Attorney Profile

John R. Strawn, Jr.
Partner
Strawn Pickens LLP
Email: jstrawn@strawnpickens.com

John Strawn focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation. He is AV peer review rated.

Mr. Strawn has tried more than 60 cases to a jury, and is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Representative Trials and Arbitrations

Sirius Solutions, LLLP v. Trimont Energy, LLC, No. 2019-87096, 295th District Court, Harris County, Texas. Co-lead counsel for a one-week trial on claims asserted by a management consulting firm for the alleged breach of an agreement to provide transition and managed services for corporate consolidations. Reduced the plaintiff’s requested damages and interest by approximately 85% through the effective assertion and prosecution of the client’s counterclaims.

Charles R. Roe M.D. v. Baylor Research Institute, No. DC-15-08178, District Court of Dallas County, Texas.  Obtained $7.75 million jury verdict against Baylor Research Institute on claims that the Institute breached its intellectual property policy by failing to pay a medical doctor his share of royalties from the Institute’s licensing of patents for treatments that the doctor had developed to major pharmaceutical companies.

In re C.L. Hadacy & Co., International Center for Dispute Resolution No. 50 148 00517 11, confirmed, No. 13-07837, 152nd Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas. Co-lead counsel in successful defense in international arbitration of claims against Alberta, Canada energy company. Action arose from failed attempts to secure funding for commercial demonstration unit intended to showcase proprietary technology for producing synthetic crude oil from coal. Claimant alleged damage model in excess of US $40 million, and brought claims for breach of contract, quantum meruit, promissory estoppel, unjust enrichment, fraud, conversion, punitive damages, alter-ego, sham to perpetrate a fraud and vicarious liability. Final arbitration award found no liability on client-Respondent, and awarded zero damages to Claimant. Arbitrator’s award later confirmed as a final judgment by the court.

Carroll v. Blue Chip Securities, Inc. et al., FINRA No. 10-01756. Co-lead counsel for prevailing Claimant who alleged Section 10(b) violations, Texas Securities Act violations, churning, fraud and breach of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rules of conduct. Panel awarded damages in excess of the actual and compensatory damages specified by the Claimant, and also awarded Claimant attorneys’ fees. Respondent broker ultimately suspended by FINRA from acting in any capacity.

Grover v. Ghosh, No. 2008-40721, 80th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas. Obtained multi-million dollar judgment for screenwriter on claims for breach of contract, fraud, conversion and exemplary damages. Case involved agreement to procure additional financing needed to produce feature-length action film in Argentina. Prior to wrongdoing, client agreed to contribute script, executed agreements with Academy-Award winning actor and Academy-Award winning set designer, cash and other financing to production company. Jury returned verdict for client after eight-day trial. Case settled after appeal.

ImmuDyne Inc. v. Biopolymer Engineering Inc., No. 2005-CI-16991, 285th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas. Represented a bio-tech company in a dispute of the ownership and licensing of multiple patents. Successfully tried the case to a jury in Bexar County, and upheld the decision in the Fourth Court of Appeals. Case settled on terms favorable for client.

Caleb Brett v. Certain Underwriters, No. 2004-28528, 165th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas. Represented a FTSE 200 international testing company in an insurance coverage dispute against multiple insurance syndicates. The case settled on favorable terms for the company after jury selection and opening statements at trial.

Arvin v. Isaacs, No. 337,234-401, Probate Court No. 2, Harris County, Texas. Represented a cardiologist and cardiology group in a wrongful death suit arising from a punctured artery during a catheterization procedure. After a two week trial, the jury returned a verdict for defendant.

Grinnell v. Brown & Williamson, No. E-122878, 172nd Judicial District Court, Jefferson County, Texas. Represented a major tobacco company in the only smoking and health case ever tried in Texas. After a ten week trial in Beaumont, Texas, the jury returned a verdict for defendant.

Memorial Hospital System v. Mendoza, No. 94-61938, 189th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas. Represented hospital in an insurance coverage dispute involving allegations of improper treatment and billing. After a three week trial, the jury found for the hospital and awarded the full amount of damages, as well as exemplary damages and attorneys fees.

Other Relevant Experience

• Represented numerous companies in contract and business tort disputes in courts across the country.
• Represented companies and individuals in insurance coverage matters.
• Represented biotech company in multiple patent infringement matters.
• Represented multiple physicians, hospitals, and healthcare providers in professional negligence and administrative actions throughout Texas.
• Represented national and international manufacturers in product liability actions in courts across Texas.
• Represented a major Korean manufacturing company in confidential two week ICDR arbitration hearing.
• Represented an executive in a dispute over an employment contract.  After two weeks of trial, obtained a favorable confidential settlement, while the Defendant’s chairman was on the witness stand.
• Represented environmental remediation company in environmental cleanup suit.
• Advised companies on the potential litigation issues in connection with contract terms and conditions, mergers and acquisitions.

Education

• University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with Honors, 1985
• Dartmouth College, B.A., cum laude, 1982

Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of Illinois, the District of Minnesota and the Central District of California.
• State of Texas

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

• State Bar of Texas
• Houston Bar Association
• Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
• Houston Bar Foundation, Fellow

Representative Publications and Presentations

• Pros and Cons of Arbitration, article and presentation at the Essentials of Business Law  Texas Bar CLE seminar (March 12-13, 2015).

Certifications and Professional Recognition

• Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal 1992. Re-certified in 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017.
• American Board of Trial Advocacy.
• Recognized as a Texas “Super Lawyer” for the years 2005-2022.
• AV Rated Martindale Hubbard.