James C. Scott

BIOGRAPHY

James C. Scott is a successful trial lawyer who represents companies and individuals in their most complicated and contentious business divorces. His business litigation experience includes private equity and post-acquisition disputes, partnership disputes, contractual and business fraud disputes, breach of fiduciary matters, misappropriation of trade secrets, and product liability.  His oil and gas litigation experience includes lease interpretation issues, royalty payment issues, surface use disputes, lease termination disputes, and joint operating agreement disputes.  

Mr. Scott also has extensive experience in handling pre-judgment remedies such as temporary restraining orders, temporary injunctions, garnishments, and receiverships when trade secrets, collateral or business mismanagement is at issue and immediate relief is needed from the court.

Mr. Scott regularly serves as outside general counsel for companies who need an experienced business advisor who can help them identify, manage and reduce risk, evaluate insurance coverage, develop safety programs for reporting and avoiding accidents and generally find ways to reduce and avoid litigation.

EXPERIENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Represented client against claims by plaintiffs seeking damages of over $80 million based on allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, tortious interference and business disparagement; jury returned a full defense verdict awarding no damages against client
• E&P-related appellate litigation in Texas
• Lead trial counsel, jury defense verdict for client sued for over $4 million for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, conversion and theft
• Co-appellate counsel, reversal of $2.5 million judgment against oil and gas client sued for breach of contract regarding a joint exploration agreement and acquisition of thousands of mineral acres in East Texas. Lead trial counsel on remand, case favorably settled on the eve of trial
• Lead trial counsel, complete summary judgment for national HVAC manufacturer client sued for product liability
• Lead trial counsel, complete summary judgment for client sued for over $1 million for alleged fraud and fiduciary breaches regarding a partnership investment in a neuro-monitoring company
• Lead trial counsel, obtained temporary restraining order and receivership for bank client to control and manage the debtor hotel from improperly disbursing revenue
• Lead trial counsel, favorable bench trial verdict for national HVAC manufacturer sued for personal injury
• Lead trial counsel, jury defense verdict for energy consultant client sued for breach of contract for services provided on a well in East Texas
• Lead appellate counsel, argued before the Texas Supreme Court and obtained a reversal of the court of appeals’ holding on a jurisdictional issue of first impression
• Co-trial counsel, complete summary judgment for bank client sued for approximately $45 million for alleged breach of contract, fraud, DTPA and conspiracy regarding the financing and potential acquisition of a telecommunications company

AFFILIATIONS

• State Bar of Texas
• Dallas Bar Association, Member
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Member
• Tarrant County Bar Association, Member
• State Fair of Texas Livestock Auction Committe, Member
• Texas A&M Association of Former Students, Member
• 12th Man Foundation, Member
• Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Member

HONORS

• Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine
  • Civil Law | Litigation, 2022, 2023
  • Commercial Litigation, 2021
• Top Attorney, 360 West magazine
  • Civil Law | Litigation, 2021-2023
  • Civil Law | Transactional, 2021
• 40 Under 40 honoree, Fort Worth Business Press, 2019
• Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2013-2019

EDUCATION

• The South Texas College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2006
  • Academic Merit Scholarship and Howard Warren Scholarship
  • South Texas Law Review
  • Order of Lytae
  • Intern, Justice Tim Taft, First Court of Appeals, Texas
• Texas A&M University, B.S., 2003

ADMISSIONS

• State Bar of Texas, 2006
• Texas State Courts, 2006
• 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, Southern District of Texas