Attorneys
Ron Oran
Ron Oran is a commercial litigator who represents energy companies, private equity firms, investment advisers, boards of directors, and other business clients in high-stakes disputes. For more than 20 years, he has handled litigation and arbitration involving M&A transactions, securities, fiduciary duties, contracts, fraudulent transfers, antitrust claims, and upstream and midstream operations. Clients rely on Ron for practical judgment, efficient case management, and experienced advocacy in disputes involving complex financial and business issues.
Ron is also active in Houston’s nonprofit community and has served in leadership roles with the United Way of Greater Houston, American Leadership Forum-Houston/Gulf Coast, AVANCE, and the Children’s Museum of Houston.
Community Involvement
- Board of Directors, American Leadership Forum (Class XLII)
- Board of Directors, AVANCE, Inc.
- Board of Trustees, United Way of Greater Houston
- Board of Directors, Children's Museum Houston
- Board of Directors, AVANCE-Houston, Inc.
Education
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana (B.A. with high honors 1998)
- Tulane University Law School (J.D. 2003; Tulane Law Review)
- Tulane University (MA, 2003)
Bar Admissions
- Federal Courts: Second Circuit, Fifth Circuit, and federal district courts in Texas, New York, and Colorado
- State Courts: Texas and New York
Illustrative representations include
Energy and M&A Litigation
From initial exploration through decommissioning and legacy liability, Ron has handled disputes involving nearly every aspect of the upstream and midstream energy sectors.
- Represented an exploration and production company in force majeure claims arising from its inability to produce gas during Winter Storm Uri.
- Defended a master limited partnership and members of its general partner’s board against shareholder derivative suits in Texas and Delaware seeking to enjoin a $1 billion merger.
- Represented an exploration and production company in an arbitration concerning contractual adjustments to a $420 million acquisition.
- Represented a private equity firm in Texas arbitration and litigation concerning contractual indemnification obligations arising from the sale of a gas compression company.
- Represented an exploration and production company in Delaware bankruptcy court and Alaska state court litigation concerning decommissioning liabilities associated with previously divested oil and gas assets.
- Represented an exploration and production company in Texas federal court litigation concerning drainage claims involving a previously divested Gulf of Mexico lease.
- Represented an exploration and production company in Texas state court litigation seeking to enforce a $235 million purchase and sale agreement for oil and gas assets.
- Represented an exploration and production company in New York federal court litigation asserting claims under the Alien Tort Statute and RICO.
- Assisted in the appeal of the dismissal of a Delaware shareholder derivative suit challenging the fairness of a $9 billion merger on behalf of a master limited partnership’s general partner and members of its board.
Corporate Governance, Fiduciary, and Bankruptcy Litigation
Ron handles disputes challenging decisions by companies, boards, and officers, including the fairness of corporate transactions and alleged breaches of the duties of care and loyalty.
- Represented an investment adviser in breach of fiduciary duty and contract claims arising from the sale of his registered investment adviser firm.
- Represented an investment adviser in breach of fiduciary duty claims brought in probate court by the heirs of a former client.
- Represented an investment firm in breach of fiduciary duty claims alleging a lack of due diligence in connection with the divestiture of fund assets.
- Represented a retail electric cooperative objecting to bankruptcy claims for natural gas purchased at unusually high prices during Winter Storm Uri.
- Represented a bankruptcy trustee in breach of fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer claims against former owners of an exploration and production company.
- Represented a bankruptcy trustee in fraudulent transfer and breach of fiduciary duty claims against the former owner of a midstream construction company.
- Defended an exploration and production company against fraudulent transfer claims arising from the sale of oil and gas assets in Alaska.
Securities Litigation
Ron handles matters challenging public disclosures and merger transactions under the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act, and the Investment Advisers Act.
- Represented the private equity sponsors of an oil and gas company in a putative class action in Texas federal court alleging violations of Section 15 of the Securities Act.
- Represented an oil and gas company in a putative class action in New York federal court alleging violations of Sections 11, 12, and 15 of the Securities Act.
- Represented the publicly traded general partner of a master limited partnership and certain directors in Delaware and Texas litigation alleging violations of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act.
- Represented an oil and gas company in a putative class action in Oklahoma federal court alleging violations of Sections 11, 12, and 15 of the Securities Act.
- Represented an oilfield services company in a putative class action in Texas federal court alleging violations of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act.
- Represented a private equity fund and two directors in an Oklahoma federal court putative class action alleging violations of the Securities Act and Securities Exchange Act.