Theresa M. Wanat
Partner
Overview
Theresa M. Wanat is a Houston trial and arbitration attorney who focuses on litigation matters affecting a wide range of industries. Ms. Wanat represents clients in the healthcare sector, including managed care and provider disputes; the insurance industry; the energy sector, including oil, gas and electric cooperatives; the real estate sector; and the financial services industry. She is also well-versed in high-stakes personal injury defense.
Ms. Wanat has significant litigation experience in state, federal and arbitration venues, where she handles matters for managed-care companies, energy organizations and Class 1 railroads. She also assists with industrial accidents and fatalities, including as an emergency responder; with class action and antitrust litigation; and insurance matters involving property and casualty disputes.
Representative Experience
- Years of experience representing managed care entities and insurers in multiple venues across Texas and nationally on complex commercial issues, including antitrust and multimillion-dollar breach of contract actions, personal injury/negligence allegations, employment disputes and termination appeals/litigation
- Represented payers and employers regarding healthcare coverage and payment disputes and settlements, including Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) claims, between in-network and out-of-network providers in state and federal court, and numerous arbitrations
- Represented managed care entities and companies regarding bid proposals and public information requests
- Represented large oil and gas companies with multimillion-dollar oil and gas disputes, including a $100 million-plus matter between a gas producer and a processer, as well as helped obtain emergency relief in a matter between a bulk liquid storage facility and an international oil company
- Represented electric cooperatives throughout Texas in high-stakes personal injury matters, class action disputes and other complex commercial matters, including coordinating the media and community response
- Assisted with the settlement of a subcontractor's potential liability in connection with a significant 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill
- Represented a Class 1 railroad and coordinated with local and state bodies as well as community members and commercial entities regarding the safe and efficient transport of goods, including in shale development areas
- Worked on multistate and multimillion-dollar commercial litigation matters, including title loans, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and property disputes (i.e. adverse possession, nuisance, easements and right-of-ways)
- Interpreted and coordinated the use of a multimillion-dollar blended finite risk insurance policy for a client who was a former property owner
- Managed multiple personal injury and fatality matters, including community and press responses
Credentials
- University of Houston Law Center, J.D.
- University of Michigan, B.A., with honors
- Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United Way of Greater Houston, Women's Initiative
- United Way of Greater Houston, Young Leaders
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
- Adopt an Angel, Firm Representative
- Fellows of the American Bar Association
- ACHIEVE Fort Bend County, Board Member
- Houston Bar Association, Law Week Fun Run Committee
- Greater Houston Partnership, Member
- Rising Star, Texas Super Lawyers magazine, 2017-2019, 2021
- Outstanding Services Award, American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project, 2021
- Holland & Knight Rising Stars, Class of 2018; Coordinator, 2019