Nicholas S. Davis

BIOGRAPHY

Nick Davis is a partner in the firm’s litigation section. He represents clients in complex disputes, trials, and arbitrations. He has significant experience in high-stakes matters involving fraud, trade secrets, oil and gas, employment, insurance coverage, government investigations, and complex commercial cases.

Mr. Davis has been described by clients and colleagues as a “once-in-a-generation talent.” He is known for being “cool as a cucumber” under pressure. He has been praised for his analytical and strategic skills, and has “all the smarts, personality, and real genuineness that is rare to find in one package.” Mr. Davis “operates at a very high level,” “has been an absolute life-saver,” “is thoughtful and thorough,” “a pleasure to work with,” and his “analysis and strategy are first rate.” One client commented that Mr. Davis is “exceptionally bright with an in-depth knowledge of the law” and his “attention to detail is extraordinary.”

Prior to joining Kelly Hart, Mr. Davis was a partner at a large international law firm and at a boutique litigation firm in Fort Worth.

Mr. Davis earned his J.D. and LL.M. from Duke University School of Law and graduated with honors with a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.

EXPERIENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS

COMPLEX COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

• Represented a telecommunications carrier in arbitration for a partnership dispute
• Favorably settled an investment fraud and breach of fiduciary duty dispute involving a technology company for the client
• Secured dismissal on behalf of the defendant in a case related to the Platinum Partners fraud in the Southern District of New York
• Secured a favorable settlement for the co-founder of a technology company in a breach of fiduciary duty arbitration
• Represented the principal in a multimillion-dollar breach of fiduciary duty case
• Successfully settled a class action lawsuit regarding false advertising for a food manufacturer, favorably for the client
• Represented a commercial real estate broker in a trade secret misappropriation case against a former employee and their new company. Successfully secured an anti-competitive temporary injunction, leading to a favorable settlement and a non-compete agreement
• Represented company members providing services to a major state transportation agency in a breach of fiduciary duty and trade secret theft case
• Represented a real estate software company in litigation for trade secret misappropriation against former employees
• Represented the managers of feeder funds in state and federal litigation, including derivative litigation, consolidated class action litigation, direct litigation by a fund, and clawback proceedings in bankruptcy and federal courts, all stemming from the Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC
• Represented investment funds in a fraudulent conveyance class-action suit against a major monoline insurer of mortgage-backed securities, challenging the insurer’s transformation transactions
• Represented insurers in significant coverage disputes involving asbestos liabilities, false winning jackpots, and copyright infringement
• Represented a large private equity firm in a multi-billion-dollar securities class action stemming from its IPO
• Represented large banks in multiple mortgage-backed securities cases
• Represented a medical device supplier in indemnification claims against a co-defendant in multidistrict product liability litigation
• Represented private equity firms in numerous nationwide contested proceedings to safeguard the confidentiality of investment information
• Represented clients in internal investigations and investigations by federal and state agencies

OIL & GAS

• Represented an investment management company and an oil and gas company in a fraud jury trial, securing a unanimous jury verdict
• Represented a Fort Worth-based oil and gas company against a prominent drilling company in a lease termination jury trial, securing a unanimous jury verdict
• Obtained summary judgment and a favorable settlement for a mineral holding company in a title dispute in Reeves County, TX.
• Represented a large international oil company against a Big Oil supermajor in arbitration concerning a joint operating agreement.
• Obtained summary judgment for the defendant oil company in a $50 million dispute over an oil and gas lease in the Permian Basin
• Obtained summary judgment for the defendant in complex oil and gas title litigation
• Successfully settled a breach of a Letter of Intent involving property in Lea County, NM, favorably for the client
• Secured a favorable settlement for the plaintiffs in a fraud litigation case involving property in the Permian Basin
• Represented an international energy company, the plaintiff, in an ICDR arbitration concerning breach of contract and fraud claims
• Represented oil and gas companies in lease termination disputes located in the Permian Basin

HONORS

• Best Lawyers®, Dallas/Fort Worth-Ones to Watch, U.S. News & World Report
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Oil and Gas Law
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine
  • Oil and Gas

AFFILIATIONS

• American Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Big Brothers Big Sisters, Board of Directors

EDUCATION

• Duke University School of Law, J.D., LL.M., 2011
• University of Texas, .B.A., with honors, 2007

ADMISSIONS

• State Bar of Texas
• State Bar of New York