E. Sawyer Neely

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2022-2027 Listed in Texas Super Lawyers General Litigation, 2026 "Rising Stars," 2008, 2010-2011, 2013, 2015-2016 Listed in D Magazine's "Best Lawyers in Dallas", 2026 Listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2022, 2024-2026 Listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, Commercial Litigation, 2022, 2025-2027 Listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading Special Situations Lawyers, Business Divorce, Product Liability, Litigation, 2026 Creatively resolved partnership dispute involving a large real estate portfolio following years of hard-fought litigation. Obtained take-nothing jury verdict and award of attorneys’ fees against a former employee seeking over $3 million in alleged damages and attempting to enforce a Letter of Intent concerning his potential equity in an ammunition company. Successfully fought off aggressive minority shareholder seeking appointment of a receiver over group of medical facilities, obtaining advantageous settlement in the process. Obtained successful settlement through mediation of trade secret misappropriation and tortious interference dispute between competing construction companies in the utilities space. Successfully defeated temporary restraining order application alleging violation of noncompete agreement. Experienced in working with valuation and damages experts in connection with underlying commercial business and partnership disputes, including clients facing disputes involving real estate sales, construction disputes, general and subcontractor disputes, fire loss, and environmental remediation. Routinely obtain temporary restraining orders and advantageous settlement agreements for employers enforcing non-solicitation and noncompetition agreements. Obtained discounted buyout prices for a group of physicians who had signed noncompete agreements containing steep buyout clauses. Negotiated lucrative buyout of minority member of limited liability company alleging breach of fiduciary duty, self-dealing, and mismanagement. Negotiated advantageous and timely buyout of founding minority member of business alleging corporate waste, breach of fiduciary duty, self-dealing, and fraud. Obtained dismissal of employment discrimination claim for lack of personal jurisdiction. Conducted extensive internal investigation concerning workplace safety allegations at a large tank farm operated by a petroleum transport company. Conducted extensive internal investigation at large hospital regarding allegations of racial discrimination, harassment, and favoritism, reporting findings to the board of trustees. Aggressively defended and successfully settled claims asserted by former employee for intentional infliction of emotional distress, discrimination, and retaliation. Part of trial team that obtained take-nothing jury verdict against a bankruptcy trustee seeking disgorgement of over $20 million from good-faith subsequent transferee under the federal fraudulent transfer act. Obtained dismissal through summary judgment of 11 claims brought by single borrower who had defaulted on loans and alleged wrongful conduct by mortgage servicer. Obtained dismissal through summary judgment of claims for trade secret misappropriation, breach of non-disclosure and noncompete agreements, breach of contract, tortious interference, fraudulent inducement, Texas Theft Liability Act, conversion, aiding and abetting, unduly punitive liquidated damages, disgorgement, and conspiracy in case involving failed purchase of business. Obtained summary judgment and take-nothing jury verdict against all claims brought by oilfield services company alleging product testing service had damaged a prototype and caused undue delays and over $8 million in alleged damages. Aggressively represented medical device manufacturer facing illegitimate claims of trade-secret theft, turning the tables on the plaintiff and obtaining a substantial settlement payment to the manufacturer. Obtained dismissal of over $1 billion of alleged damages claims brought by bankruptcy trustee against holding company and its officers, directors, and shareholders, resulting in advantageous settlement of remaining claim at a small fraction of the alleged damages. Negotiated advantageous settlement for publicly traded corporation and its directors, officers, and controlling shareholder in connection with challenge to convertible securities exchange offer after successfully narrowing claims through summary judgment. Defended airline in shareholder derivative litigation, working out beneficial corporate governance and safety procedures and a settlement benefitting both the company and its shareholders. Obtained significant settlement payment for real estate developer whose property was burned in a wildfire caused by the negligence of a neighboring company attempting to weld fences during a burn ban. Counseled airline regarding expiring federal litigation and prepared brief supporting airline in negotiations with the City of Dallas and federal regulatory agencies. Routinely manage teams in connection with collection, review and production of documents.