| Biography | In January 2010, Stephen M. Fernelius, along with longtime colleague Graig Alvarez, founded Fernelius Alvarez PLLC. Steve is a managing member of Fernelius Alvarez PLLC. Previously, Steve was a partner in the Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. from January 2001 to 2010, and an associate from 1991 to 2001. Steve Fernelius has extensive experience in the development and trial of mass tort litigation and other high-profile cases. Given the size and complexity of the matters in which Steve has been involved, he has developed considerable skill in managing large teams of legal professionals, often including multiple law firms, in delivering successful results to clients. Steve has trial-tested experience in all phases of the defense of catastrophic industrial accidents, including evidence gathering and preservation, corporate investigations, electronic and other discovery issues, case evaluation and settlement strategies, trial theme development and case presentations before judges and juries. Few attorneys have defended as many or such significant, refinery and chemical plant explosion cases. In addition to the development, preparation, and trial of several process plant disaster matters, Steve also participated in a trial involving a terrorist attack on U.S. oil workers stationed abroad, defending against claims of inadequate company security. This trial, which resulted in a complete defense victory, was closely followed by the international insurance industry. He also defended at trial a U.S. auto manufacturer against the claim that the deployment of an air bag caused the death of a driver. This case ended in a successful jury verdict and was followed closely by the automotive industry, as it was the first case of its kind. Steve has also served as national discovery counsel for a U.S. tire manufacturer. In addition to developing a new organization and processes to coordinate discovery on a national basis, he participated in the management of large-scale document production and document repositories. He also has substantial experience in preparing clients, including senior and chief executive officers of major corporations to give testimony. Listed: Best Lawyers in America, Mass Torts, 2008 - 2011; Texas Super Lawyer, 2011. Martindale-Hubbell: AV Peer Review Rated. |
| Transactions | Represented a multi-national chemical, pharmaceutical, and crop science company in US regulatory matters arising out of a process plant explosion; Represented an international oil and gas company in three separate trials in connection with a catastrophic explosion and fire at its Texas City, Texas refinery, resulting in favorable settlements of several hundred personal injury claims (2005 - 2009); Represented two other international oil and gas companies in connection with three catastrophic process plant explosions (1989, 1997, and 2000) involving numerous fatalities and multi-million dollar property damage; Represented a major oil and gas company in connection with two fatalities from a flash fire at a chemical unit (1999); trial verdict led to an advantageous settlement for the client; Steve's other mass tort and high profile litigation experience includes the following: Served as national discovery counsel for a U.S. tire manufacturer in its products liability litigation and successfully transformed the way in which the client handles pre-trial discovery matters; Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a domestic oil company sued for failing to provide adequate security to four of its employees who were attacked and killed while on assignment for the company in south Asia; Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a major automobile manufacturer in a wrongful death lawsuit in which claimant alleged that the deployment of an air bag caused his wife's death; Successfully represented a major international oil and gas company in environmental litigation concerning oil fields in the state of Louisiana; Successfully represented a national amusement park chain obtaining several defense jury verdicts in cases where plaintiffs alleged ride-related personal injuries. |