Business Litigation; Securities Litigation and Arbitration; Labor and Employment

Mr. Brown engages in a broad-based litigation practice, including intellectual property and unfair competition litigation and arbitration concerning non-compete agreements, trade secrets and other confidential information, securities industry disputes and a wide range of commercial business disputes. In this regard, for over a decade, Mr. Brown has handled a substantial number of cases involving the claimed protection of trade secrets for securities firms and their employees as well as for various other commercial entities. These disputes often involve attempts to enforce or to declare unenforceable non-competition and non-solicitation agreements. He has appeared on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants in these disputes often for the initial purpose of obtaining or preventing temporary restraining orders and injunctions. The resolution of these matters runs the gamut from expedited settlements, to protracted discovery in multiple forums, through trial and final merit arbitration hearings.

Mr. Brown has extensive experience in the arbitration process, having appeared in more than 150 arbitration cases pending before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and its predecessor entities NASD and NYSE Regulation. He closely follows evolving law governing contractual arbitration provisions and has spoken on the expanding importance of alternative dispute resolution, in particular arbitrations, in our society.

Mr. Brown recognizes the importance of strong communications not only at the outset of a new case, but throughout the matter through trial, appeal, or resolution. Mr. Brown believes that to best represent his clients, they need to be fully aware of both short-term action items, and longer-term options and strategies.

• Obtained a jury verdict for client against major beverage company and its subsidiary for violations of state and federal securities laws leading to a judgment for rescissory damages and substantial prejudgment interest. Successfully defended this recovery under the Texas Security Act through appeals to the Texas Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.
• In multiple court and arbitration cases involving the hiring of experienced registered representatives in the securities industry, obtained court and arbitration orders denying emergency, expedited, or other requests for temporary restraining orders and injunctions that would have precluded competition by former employees and handcuffed their new employers’ legitimate competitive activities.
• After a 3-week trial in an employment discrimination and retaliation action, obtained a take-nothing judgment in favor of municipality, which was affirmed on appeal.

JD, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, with honors, 1989

• Member, Texas Law Review, 1987-1989
• Order of the Coif
• Chancellors
• Recipient, Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal Academic Excellence Award, 1987 and 1989 Certificate of Merit
• Recipient, Bankston, Wright & Greenhill Award, 1988
• The National Dean’s List, 11th Edition, 1987-1988
• Recipient, Dean’s Achievement Award, 1987

BBA, The University of Texas at Austin, 1985

• University of Texas Tennis Team, 1981-1985; Letterman 1982-1985; Co-Captain 1984-1985

• State Bar of Texas
• Barrister, The Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court, Dallas, Texas – 2003 - 2006

A Guide to Successful Navigation of the Recent Amendments to Part VII of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Sponsored by the Higginbotham American Inn of Court, 2005

Trials on Trial – The Future of an Institution, Sponsored by the Higginbotham American Inn of Court, 2004