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Mike Stenglein specializes in resolving complex business disputes and splits his time between Texas and New York.  He was formerly head of the firm’s Contracts and Business Torts group and now chairs the firm’s Global Construction and Engineering Disputes practice. He is founder and Managing Partner of our Austin office, served on the firm’s ten-person Policy Committee, Chairs the firm’s Contingency Fee Committee, serves on the firm’s Performance Management and Compensation Committee, and a member of the firm's Diversity Committee.

With nearly 30 years of experience, Mike has been lead counsel for corporate clients, private equity funds, hedge funds, investment banks, and pension plans in hundreds of complex business disputes in domestic courts across the country and arbitral tribunals around the globe, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration, ICSID, the American Arbitration Association, and CPR.

In the construction space, Mike represents clients in disputes involving oil refineries, chemical plants, power generation facilities, data centers, semiconductor manufacturing plants, solar and battery plants, and office and retail buildings.  By way of example, Mike recently was lead counsel in over 15 weeks of arbitration merits hearings involving “megaproject” construction disputes in the United States and South America that involved more than $5 billion in alleged damages and a merits hearing involving a $4 billion petrochemical project in Canada.  Mike also recently represented Microsoft in a construction dispute involving a data center project.

In the business dispute space, Mike’s experience includes resolution of complex business problems for industry leading clients, including in the private equity space.  These matters usually involve complex contract questions for clients in the energy and technology space, including intellectual property disputes (patent and trademark).  Mike’s representative clients in this space include, Lotus Infrastructure Partners, D.E. Shaw & Co, D. E Shaw Renewable Investments, Capital Dynamics, Oaktree Capital Management, Arevon Asset Management, Axium Infrastructure, Macquarie Asset Management, Macquarie Capital, Ridgewood Infrastructure, and Instar Invest   Mike also has significant experience with very public, high-profile mass tort litigation involving contaminated ground water allegations.

Mike has been recognized as Band 1 in Chambers USA where it states that he is “an extraordinary litigator who is highly strategic in his approach to cases and is also excellent at tactical work” and that he is "an extremely skilled advocate and communicator and his level of service is very high.”  Mike has also been recognized for many years by Who’s Who Legal, and Legal 500 for his work.  Under Mike’s leadership, King & Spalding was named Construction Group of the Year by Law360 in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.  Mike prides himself on being responsive 24/7 and was named a BTI Consulting Group Client Service All-Star in 2019 and 2020

Prior to the start of his legal career, Mike worked for five years as a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand.  Prior to joining King & Spalding in 2008, Mike was a partner at Weil Gothshal & Manages and Dewey Ballantine.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., University of Houston Law Center, summa cum laude

B.S., University of Florida

New York

Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Litigator of the Week


Law.com, June 23, 2023

Texas Trailblazer


Texas Lawyer, October/November 2020

Leader of the team named Construction Group of the Year


Law360, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022

Ranked in construction litigation


Chambers Band 1, Construction

Client Service All-Star


BTI Consulting Group, 2019, 2020

Construction


Legal 500

Construction


Who Who's Legal

Close

Recognition

Litigator of the Week


Law.com, June 23, 2023

Texas Trailblazer


Texas Lawyer, October/November 2020

Leader of the team named Construction Group of the Year


Law360, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022

Ranked in construction litigation


Chambers Band 1, Construction

Client Service All-Star


BTI Consulting Group, 2019, 2020

Construction


Legal 500

Construction


Who Who's Legal

Matters

Represented Halliburton in a patent infringement lawsuit with a major competitor over fracking technology that involved seven patents and more than 120 claims. Successfully resolved with no payment and receipt of license to use competitor’s technology.

David Croucher, et al. v. MidCon Corp Employee Stock Ownership Plan, et al.: Represented U.S. Trust Company in an alleged breach of ERISA fiduciary duties class action involving the valuation of tracking stock.

Adelphia Communications Corp. v. John J. Rigas, Timothy J. Rigas, Michael J. Rigas, James P. Rigas, et al.: Represented the Rigas Family in all facets of civil litigation in connection with Adelphia Communications Corp., including more than 60 securities fraud lawsuits, numerous RICO lawsuits and adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court.

See more

Close

Matters

Represented Halliburton in a patent infringement lawsuit with a major competitor over fracking technology that involved seven patents and more than 120 claims. Successfully resolved with no payment and receipt of license to use competitor’s technology.

David Croucher, et al. v. MidCon Corp Employee Stock Ownership Plan, et al.: Represented U.S. Trust Company in an alleged breach of ERISA fiduciary duties class action involving the valuation of tracking stock.

Adelphia Communications Corp. v. John J. Rigas, Timothy J. Rigas, Michael J. Rigas, James P. Rigas, et al.: Represented the Rigas Family in all facets of civil litigation in connection with Adelphia Communications Corp., including more than 60 securities fraud lawsuits, numerous RICO lawsuits and adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court.

In Re Pacific Gas and Electric Company: Represented PG&E Corporation in litigation arising out of California’s energy crisis, including trial work confirming PG&E’s Plan of Reorganizatio

Deutsche Bank tax-related litigation: Represented Deutsche Bank in multiple lawsuits pending in state and federal court throughout Texas and the Southwest.

Infinite Energy, Inc. v. Econnergy Energy Company, Inc.: Represented Gateway Energy in a breach of contract action arising from a terminated merger transaction between the companies, filed in the Northern District of Florida.

Michigan South Central Power Agency v. Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc., f/k/a Constellation Power Source, Inc.: Represented Constellation Energy in breach of contract lawsuit where the plaintiff sought to shift SECA, congestion and other charges to Constellation.

Occidental Chemical Corp. v. Entergy Louisiana LLC and the Louisiana Public Service Commission: Represented Occidentalinvolving the proper methodology for calculating avoided cost payments to qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, filed in the Middle District of Louisiana.

JD Wind et al. v. Public Utilities Commission of Texas et al.: Represented Occidental Permian Ltd. in multiple regulatory, state and federal litigation involving the appropriate electric rates that must be paid to certain wind-generation facilities in the Texas Panhandle.

Alpharma Inc. v. Wyeth: Represented Alpharma Inc. in a breach of a contract and trademark infringement case to seek termination of a competitor's license to one of Alpharma's key trademarks, filed in the Southern District of New York.

King Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc. v. Intelliject, Inc.: Represented patent holder in Paragraph IV patent infringement lawsuit regarding auto-injector technology, filed in the District of Delaware.

Cameron International v. Cooper Industries, LLC.: Represented Cooper Industries in AAA arbitration defending claims of breach of contract and other allegations arising from the creation of Cameron in 1995 via divestiture of assets from Cooper.

Cooper Industries v. Wyman Gordon: Represented Cooper Industries in federal court litigation arising out of disputes associated with a 1994 Stock Purchase Agreement.

Weatherford International v. Panalpina: Represented Weatherford International in a lawsuit against a freight-forwarding company that failed to facilitate timely transportation of materials and equipment to Iraq.

U. S. Contractors v. Parsons/Technip: Represented U.S. Contractors in a construction dispute before a three-person arbitration panel. U.S. Contractors received a judgment of more than $4 million, including attorney's fees. Parsons/Technip’s counterclaims of approximately $6 million were dismissed in their entirety.

Lower Colorado River Authority v. Montoya Anderson Construction, Inc., et al.: Represented CEMEX in a lawsuit filed in Fayette County, Texas, involving a dispute over the construction of an addition to the Fayette County power plant.

Represented Haliburton in several federal and state court cases alleging ground water contamination in Duncan, Oklahoma (the Osage litigation). That litigation lasted more than 6 years, involved thousands of claimants, and alleged property value diminution and physical injuries. The Osage cases were also very public with media appearances by Erin Brockovich, numerous television news reports, newspaper articles, and several different plaintiff firms advertising for clients.

Representing a confidential client in a dispute arising from construction of a crude oil refinery. This matter went to hearing over 6 weeks before the International Chamber of Commerce in the summer of 2021 and deals with one of the largest construction projects in South America.

Representing Microsoft in a dispute over the construction of a data center that involves claims of cost overruns and schedule delays.

Representing a confidential client in matters involving the construction of a large semiconductor facility in Central Texas.

Represented a confidential client in a matter involving the expansion of a semiconductor facility.

Represented a confidential client in a dispute over the construction failure at a semiconductor facility that caused a power outage and resulting loss of millions of dollars of wafers that were in progress at the time of the power loss.

Representing a confidential client in a power purchase agreement dispute involving a solar and battery facility in Nevada.

Representing a confidential client in a construction dispute involving a solar and battery facility in California.

Representing a confidential client in a construction dispute involving a solar facility in west Texas.

Representing a confidential client in a dispute over the proper price to charge for gas transmission on a pipeline that runs from Texas to the Northeast.

Representing several clients in MDL litigation resulting from Winter Storm Uri. These cases involve numerous issues in the power space and ERCOT regulations.

Representing a confidential client in a construction dispute involving an LNG facility in Florida.

Representing a confidential client in a construction dispute involving a $4 billion petrochemical plant in Canada. This matter is governed by the ICC.

Representing a confidential client in a dispute arising out of the largest public-private water supply agreement in the United States that cost nearly $3 billion to build (142 miles long).

Represented a confidential client in an ICDR arbitration involving the construction failures associated with the building of a power plant in Massachusetts.

Representing Bass Pro in West Virginia state court litigation involving the construction of a retail store.

Representing Environmental Resources Management is a Texas-based MDL proceeding that involves the alleged contamination of ground water that has allegedly caused physical injuries and property value diminution of property values. This is a very public matter with media appearance by Erin Brockovich, numerous television news reports, newspaper articles, and several different plaintiff firms advertising for clients.

Represented Haliburton in several federal and state court cases alleging ground water contamination in Duncan, Oklahoma (the Osage litigation). That litigation lasted more than 6 years, involved thousands of claimants, and alleged property value diminution and physical injuries. The Osage cases were also very public with media appearances by Erin Brockovich, numerous television news reports, newspaper articles, and several different plaintiff firms advertising for clients.

Represented a confidential client in arbitration in the London Court of International Arbitration arising from a nearly $1 billion construction project in Southern Iraq.

Representing a confidential client in AAA arbitration over construction of several power plants in Texas.

Representing a confidential South American company in ICC arbitration involving dispute over surplus construction materials.

Represented a confidential client over construction of a power plant in Pennsylvania.

Represent a confidential client in construction dispute involving electrical failure that forced business disruption.

Represented Bass Pro in contract dispute in federal court and secured settlement involving $40+ million in payments and tens of millions in additional future revenue.

Represented a confidential client in arbitration over construction of hotel and retail store in Tennessee.

Represented a confidential client in dispute over hotel construction in Missouri.

Represented Bass Pro in Delaware Chancery Court over purchase price dispute.

Represented a confidential client in multiple patent infringement litigations over fracking technology.

E.ON v. Gamesa: Represented Gamesa in AAA arbitration where plaintiff requested approximately $90 million in damages allegedly caused by design defect in wind turbine blades. Matter proceeded to final confidential hearing in January 2013. Excellent result achieved for client after final hearing.

Windstar v. Gamesa: Represented Gamesa in AAA arbitration initially defending allegations of delay and disruption in building a utility-grade wind farm in California. Gamesa asserted counterclaims. Matter proceeded to final hearing, and Gamesa prevailed on all claims.

AMEC/Zachry Crushed Stone Contractors Joint Venture, et al. v. CEMEX Construction Materials Florida, LLC: Represented CEMEX in a lawsuit filed in Orlando state court (Business Court Division) involving a dispute over a $60 million cost overrun arising from the construction of a cement plant in Brooksville, Florida.

Matters

Represented Halliburton in a patent infringement lawsuit with a major competitor over fracking technology that involved seven patents and more than 120 claims. Successfully resolved with no payment and receipt of license to use competitor’s technology.

David Croucher, et al. v. MidCon Corp Employee Stock Ownership Plan, et al.: Represented U.S. Trust Company in an alleged breach of ERISA fiduciary duties class action involving the valuation of tracking stock.

Adelphia Communications Corp. v. John J. Rigas, Timothy J. Rigas, Michael J. Rigas, James P. Rigas, et al.: Represented the Rigas Family in all facets of civil litigation in connection with Adelphia Communications Corp., including more than 60 securities fraud lawsuits, numerous RICO lawsuits and adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court.

See more

Close

Matters

Represented Halliburton in a patent infringement lawsuit with a major competitor over fracking technology that involved seven patents and more than 120 claims. Successfully resolved with no payment and receipt of license to use competitor’s technology.

David Croucher, et al. v. MidCon Corp Employee Stock Ownership Plan, et al.: Represented U.S. Trust Company in an alleged breach of ERISA fiduciary duties class action involving the valuation of tracking stock.

Adelphia Communications Corp. v. John J. Rigas, Timothy J. Rigas, Michael J. Rigas, James P. Rigas, et al.: Represented the Rigas Family in all facets of civil litigation in connection with Adelphia Communications Corp., including more than 60 securities fraud lawsuits, numerous RICO lawsuits and adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court.

In Re Pacific Gas and Electric Company: Represented PG&E Corporation in litigation arising out of California’s energy crisis, including trial work confirming PG&E’s Plan of Reorganizatio

Deutsche Bank tax-related litigation: Represented Deutsche Bank in multiple lawsuits pending in state and federal court throughout Texas and the Southwest.

Infinite Energy, Inc. v. Econnergy Energy Company, Inc.: Represented Gateway Energy in a breach of contract action arising from a terminated merger transaction between the companies, filed in the Northern District of Florida.

Michigan South Central Power Agency v. Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc., f/k/a Constellation Power Source, Inc.: Represented Constellation Energy in breach of contract lawsuit where the plaintiff sought to shift SECA, congestion and other charges to Constellation.

Occidental Chemical Corp. v. Entergy Louisiana LLC and the Louisiana Public Service Commission: Represented Occidentalinvolving the proper methodology for calculating avoided cost payments to qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, filed in the Middle District of Louisiana.

JD Wind et al. v. Public Utilities Commission of Texas et al.: Represented Occidental Permian Ltd. in multiple regulatory, state and federal litigation involving the appropriate electric rates that must be paid to certain wind-generation facilities in the Texas Panhandle.

Alpharma Inc. v. Wyeth: Represented Alpharma Inc. in a breach of a contract and trademark infringement case to seek termination of a competitor's license to one of Alpharma's key trademarks, filed in the Southern District of New York.

King Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc. v. Intelliject, Inc.: Represented patent holder in Paragraph IV patent infringement lawsuit regarding auto-injector technology, filed in the District of Delaware.

Cameron International v. Cooper Industries, LLC.: Represented Cooper Industries in AAA arbitration defending claims of breach of contract and other allegations arising from the creation of Cameron in 1995 via divestiture of assets from Cooper.

Cooper Industries v. Wyman Gordon: Represented Cooper Industries in federal court litigation arising out of disputes associated with a 1994 Stock Purchase Agreement.

Weatherford International v. Panalpina: Represented Weatherford International in a lawsuit against a freight-forwarding company that failed to facilitate timely transportation of materials and equipment to Iraq.

U. S. Contractors v. Parsons/Technip: Represented U.S. Contractors in a construction dispute before a three-person arbitration panel. U.S. Contractors received a judgment of more than $4 million, including attorney's fees. Parsons/Technip’s counterclaims of approximately $6 million were dismissed in their entirety.

Lower Colorado River Authority v. Montoya Anderson Construction, Inc., et al.: Represented CEMEX in a lawsuit filed in Fayette County, Texas, involving a dispute over the construction of an addition to the Fayette County power plant.

Represented Haliburton in several federal and state court cases alleging ground water contamination in Duncan, Oklahoma (the Osage litigation). That litigation lasted more than 6 years, involved thousands of claimants, and alleged property value diminution and physical injuries. The Osage cases were also very public with media appearances by Erin Brockovich, numerous television news reports, newspaper articles, and several different plaintiff firms advertising for clients.

Representing a confidential client in a dispute arising from construction of a crude oil refinery. This matter went to hearing over 6 weeks before the International Chamber of Commerce in the summer of 2021 and deals with one of the largest construction projects in South America.

Representing Microsoft in a dispute over the construction of a data center that involves claims of cost overruns and schedule delays.

Representing a confidential client in matters involving the construction of a large semiconductor facility in Central Texas.

Represented a confidential client in a matter involving the expansion of a semiconductor facility.

Represented a confidential client in a dispute over the construction failure at a semiconductor facility that caused a power outage and resulting loss of millions of dollars of wafers that were in progress at the time of the power loss.

Representing a confidential client in a power purchase agreement dispute involving a solar and battery facility in Nevada.

Representing a confidential client in a construction dispute involving a solar and battery facility in California.

Representing a confidential client in a construction dispute involving a solar facility in west Texas.

Representing a confidential client in a dispute over the proper price to charge for gas transmission on a pipeline that runs from Texas to the Northeast.

Representing several clients in MDL litigation resulting from Winter Storm Uri. These cases involve numerous issues in the power space and ERCOT regulations.

Representing a confidential client in a construction dispute involving an LNG facility in Florida.

Representing a confidential client in a construction dispute involving a $4 billion petrochemical plant in Canada. This matter is governed by the ICC.

Representing a confidential client in a dispute arising out of the largest public-private water supply agreement in the United States that cost nearly $3 billion to build (142 miles long).

Represented a confidential client in an ICDR arbitration involving the construction failures associated with the building of a power plant in Massachusetts.

Representing Bass Pro in West Virginia state court litigation involving the construction of a retail store.

Representing Environmental Resources Management is a Texas-based MDL proceeding that involves the alleged contamination of ground water that has allegedly caused physical injuries and property value diminution of property values. This is a very public matter with media appearance by Erin Brockovich, numerous television news reports, newspaper articles, and several different plaintiff firms advertising for clients.

Represented Haliburton in several federal and state court cases alleging ground water contamination in Duncan, Oklahoma (the Osage litigation). That litigation lasted more than 6 years, involved thousands of claimants, and alleged property value diminution and physical injuries. The Osage cases were also very public with media appearances by Erin Brockovich, numerous television news reports, newspaper articles, and several different plaintiff firms advertising for clients.

Represented a confidential client in arbitration in the London Court of International Arbitration arising from a nearly $1 billion construction project in Southern Iraq.

Representing a confidential client in AAA arbitration over construction of several power plants in Texas.

Representing a confidential South American company in ICC arbitration involving dispute over surplus construction materials.

Represented a confidential client over construction of a power plant in Pennsylvania.

Represent a confidential client in construction dispute involving electrical failure that forced business disruption.

Represented Bass Pro in contract dispute in federal court and secured settlement involving $40+ million in payments and tens of millions in additional future revenue.

Represented a confidential client in arbitration over construction of hotel and retail store in Tennessee.

Represented a confidential client in dispute over hotel construction in Missouri.

Represented Bass Pro in Delaware Chancery Court over purchase price dispute.

Represented a confidential client in multiple patent infringement litigations over fracking technology.

E.ON v. Gamesa: Represented Gamesa in AAA arbitration where plaintiff requested approximately $90 million in damages allegedly caused by design defect in wind turbine blades. Matter proceeded to final confidential hearing in January 2013. Excellent result achieved for client after final hearing.

Windstar v. Gamesa: Represented Gamesa in AAA arbitration initially defending allegations of delay and disruption in building a utility-grade wind farm in California. Gamesa asserted counterclaims. Matter proceeded to final hearing, and Gamesa prevailed on all claims.

AMEC/Zachry Crushed Stone Contractors Joint Venture, et al. v. CEMEX Construction Materials Florida, LLC: Represented CEMEX in a lawsuit filed in Orlando state court (Business Court Division) involving a dispute over a $60 million cost overrun arising from the construction of a cement plant in Brooksville, Florida.

Credentials

J.D., University of Houston Law Center, summa cum laude

B.S., University of Florida

New York

Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Litigator of the Week


Law.com, June 23, 2023

Texas Trailblazer


Texas Lawyer, October/November 2020

Leader of the team named Construction Group of the Year


Law360, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022

Ranked in construction litigation


Chambers Band 1, Construction

Client Service All-Star


BTI Consulting Group, 2019, 2020

Construction


Legal 500

Construction


Who Who's Legal

Close

Recognition

Litigator of the Week


Law.com, June 23, 2023

Texas Trailblazer


Texas Lawyer, October/November 2020

Leader of the team named Construction Group of the Year


Law360, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022

Ranked in construction litigation


Chambers Band 1, Construction

Client Service All-Star


BTI Consulting Group, 2019, 2020

Construction


Legal 500

Construction


Who Who's Legal