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 and involving various issues. She represents clients in the energy sector, including oil, gas and electric cooperatives; healthcare sector, including managed care and provider disputes; insurance industry; real estate sector; and the financial services industry. Ms. Wanat also is well-versed in providing significant personal injury defense.
Ms. Wanat has significant litigation experience in state, federal and arbitration venues, where she handles matters for energy organizations, managed-care companies and Class 1 railroads. She also assists with industrial accidents and fatalities, including as an emergency responder; class action litigation; environmental remediation projects; residential and commercial adverse possession disputes; and insurance matters involving property and casualty disputes.
Experience
- Assisted with the settlement of a subcontractor's potential liability in connection with a Gulf Coast oil spill
- Helped obtain an air permit for an out-of-state client building a coal-fired power plant in Texas
- Assisted a railroad client in coordinating responses to shale development issues
- Assisted with multimillion-dollar oil and gas disputes
- Assisted 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
- Helped coordinate the media and community response, as well as the litigation, regarding a class action dispute against an electric cooperative
- Assisted with the settlement of a subcontractor's potential liability in connection with a significant 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill
- Assisted a Class 1 railroad coordinate 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
- Assisted with healthcare coverage and payment disputes between providers and managed-care entities as well as insurers in multiple venues across Texas and nationally, including on issues involving breach of contract, antitrust, public information requests, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) claims and employment matters
- Worked extensively on personal injury disputes, including railroad litigation, medical malpractice and multiple fatality incidents, as well as advising on the corporate response and media coordination
- Reviewed and helped update commercial property leases dating back to the early 1900s
- Assisted with multistate and multimillion-dollar commercial disputes
- 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
- Interpreted and coordinated the use of a multimillion-dollar blended finite risk insurance policy for a client, who was a former property owner
- Assisted with numerous healthcare matters, including Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) claims, healthcare coverage and payment disputes, employment matters, and discussions with various state agencies
- Managed multiple personal injury and fatality matters
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
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC)
- Adopt an Angel, Firm Representative
- United Way of Greater Houston, Women's Initiative
- United Way of Greater Houston, Young Leaders
- Fort Bend Regional Counsel for Substance Abuse Inc., Fundraising Committee
- Fellows of the American Bar Association
- ACHIEVE Fort Bend County, Board Member
- Houston Bar Association, Law Week Fun Run Committee
- Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Texas Women Lawyers, Secretary and Social Media Board Member
- Holland & Knight Rising Stars, Class of 2018
- Rising Star, Texas Super Lawyers magazine, 2017-2019
Publications
Speaking Engagements
News
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