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Justin Scott’s practice is focused on commercial litigation, specifically in the energy, construction, and real estate fields. In the energy industry, he has experience representing oil and gas service companies, equipment manufacturers, and exploration and production companies in disputes ranging from royalty payment litigation to trade secret matters. View articles by Justin.

In the construction industry, Justin has represented general contractors, property owners, and developers, and one of the nation’s largest metal building component manufacturers in matters ranging from warranty claims to breach of contract disputes.

Nearly two and a half years after the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) became law, developers and contractors continue to adjust to the new normal for renewable energy projects: compliance with prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements. As most renewable industry participants are aware, under the IRA, compliance with these requirements is necessary to realize

The Texas Supreme Court recently provided new guidance in interpreting force majeure language in an oil and gas drilling dispute. In Point Energy Partners Permian, LLC v. MRC Permian Company, the court held that the oil and gas lessee’s scheduling error linked to a well collapse 60 miles from the lease site at issue

In Texas, many master service agreements (MSAs) related to the oil and gas industry typically contain provisions related to mandatory minimum insurance coverage and indemnity obligations. The Texas Supreme Court recently held the terms of an MSA may not be read into an insurance policy unless there is a “clear-manifestation” in the insurance policy the

Out with Lonergan, In with Spearin: Texas Legislature Provides Contractors with Limited Protection for Defective Plans and DesignsAs of September 1, 2021, in a change to Texas caselaw that had been in place for over a century, Texas contractors now have protection in certain circumstances from liability for defective plans and specifications provided to the contractor by someone else. In the 1907 Texas Supreme Court case Lonergan v. San Antonio Loan &

Measuring the Long Arm of Texas Courts: When Is an Out-of-State Supplier Subject to Texas Jurisdiction? Suppliers of construction products and materials frequently find that their products and materials are used in projects located in states where the supplier may not have an office, factory, or production facility. Some suppliers may believe that because they don’t have an office or factory in Texas, they cannot be sued in a Texas court.

Enforcing Electronic Contracts in Texas When the Other Party Denies SigningAs an ever-increasing amount of contract negotiation and execution is done online, new legal issues have arisen from such transactions. Consider the following scenario:

You are a general/prime contractor. You have a subcontractor’s electronic signature on an arbitration agreement. When a dispute arises with the subcontractor, you raise the arbitration agreement and attempt to submit

Two Emails Don’t Always Equal One Contract: Contracts in the World of COVID-19The coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed many of our personal and professional lives. This includes working from home and increased communication by email. During this time, many business decisions will be made through email, including entering into contracts. Owners, developers, and contractors should be aware of the pitfalls associated with negotiating contracts by email. While released