Ronald G. Franklin

Ron is a lifelong Houstonian who was licensed to practice law in 1976 following completion of his undergraduate and legal education at the University of Texas. During his first year of practice, he tried more than 10 cases to a final jury verdict. Soon thereafter, he founded his own firm that focused on complex business litigation and personal injury matters. Now, with over 35 years of experience, he has tried or been involved in virtually every kind of business or personal injury case including, securities, contract, business torts, products liability, libel and slander, legal malpractice, ERISA, labor and employment, and more. He has been Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law for over 25 years. Ron has obtained jury verdicts in both state and federal courts on behalf of commercial, libel and personal injury clients; and defense verdicts on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, including ExxonMobil. He has now tried some 100 cases to Ronald G. Franklin final jury verdicts, including securities, lender liability, business torts, shareholder PARTNER litigation, commercial disputes, complex contract disputes, employment, legal malpractice, and personal injury matters. He has teamed effectively with lawyers of T +1 832 214 9942 prominent national firms to prepare commercial and business litigation cases for F +1 713 571 9652 trial in Texas. JPMorgan Chase Tower On December 20, 2012, Ron obtained a comprehensive RICO and fraud verdict 600 Travis Street against two West Virginia attorneys accused of bringing fraudulent asbestos claims Suite 7500 against one of the nation’s largest railroads. After only 2 hours of deliberation, a Houston, TX 77002-2906 unanimous jury found in favor of the railroad on every issue and awarded as damages the costs of defending the claims. [email protected] In April 2014, Ron led a McGuireWoods defense team in Carlsbad, New Mexico to secure a defense verdict on behalf of Devon Energy Production Co., LP arising from PRACTICES an initial claim because of the drilling of a 15,000 foot gas well at an alleged unapproved location. Mosaic Potash Inc. argued that by drilling the well, Devon’s Class Action negligence and resulting trespass caused a significant amount of its potassium ore Commercial Litigation to become “sterilized” and “unmineable” because of the hazards associated with the Energy Litigation close proximity of an active gas well to its mining operations. At trial, Mosaic sought payment for the alleged loss. After six hours of deliberation, a unanimous jury found Products, Environmental & Mass negligence in locating the well, rejected the claim for trespass, and awarded Mosaic Tort Litigation “one penny” in damages. Toxic Torts As an honors graduate of the University of Texas, Ron was a member of the Friar ERISA Litigation Society, President of the Texas Student Publications, President of the , Trials recognized as an Outstanding Student, and admitted into Phi Beta Kappa.

INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCE Energy Financial Institutions Defended and tried countless personal injury claims brought in connection with workplace, motor vehicle, products liability, and general negligence matters during a thirty year trial practice in Houston. Obtained multi-million dollar jury verdicts in both state and federal court in complex commercial disputes, products liability, automotive, and personal injury cases. Represented numerous “Fortune 100” clients in the prosecution of claims in complex business disputes. Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of ExxonMobil in a complex commercial dispute and successfully recovered attorneys’ fees via a counterclaim.

Representation of ExxonMobil in an indemnity action in a matter arising from Louisiana legacy environmental litigation.

Representation of a law firm against a former employee for breach of employment contract, resulting in a favorable jury verdict and recovery of attorney’s fees.

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Representation in an ERISA matter, obtaining a settlement in excess of $125 million on behalf of employees of a privately owned company who were promised ownership. Defense of a $100 million breach of fiduciary duty and legal malpractice claim brought on behalf of 8,000 former clients seeking fee disgorgement under the Class Action Fairness Act. Representation of a Houston mayoral candidate in a libel suit and obtained a seven-figure verdict as featured daily on “Court-TV” during a nine week trial.

EDUCATION The University of Texas School of Law, JD, 1976 The University of Texas at , Phi Beta Kappa, Friar Society, 1973

ADMISSIONS Texas U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit U.S. Supreme Court

AFFILIATIONS Member, Texas Pattern Jury Charge Oversight Committee, 2008-present Member, Houston Trial Lawyers Association Member, Member, American Bar Association, Houston Bar Association and Texas Bar Association Member, Attorneys Information Exchange Group American Leadership Forum (ALF) Class IX Board Member, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra President, Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees, 1990-1998 Associate Member. American Board of Trial Advocates Member, Congressional Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee Former Adjunct Professor and Lecturer, The University of Texas School of Law Texas Bar Foundation Fellow Former Member, Executive Committee, Houston Grand Opera Former Board Member, Houston Ballet

RECOGNITION Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Bet- the-Company Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defense/Plaintiffs, Woodward/White, Inc., 2007, 2010-2022 Selected for inclusion in America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial, Texas, Chambers USA, 2017-2021 Named to "Texas Super Lawyers," General Litigation, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2003, 2004, 2006-2015, 2018, 2019 Selected for inclusion as a "Leading Lawyer," Energy Litigation: Oil And Gas, Texas, Legal 500 US, 2017-2018 Named a "Litigation Trailblazer," The National Law Journal, 2015 Named to "Trial Aces," Law360, 2015 AV Rated, Martindale Hubbell

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INSIGHTS Co-Author, Texas Practice Guide: Torts, West Group, 2002

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