Gabriella E. Oxford
Associate

Gabe Oxford focuses her practice on resolving complex commercial disputes. With particular experience in the energy and construction industries, she has experience handling litigation related to a wide variety of matters for commercial and industrial projects, including matters related to the construction of natural gas pipelines and compressor stations, residential and multifamily projects, and frac-sand-mining facilities. In addition, she has extensive experience with construction defect cases, partnership disputes, and advising owners, developers, and contractors on major infrastructure projects, including PPP projects.

Her experience includes an array of environmental regulatory, commercial litigation and debtor-creditor rights issues. She also has experience working for and representing governmental entities, including navigation districts in disputes relating to land and water rights issues.

During law school, Gabe worked at the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Texas Water Development Board, and as a policy analyst for a Texas senator. She also served as the committee clerk for the Senate Select Committee on Texas Ports. Gabe leverages this experience to advise clients on regulatory and policy matters.

Representative Experience

Energy and Construction Matters

  • Represented general contractor against builders’ risk insurance carrier regarding damages incurred during Hurricane Harvey and advise on project closeout matters including claims made by owner and various subcontractors. Assisted in successfully defending against subcontractor claim and four pass through subcontractor claims of over $37 million.
  • Drafted, reviewed and negotiated EPC agreement behalf of owner for the construction of rare earth magnetics facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
  • Represented large multi-state contractor in disputes related to the construction of two pipelines through West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Issues involved delay claims, subcontractors’ productivity, and alleged EPA violations.
  • Represented PPP contractor in dispute with Texas Department of Transportation.
  • Assisted in permitting and planning for large-scale industrial projects, including submittal of permitting applications with state agencies.

Other Matters

  • Represented interests of joint venture partner of PPP consortium in claim against other joint venture members.
  • Represented family trust in derivative shareholder action involving a Texas closed corporation against directors and officers for breaches of fiduciary duties and self-dealing transactions and general corporate governance concerns.
  • Defended real estate developer in personal injury lawsuit arising out of apartment fire.
  • Represented county navigation district in lawsuit against electric cooperative.
  • Represented lenders in Article 9 foreclosures sale of intellectual property assets.
Thought Leadership / News
December 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
The Successful Preparation and Use of Construction Experts

Construction Law Foundation of Texas, The Basic Course in Texas Construction Law

October 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
Women Striving and Thriving in BigLaw

University of Texas School of Law

June 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
Life Cycle of a Case: Litigation Insights for Summer Associates

The Center for American and International Law, Institute for Energy Law

February 2022 
 Speeches and Presentations
Making Your Career Your Own

University of Texas School of Law Women’s Law Caucus

Honors
  • Named an Institute for Energy Law "Emerging Star" (2024)
  • Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" in the field of Construction Litigation (2022 – 2025) Construction Law (2023 – 2025) and Commercial Litigation (2024 - 2025)
  • Named a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters company) as published in Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers magazines in the fields of Construction Litigation (2023 – 2024) and Business Litigation (2023 – 2024)
  • Named a Houstonia Magazine Top Lawyer in Houston (2022 – 2023)
  • Elected permanent class president by her peers for the University of Texas School of Law Class of 2019 
  • Chairman, University of Texas School of Law Class of 2019 Reunion Committee
  • Recipient of the University of Texas School of Law Dean’s Achievement Award
Organizational Involvement

Professional Involvement, Memberships & Affiliations

  • Institute for Energy Law (IEL)
    • Advisory Board Member 
    • Vice Chair, Institute for Energy Law Young Energy Professionals Committee’s Law Student Outreach Subcommittee 
    • Young Energy Professionals
      • Council Member (2024 - 2026) 
    • Selected for the Institute for Energy Law’s (IEL) 5th Leadership Class
  • National Association of Women in Construction
  • Director (Elected Position), Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District
  • Texas Women Lawyers
  • Women Energy Network
  • University of Texas School of Law Class of 2019
    • Alumni Steering Committee
    •  Reunion Committee
    • Chairman
  • Young Alumni Regional Committee, University of Texas School of Law Houston
  • Texas Bar Association
    • Construction Law Section
    • Litigation Section
    • Government Law Section
    • Environmental & Natural Resources Section
  • Houston Bar Association
    • Construction Law Section
      • Lawyers for Literacy Committee
    • Appointed Member
      • Fee Disputes Committee

Community Involvement, Memberships & Affiliations

  • Mutton Bustin’ Committee, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
  • Kappa Kappa Gamma
  • Texas 4000 for Cancer (Alum)
Education
  • J.D., The University of Texas School of Law (2019)
  • B.S., The University of Texas at Austin
Bar Admission
  • Texas
Court Admissions
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas