MICHAEL L. BREM

Career Highlights

Mike came to the Firm from Baker Botts LLP where he had been a partner in the trial department. He divides his practice between international litigation, mass tort defense, and commercial litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants. He has considerable experience in litigation in other countries, including Latin America, the Philippines, and the Caribbean.

Mike is particularly well versed in state and federal procedure, questions involving federal jurisdiction, the doctrine of forum non conveniens, and challenges to scientific evidence in the courtroom.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mike worked for some nine years in the oil service industry. During that time, from 1981 until 1987, he also was an adjunct faculty member in the University of Houston College of Business Administration, where he taught both graduate and undergraduate classes in operations management.

Representative Engagements

• Obtained dismissal of an action seeking to enforce a $489 million judgment from Nicaragua on behalf of a major chemical company client.
• Lead counsel in Texas Supreme Court’s decision clarifying Texas nuisance law in Schneider Nat’l Carriers vs. Bates.
• Won taking-nothing arbitration award in favor of the client in a commercial dispute involving a salt dome gas storage cavern where the amount sought by plaintiffs was in excess of $24 million.
• Obtained forum non conveniens dismissals in multiple actions filed in several states brought by approximately 20,000 plaintiffs from 12 different countries on behalf of a major chemical company client.
• Obtained dismissal on behalf of Mayor and City of Moscow, Russia of suit brought in federal court in Arizona.
• Represented a large seismic company in various commercial disputes, including joint venture and brokerage agreements.
• Defended various oilfield cases, including downhole failures and personal injury claims, on behalf of a drilling company.
• Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and a unanimous affirmance in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in defending one of the country’s largest defense contractors in a qui tam False Claims Act case seeking $100 million in damages.  See United States ex rel Laird

Education

• J.D. (magna cum laude), University of Houston Law Center, 1990
• Order of the Coif, Order of the Barons
• M.B.A., University of Houston, 1981
• B.A., history, University of Houston, 1979

Admissions and Affiliations

• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
• United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
• United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (pending)
• State Bar of Texas

Articles and seminars

• "Has Daubert Sprung a Leak?" International Commercial Litigation, December 1997/January 1998 (W. Conrad, co-author) "Americans in Business Abroad Face Lawsuits in Foreign Courts", Houston Business Journal, June 10-16, 2005.
• Presented: "So You've Been Sued in Another Country? Practical Considerations and Some Hopefully Helpful Thoughts", International Law Section, Houston Bar Association, March 31, 2005.
• Presented: "Are You Really Immune from Suit and Judgment Proof Abroad", International Law Section, Houston Bar Association, September 29, 2005.

Community

• Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo; Committeeman and Life Member
• University of Houston Lettermen's Association, Board of Directors and Life Member
• Houston Athletics Foundation, Board of Directors, former member