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Bill Burns is in King & Spalding’s Houston office and a member of the firm’s Contracts and Business Torts practice. Bill represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of high stakes complex commercial disputes.  He has substantial experience representing clients in disputes involving the energy, construction, and health care industries. Bill has also handled significant employment-related matters. 

Bill has represented numerous clients before state and federal courts and arbitration panels around the country and has successfully briefed and argued cases on appeal. Bill recently obtained a nearly $100 million arbitration award for the owners of a large power plant. While in law school, Bill served as an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review and interned with Chief Justice (then Justice) Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court.

 

Publications

  • “Termination of Oil, Gas, and Mineral Leases: Savings Clauses and Defensive Doctrines,” 26th Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Course, Texas State Bar Association, 2008

  • “Texas Supreme Court Holds that ‘Reasonable Certainty’ Requirement Applies to Claims for ‘Lost Market Value,’” King & Spalding Energy Newsletter, June 2015

  • “Texas High Court is Sure About Reasonable Certainty,” Law360, June 17, 2015

  • “Texas Supreme Court Issues Opinion on Business Judgment Rule and Double-Derivative Standing That Could Affect Closely Held Texas Energy Companies,” King & Spalding Energy Newsletter, July 2015
Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., The University of Texas at Austin, with honors

B.A., The University of Texas at Austin

Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

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

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

Intern, Nathan Hecht, Texas

American Bar Association

American Health Lawyers Association

Houston Bar Association

Matters

Representing the owners of a power plant against the general contractor in connection with extensive construction delays and associated costs resulting from an incident during commissioning.  Obtained award of nearly $100 million.

Representing Chevron Pipe Line Company in a derivative action for breach of fiduciary duty against a controlling shareholder and directors of a JV pipeline company.  Case resolved on favorable terms for the client in settlement. 

Representing Exterran Kazakhstan in a construction delay and cost dispute with the general contractor on a gas processing project in Kazakhstan.  Case resolved on favorable terms for the client in settlement.    

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Matters

Representing the owners of a power plant against the general contractor in connection with extensive construction delays and associated costs resulting from an incident during commissioning.  Obtained award of nearly $100 million.

Representing Chevron Pipe Line Company in a derivative action for breach of fiduciary duty against a controlling shareholder and directors of a JV pipeline company.  Case resolved on favorable terms for the client in settlement. 

Representing Exterran Kazakhstan in a construction delay and cost dispute with the general contractor on a gas processing project in Kazakhstan.  Case resolved on favorable terms for the client in settlement.    

Representing The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center against Title VII employment claims brought by a former faculty member.  Case resolved favorably in settlement after a landmark victory in the United States Supreme Court. 

Representing The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and affiliates along with the former dean of the medical school and the chairman of the department of surgery in a series of high profile state and federal litigation involving healthcare and employment-related issues.  Claims against the clients were dismissed at the trial court level or on interlocutory appeal. 

Insights

Newsletter

June 3, 2016
Energy Newsletter - June 2016

Newsletter

August 4, 2015
Energy Newsletter - August 2015

View all

Matters

Representing the owners of a power plant against the general contractor in connection with extensive construction delays and associated costs resulting from an incident during commissioning.  Obtained award of nearly $100 million.

Representing Chevron Pipe Line Company in a derivative action for breach of fiduciary duty against a controlling shareholder and directors of a JV pipeline company.  Case resolved on favorable terms for the client in settlement. 

Representing Exterran Kazakhstan in a construction delay and cost dispute with the general contractor on a gas processing project in Kazakhstan.  Case resolved on favorable terms for the client in settlement.    

See more

Close

Matters

Representing the owners of a power plant against the general contractor in connection with extensive construction delays and associated costs resulting from an incident during commissioning.  Obtained award of nearly $100 million.

Representing Chevron Pipe Line Company in a derivative action for breach of fiduciary duty against a controlling shareholder and directors of a JV pipeline company.  Case resolved on favorable terms for the client in settlement. 

Representing Exterran Kazakhstan in a construction delay and cost dispute with the general contractor on a gas processing project in Kazakhstan.  Case resolved on favorable terms for the client in settlement.    

Representing The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center against Title VII employment claims brought by a former faculty member.  Case resolved favorably in settlement after a landmark victory in the United States Supreme Court. 

Representing The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and affiliates along with the former dean of the medical school and the chairman of the department of surgery in a series of high profile state and federal litigation involving healthcare and employment-related issues.  Claims against the clients were dismissed at the trial court level or on interlocutory appeal. 

Insights

Newsletter

June 3, 2016
Energy Newsletter - June 2016

Newsletter

August 4, 2015
Energy Newsletter - August 2015

View all

Credentials

J.D., The University of Texas at Austin, with honors

B.A., The University of Texas at Austin

Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

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

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

Intern, Nathan Hecht, Texas

American Bar Association

American Health Lawyers Association

Houston Bar Association