Matthew R. Stammel
Trammell Crow Center
2001 Ross Avenue
Suite 3900
Dallas, Texas 75201
Matt works with clients on their most complex and demanding problems. He enjoys working closely with clients to understand their businesses and to help develop strategies to achieve the best outcome possible.
In recent years, Matt has worked primarily with companies in the oil and gas industry and the real estate business. Matt frequently represents oil and gas companies and private equity firms in complex commercial disputes.
Matt serves on the firm’s Management Committee. He also is Head of the Energy Litigation Practice Group.
Experience Highlights
Represented an oil and gas company in a complex contractual dispute over operatorship of over 300,000 acres and 1800 wells; secured complete victory for client after six-day trial in bankruptcy court
(AAA Arbitration) – Represented a private equity investor against an oil and gas company operator concerning mismanagement and faulty accounting of joint operations; secured complete victory for the client, including an award of attorneys’ fees, following a two-day arbitration
(S.D. Miss.) — Represented an oil and gas production company against a putative class action alleging that it had underpaid royalties to mineral owners in Mississippi; obtained an order denying class certification leading to dismissal of the case
Representing an independent finance company against claims by its borrowers related to the failure of the business enterprise forming the basis of the borrowing relationship; secured class certification of settlement class, expeditiously resolving most claims
Successfully defended a major midstream company in a jury trial in Dallas against claims that it breached a contract in connection with the closing of a gas processing plant; following a seven-day trial, the jury found in favor of the client on all counts, and judgment was rendered in its favor; the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment
Represented an oil and gas producer against another oil company in a reversionary dispute in state court implicating a number of issues concerning properties in Louisiana; reached successful settlement
Represented an independent oil and gas company in the successful resolution of a dispute over hundreds of millions of dollars arising out of the acquisition of properties throughout Texas; successfully settled
Represented an oil and gas producer in the successful resolution of an arbitration proceeding against the designer and builder of a gas processing plant in Wyoming
Represented an oilfield services firm and its executives in a dispute with other owners of the business
(N.D. Tex.) — Represented a cell tower company on several matters, including a case in federal court in Dallas against its key competitor, where nearly a billion dollars was at stake; before the case was successfully resolved, on the eve of trial, secured the dismissal of the competitor’s antitrust and RICO claims against the company and its executives
(Tex. App. – Amarillo) — Represented a major Texas city on claims brought by an energy company complaining that the city was liable for damages after the failure of a proposed power plant project; convinced the Amarillo trial court that the city was entitled to governmental immunity, and the case was dismissed; the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision in all respects
(Tex. App. – Austin) — Represented a real estate investment firm against a property developer in connection with a troubled real estate development in Austin, Texas; following a weeklong bench trial, judgment was entered in favor of the client, awarding the principal relief requested; the Court of Appeals affirmed the finding on the critical issue and remanded the case for an award of attorney’s fees to the client
Helped a major real estate services firm to the successful resolution of fraud and negligence claims brought in connection with the acquisition and promotion of development project in Las Vegas, Nevada
Lead lawyer for a broker dealer in various cases securing the protection of client lists and other trade secrets
Secured a complete jury verdict in favor of a financial services client on claims for breach of contract and deceptive trade practices
(E.D. Tex.) — On a pro bono basis, secured the return of a Peruvian woman’s children to Peru following their abduction to Texas
Credentials
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with honors, 1997 (Order of the Coif; Texas Law Review)
- Drake University, B.A. summa cum laude, 1994 (Phi Beta Kappa)
- Judicial clerk to The Honorable Richard P. Matsch, U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado, Denver, 1997–1998
- Chambers USA, Oil & Gas Litigation (Nationwide), 2020–2024
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), Commercial Litigation (Dallas), 2014–2025
- Legal 500 U.S., Energy Litigation, 2011, 2012, 2019, and 2020; Energy Litigation: Oil & Gas, 2019–2024
- Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023 and 2024
- Selected to the 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon, 2023–2025
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2013–2024
- Selected to the BTI Client Service All-Stars list, 2020
- Fellow: International Society of Barristers
- Member: American Bar Association; Dallas Bar Association
- Colorado
- Texas
- all U.S. District Courts in Texas
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 19, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 12, 2024
- Deals & CasesAugust 21, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- Deals & CasesOctober 2, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 18, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 11, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 21, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 17, 2023
- Deals & CasesJanuary 3, 2023
- Deals & CasesNovember 16, 2022
- Deals & CasesOctober 21, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 4, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 18, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 16, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2022
- InsightApril 21, 2022
Published by Lawdragon.com
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 29, 2022
- Deals & CasesApril 13, 2021
- “Alexa: Waive the Attorney-Client Privilege for Me,” The Advocate, State Bar Litigation Section Report, Technology and Litigation Practice, Volume 96, Fall 2021 (co-author)
- “An Agreement to Agree Is No Agreement At All,” Headnotes: Antitrust & Trade/Business Litigation, Dallas Bar Association, October 2019, pg. 22 (co-author)
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Houston Office, June 12, 2019 (speaker)
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Dallas Office, June 5, 2019 (speaker)
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Austin Office, May 28, 2019 (speaker)
- “Who Is Responsible for Cleaning up the Mess?: Indemnities in the Oil Patch,” Texas Journal of Oil & Gas and Energy Law (TJOGEL) Symposium, February 1, 2018 (speaker)
- “Protecting Your Client’s Confidential Information,” Headnotes: Family Law, Dallas Bar Association, October 2015 (co-author)
- “Federal Trade Commission Launches Investigation of Oil and Gas Markets,” V&E Insights—What’s In the News, and Why It Matters to You, August 2011
- “Email Through the Eyes of Judges and Juries,” 2015 (presentations to in-house counsel)