David Leonard
Partner

My role as a counselor for clients is just as important as being a strong advocate in the courtroom. I’m always straightforward about the pros and cons of litigation and the likelihood of success if we take a case all the way to trial. I am a much more effective advocate in the courtroom when my client is well-advised and on board with a shared vision on the best way to resolve the case.

David Leonard leverages his real-world trial experience to help clients achieve successful outcomes in a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters before courts all over Texas and in arbitration. He takes the lead through every phase of the dispute resolution process, from internal investigations and pre-suit negotiations, to fact and expert discovery, trial, and appeal.
 
David brings first-chair experience handling a variety of evidentiary and non-evidentiary hearings in hearings and arbitrations, including temporary restraining order hearings and injunction hearings.  He is an aggressive advocate for his clients in the courtroom and a practical negotiator when their interests are better served with a favorable compromise.

His clients range from high-net-worth individuals to multi-national corporations across many industries, with an emphasis on disputes in the oil and gas and commercial real estate industries. David also has substantial experience handling partnership disputes and disputes under non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements.
  
David’s oil and gas practice focuses on representation of E&P companies in disputes under contracts such as joint operating agreements, oil and gas leases, gas gathering and processing agreements, and vendor agreements.
  
His real estate practice focuses on representation of developers (retail, medical, industrial, and office) in disputes under contracts such as leases, easement agreements, restrictive covenants, access agreements, option agreements, and broker agreements. 
 
In 2023, David was recognized as a “Top 100” Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters company).  He has maintained the Rising Star designation for nine years.

He is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of Texas and New Mexico.

Thought Leadership / News
February 23, 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
Trends in Oil and Gas Litigation

Texas Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law 2023 Symposium

September 12, 2022 
 Speeches and Presentations
What Commercial Landlords Need to Know About Lease Defaults

Dallas Bar Association - Real Estate Section

July 15, 2022 
 Speeches and Presentations
What Commercial Landlords Need to Know About Lease Defaults

State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Law Course 

Honors
  • Named a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters company) as published in Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers magazines (2015 - 2023)
    • Up-and-Coming 100:Texas Rising Stars Top List (2023)
  • Named a Houstonia Magazine Top Lawyer in Houston (2019 - 2023)
Key Representative Experience
  • Jury verdict in Karnes County, Texas for an E&P company in a payment dispute with a working interest owner.  
  • Jury verdict in Harris County, Texas for a publicly-traded waste disposal company in a payment dispute with a staffing vendor.
  • Final Judgment in Matagorda County, Texas for a publicly-traded owner of an underground natural gas storage cavern after a two-week bench trial in an ad valorem property tax protest.
  • Final Award for a global manufacturer of nutritional supplement manufacturer in a payment dispute with its South African distributor after a final hearing administered under the AAA Rules.
Organizational Involvement
  • St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
    • Board of Directors, St. Martin's Episcopal Preschool
  • Texas Exes Houston Chapter
Education
  • J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, Managing Editor, Texas Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law (2011)
  • B.A., with honors, The University of Texas at Austin, Phi Beta Kappa (2008)
Bar Admissions
  • Texas
  • New Mexico
Court Admissions
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Western District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of New Mexico
When I Feel Most At Home
  • Spending time with family and friends
  • Traveling somewhere new
  • Attending sporting events
  • Eating at one of my many favorite restaurants in Houston