Stephanie L. Noble
Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
Stephanie is a trial lawyer who has litigated commercial matters in both state and federal courts across the country. She has experience representing clients in a wide array of cases, including energy, contract, shareholder, and construction disputes. Her experience also includes representing companies in international and domestic arbitrations, as well as administrative appeals. Stephanie is also actively involved in the Firm’s pro bono practice, through which she has represented individuals in asylum and family-law proceedings and advised local non-profits on various litigation and regulatory matters.
Experience Highlights
(Colo. Dist. – Denver Cnty.) After a three-week trial to the court, secured a $280 million judgment in favor of Antero Treatment while defeating a $118 million counterclaim; the Court found that the defendant fraudulently induced Antero into signing an agreement for the design, construction and operation of a facility for the treatment of produced and flowback water; the Court also found that Antero properly terminated the agreement after the defendant defaulted by failing to construct the facility according to the requirements of the contract
(Colo. Dist. – Denver Cnty.) – Secured a $96 million (net) verdict for energy company in breach of contract action regarding natural gas purchase and sale agreement
First-chaired an appeal of multi-million dollar civil penalty against an oil-and-gas company before an administrative law judge; achieved complete dismissal of civil penalty
(Tex. Dist. – Ward County) – Defended energy company in lawsuit against former working interest holder in Texas state court; obtained favorable motion for summary judgment resulting in a dismissal of majority of claims
(AAA Arbitration) — Represented international construction contractor against a turbine supplier for fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract related to equipment and services for a major power plant project; obtained award for all damages sought
(Texas) – Representing not-for-profit electric cooperative in litigation involving mineral lease for coal mining in South Texas
(AAA Arbitration) – Defended Colorado energy company in an AAA arbitration against a co-working interest holder regarding an Area of Mutual Interest Agreement; presented fact witness and crossed expert witness at final hearing; obtained favorable result
Represented energy company in international arbitration proceedings under the ICSID Convention against Argentina related to the treatment of an investment; resulted in award of approximately $200 million (net)
First-chaired fifteen jury trials through the City of Houston’s Volunteer Prosecutor Program
(Bankr. S.D. Tex) –Representing oil-and-gas producer in challenging class proofs of claim for alleged royalty underpayment
(D. Puerto Rico) – Representing fuel-testing laboratory in class action brought against a number of laboratories, fuel suppliers, and a utility company, in Puerto Rico alleging RICO and fraud claims related to the sale and testing of oil
(Texas) – Defended pharmacy and grocery services company against putative class action by consumers alleging over-charges for prescription drugs
(Hawaii) – Defended chemical company in class action brought by workers alleging work-place injuries in Hawaii state court
(S.D. Ohio) – Defending producer in a lawsuit involving breach of contract claims related to a purchase and sale agreement
(Texas) – Defending operator against claims by non-operators for alleged breaches of joint operating agreement
(Oklahoma) — Defended producer in multiple royalty underpayment suits brought by same plaintiffs’ law firm on behalf of hundreds of royalty owners in Oklahoma state court
Counseled energy companies regarding regulatory compliance with federal leasing and royalty payment requirements and litigated administrative appeals of notices of noncompliance and civil penalties before administrative law judges
(Tex. Dist. – Harris County) – Prosecuted breach of contract claims on behalf of international natural gas supplier; resulted in judgment for approximately $523 million in liquidated damages
(Tex. Dist. – Harris County) – Defended a private equity company in a dispute involving a former investor in a portfolio company
(Tex. Dist. – Harris County) – Defended related New York companies against tortious interference claims on personal jurisdiction grounds
Credentials
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. cum laude, 2013 (Articles Editor, Georgetown Journal of Law and Modern Critical Race Perspectives; Global Teaching Fellow)
- The University of Texas, B.A., Government, 2009
- Judicial clerk to The Honorable Otis D. Wright, II, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 2017–2018
- Judicial intern to The Honorable Edward C. Prado, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2011
- Chambers USA, “Up and Coming” in Litigation: General Commercial (Houston), 2024
- Legal 500 U.S., Energy Litigation: Oil & Gas, 2022-2024; Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2023
- Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2022 and 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Ones to Watch,” Commercial Litigation (Houston), 2021–2024
- Co-chair Gender Fairness Committee, Houston Bar Association 2022–2023 and 2023–2024
- Houston Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Institute for Energy Law’s Leadership Class, 2021–2022
- Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- InsightFebruary 21, 2024
V&E+ Ventures
- InsightFebruary 1, 2024
V&E SEC Update
- Vinson & Elkins Wins Complete Take Nothing Defense Verdict for Aera Energy Following Two-Month TrialDeals & CasesDecember 11, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 21, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 27, 2023
- InsightMarch 6, 2023
V&E Energy Update
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 18, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 16, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 29, 2022
- Press ReleaseJanuary 11, 2022