matters, including well and pipeline failures, M&A and partnership disputes, complex commercial litigation of all types, constitutional law, and a variety of other matters. Mr. Arnette has participated in numerous civil and criminal trials in state and federal courts, multi-week administrative proceedings, arbitrations, and appeals.

EXPERIENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Obtained favorable result for large E&P company in litigation against OCTG manufacturer and suppliers following the successive failure of five Delaware basin oil wells due to weld defects in the casing
• Won arbitration in a case involving claims between two E&P companies for indemnity in connection with legacy operator litigation in Louisiana
• Won summary judgment for Dallas-based midstream company in a dispute with a contractor over the construction of a pipeline in West Virginia
• Represented E&P company in litigation against OCTG manufacturers and suppliers whose defective components resulted in the complete loss of a Delaware basin well
• Represented midstream company in contract litigation involving gas gathering, processing, and fractionation
• Won arbitration for large municipality in connection with claims by a former police officer that he was wrongly discharged.
• Represented midstream company in connection with pipeline ruptures resulting from defective line pipe.
• Won a week-long arbitration on behalf of a supplier who asserted breach of contract and other claims against a Dallas-based luxury retailer
• Represented large municipality in numerous proceedings involving the constitutionally of ordinances and regulations.
• Represented pipeline owner in litigation against the contractor who performed work that resulted in the rupture of the pipeline
• Obtained summary judgment for the City of Arlington in a case filed by a restaurant/bar trade association challenging the constitutionality of Arlington’s smoke-free ordinance
• Represented Permian-basin focused E&P company in a number of matters, including well failures, liens, lease challenges, and oilfield theft
• Ongoing representation of distributor of electronic components in antitrust litigation against Japanese suppliers
• Successfully defended health care company and its partners in a $65 million lawsuit alleging fraud, tortious interference and other claims. After two years of litigation, favorable trial court rulings, and a successful interlocutory appeal for Defendants, Plaintiffs dismissed all of their claims without compensation
• Obtained 12(b)(6) dismissal of the United States Anti-Doping Agency and Travis Tygart in a defamation lawsuit brought by track and field coach Jon Drummond
• Successfully defended health care company against a non-compete challenge filed by a former limited partner, resulting in a walk away by the Plaintiff without compensation
• In a trademark infringement case in the Southern District of New York, obtained injunctive relief prohibiting the sale of infringing products and requiring the recall and destruction of all infringing products sold
• Won a $50 million bench trial involving a lignite mine in Central Texas
• Successfully defended health care company in a defamation case filed by a certified registered nurse anesthetist. The Plaintiff dismissed all of his claims without monetary compensation
• Obtained 12(b)(6) dismissal in a takings lawsuit brought by a real estate developer against the City of Arlington, Texas. Affirmed on appeal
• Successfully defended Japanese electronics manufacturer and obtained award on client’s counterclaims in a Chicago arbitration
• Successfully represented the City of Arlington, Texas, in several employment discrimination cases
• Obtained multi-million-dollar judgment for a real estate developer in a case involving developments in Arizona and Texas
• Obtained a favorable settlement for the Plaintiff package manufacturer in a trade secret case against a large video game retailer
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a tax suit brought by the County of St. Louis, Missouri against numerous online travel companies.  Affirmed by the Missouri Supreme Court
• Successfully represented an online travel company in numerous tax suits in California
• Obtained multi-million-dollar settlement for the Plaintiff in an insurance dispute relating to a fire at a commercial building
• Successfully brought antitrust claims against a large demographic data provider, resulting in a favorable settlement for a consumer analytics company
• Successfully defended numerous law firms and accounting firms in professional malpractice cases

AFFILIATIONS

• Dallas Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Former Greeting Committee Member
• Make-a-Wish Foundation, Regional Advisory Board, Former Member
• Quail Coalition, Cross Timbers Chapter, Former Board Member
• Quail Unlimited, Cross Timbers Chapter, Former Board Member

HONORS

• Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2013-2024
  • Business Litigation
• Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News & World Report, 2018-2024
  • Litigation – Antitrust
  • Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Top Attorney, 360 West magazine, 2017-2023
  • Antitrust Law
  • Professional Malpractice Non-Medical Defense
  • Products Liability Law
  • Civil Law | Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
• Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2012-2019, 2021-2023
  • Antitrust Law
  • Civil Law | Litigation
• Best Lawyers® Employment Law Issue, 2021, 2022
  • Labor & Employment – Litigation
• Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2008-2013
  • Business Litigation
• 40 Under 40 honoree, Fort Worth Business Press, 2012
• American Bar Association, Professional Liability Litigation Alert Editor, 2005-2007

EDUCATION

• Southern Methodist University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1999
  •      SMU Law Review
  •      Phi Delta Phi
  •      Dean’s List
• University of London, Maria Assumption Center
• The University of Mississippi, B.P.A., magna cum laude, 1996

ADMISSIONS

• State Bar of Texas, 2000
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas