Barry Abrams has more than 30 years of diverse civil trial and appellate experience in complex commercial litigation; litigation involving capital project disputes in multiple industries; investment litigation arising out of securities and asset purchase and sale agreements; litigation involving financial institutions, investors and corporate officials; litigation on behalf of local governments and public officials; and the defense of claims against law firms and lawyers. Mr. Abrams serves as the administrative partner of Blank Rome's Houston, Texas office.
Mr. Abrams is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Abrams served as a law clerk to the Honorable Joseph T. Sneed, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Abrams previously taught at the University of Houston Law Center and has served on the faculty of the Texas Trial Academy and Texas Pretrial Academy, a joint project of the Texas Access to Justice Commission and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was an articles editor for the Texas Law Review, and a member of the Order of the Coif and Chancellors.
Representative Matters
· International financial institution-Co-counsel for defendant in multi-billion dollar securities class action litigation resolved by take nothing summary judgment in client's favor.
· Gas processing venture-Commercial arbitration over manuscript project completion insurance policies, with resulting award and payments to client totaling $103,140,093. Trial and appeal of related litigation over breaches of underlying industrial construction project agreements.
· Project finance lender-Enforced lender's rights under a construction loan agreement, resulting in a $28.5 million judgment and a $25 million recovery through settlement.
· Exclusive sales representative of hydraulic fracturing material-Trial of suit to enforce rights under commissioned sales agreement, resulting in $7 million pre-trial settlement in one action and $8 million verdict in trial of second action.
· Commercial real estate developers-Trial of suit against commercial builder for breach of multiple-lot subdivision sales agreement, resulting in verdict and $3.5 million judgment.
· Commercial real estate developers-Trial of suit against financial institutions for deceptive trade practice, usury and fraud, resulting in $1 million settlement with one party, jury verdict and judgment of $2.5 million against other parties, and dismissal of claims asserted against developer clients.
· Manufacturer of commercial adhesives-Trial of industrial purchaser's suit seeking multi-million dollar recovery for alleged deceptive trade practices, breach of warranty, fraud, and negligence, resulting in defense verdict and judgment.
· Manufacturer of commemorative foreign gold coins-Trial of multi-million dollar suit alleging deceptive trade practices, breach of warranty, fraud and misrepresentation claims, resulting in defense verdict and judgment.
· Manufacturer of Industrial equipment-Trial of unfair competition/breach of fiduciary duty/trade secrets case, resulting in injunction against former officers
· Architectural firm-Trial of suit against former officers and employees of architectural firm in fiduciary breach/tortious interference suit resulting in jury verdict and judgment for client.
· Government Water Authority-Trial and appeal of suit defending condemnation of golf course property for public use as flood water detention facility.
· Venture capital investors-Enforced warrant purchase agreement for ownership in an independent company, resulting in confidential settlement involving redemption of clients' interests.
· Venture capital lender/investor--Suit against corporate debtor and controlling person, to enforce investment loan agreement, and defense of debtor claims of fraudulent inducement, failure of consideration, tortious interference, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty claims.
· Venture capital lender/investor-Shareholder oppression and breach of fiduciary duty suit against corporation and controlling shareholders, who purported to oust lender/investor from participation in corporate affairs.
· Foreign publicly-traded entity-Suit to enforce stock purchase agreement and secure repayment of invested capital after repudiation of client's investment rights.
· Securities underwriter-Negotiated confidential settlement for client in multi-million dollar securities fraud claim brought by venture capital investors arising out of private placement of preferred stock.
· Computer software company-Defense of arbitration asserting breaches of software licensing and marketing agreement, resulting in defense award.
· Former chief executive officer of national bank-Fraud action asserting minority shareholder oppression claims and to enforce incentive stock option rights, resulting in $2 million settlement for client during trial.
· Securities industry executive-Enforcement of executive employment contract through arbitration.
· Private Real Estate Investor-Suit to enforce co-tenancy agreement concerning ownership of apartment project. Disputed issues concerned refusal of co-tenant to sell property, denial of access to corporate books and records, misuse of project funds, and similar conflicts.
· Cable television company-Suits to enforce payment obligations of multiple Texas homeowner associations.
· Commercial farm enterprise-Suit to collect obligations arising from sale of agricultural commodities, to enforce agricultural act trust fund obligations, and to void various fraudulent transfers by debtor and insiders.
· Municipal government entity-Arbitration of underground sewer project dispute, resulting in award for client and dismissal of claims against client.
· Law firms and lawyers-Defense of multiple law firms and lawyers in suits asserting fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy and securities law claims.
· Texas local governmental bodies and public officials-Defense at trial and on appeal of civil rights, contract, tort, wrongful death, employment, development, annexation, condemnation and Open Meetings Act disputes.
Community Service & Affiliations
Mr. Abrams is former chairman and remains a board member of the Spring Branch Education Foundation. He also serves as President of the Spring Branch Family Development Center and the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum. Mr. Abrams is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers Access to Justice Committee.
Memberships
American Bar Association
American Board of Trial Advocates
American College of Trial Lawyers
Houston Bar Foundation
International Municipal Lawyers Association
State Bar of Texas
Texas Bar Foundation
Texas City Attorneys Association
Events
BILL OF RIGHTS: THE INHERENT TENSION BETWEEN NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
[Event]
American Inns of Court
2007
Barry Abrams
A HISTORICAL SNAPSHOT OF THE TAKINGS CLAUSE
[Event]
American Inns of Court
2004
Barry Abrams
THE EXONERATED
[Event]
The Alley Theatre
2004
Barry Abrams
MYTHICAL THINGS YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD DO AT TRIAL, BUT YOU CAN'T
[Event]
State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Course
1999
Barry Abrams
DEADLY FORCE AND PURSUIT DRIVING
[Event]
Southwestern Law Enforcement Institute & Municipal Legal Studies Center Risk Management Workshop
December 31, 1995
Barry Abrams
ADVANCED USES OF COMPUTERS IN LITIGATION
[Event]
Law Technology Conference
1992, 1993, 1994
Barry Abrams
MINIMIZING YOUR LIABILITY: EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
[Event]
Texas Municipal League Annual Conference
1993
Barry Abrams
DISCOVERY: ACQUIRING AND PROTECTING DOCUMENTS
[Event]
Corpus Christi Bar Association Advanced Civil Trial Law Seminar
1989
Barry Abrams
PREJUDGMENT PRESERVATION OF ERROR
[Event]
South Texas College of Law Appellate Practice Institute
1988
Barry Abrams
NUTS AND BOLTS OF MUNICIPAL CONTRACTING- LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
[Event]
Texas City Attorneys' Association Workshop
1987
Barry Abrams
Publications
ASSERTING OFFICIAL IMMUNITY IN EMPLOYMENT RELATED CASES: A DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE
[Article]
30 Urban Lawyer 1023
1998
Barry Abrams
BUSINESS LITIGATION UPDATE - SIGNIFICANT CASES
[Article]
State Bar Of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Course
1998
Barry Abrams
RECENT SUPREME COURT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC OFFICIAL IMMUNITIES
[Article]
ABA State & Local News
Winter 1998
Barry Abrams
SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY AND EXCEPTIONS - DEFENDANT'S PERSPECTIVE
[Article]
State Bar Of Texas Institute On Suing And Defending Governmental Entities
1998
Barry Abrams
ANNUAL UPDATE ON PUBLIC OFFICIAL IMMUNITIES
[Article]
29 Urban Lawyer 809
1997
Barry Abrams
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CONSTITUTIONAL TORTS
[Article]
State Bar of Texas Institute on Suing and Defending Governmental Entities
1997
Barry Abrams
DIRECT CAUSES OF ACTION ON STATE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
[Article]
State Bar of Texas Institute on Suing and Defending Governmental Entities
1996
Barry Abrams
DIRECT CAUSES OF ACTION UNDER THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, INCLUDING DAMAGES
[Article]
State Bar of Texas Institute on Suing and Defending Governmental Entities
1995
Barry Abrams
CASE LAW UPDATE ON CIVIL RIGHTS
[Article]
State Bar of Texas Institute on Suing and Defending Governmental Entities & Public Officials
1993
Barry Abrams
ELECTRONIC MEDIA DISCOVERY: NEW MEDIA, SAME RULES
[Article]
ABA Litigation Applications
Spring 1993
Barry Abrams
CASE LAW UPDATE ON CIVIL RIGHTS
[Article]
State Bar of Texas Institute on Suing and Defending Governmental Entities
1992
Barry Abrams
UPDATE ON CIVIL RIGHTS DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING THE DUTY TO PROTECT AND PREVENT
[Article]
State Bar of Texas Institute on Suing and Defending Governmental Entities And Public Officials
1991
Barry Abrams
MOTION PRACTICE AND DISCOVERY DISPUTES - A PRACTITIONER'S GUIDE TO HANDLING IRRELEVANT AND OVERLY BROAD DISCOVERY REQUESTS
[Article]
South Texas College of Law Institute, Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence
1989
Barry Abrams
TRIAL OF A DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE CASE - FOR THE DEFENDANT
[Article]
Houston Bar Association Trial Practice & Procedure Serialized Institute
1987
Barry Abrams
TOWARD A POLICY-BASED THEORY OF STATE COURT JURISDICTION OVER CLASS ACTIONS
[Article]
56 Texas Law Review 1033
1978
Barry Abrams
THE SCOPE OF LIABILITY UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE TEXAS TORT CLAIMS ACT
[Article]
55 Texas Law Review 719
1977
Barry Abrams
News
BLANK ROME OPENS HOUSTON OFFICE
[Press Release]
July 5, 2011
Barry Abrams, Susan L. Bickley, Jack W. Higdon, Sue D. Rosenthal and Robert P. Scott