Alex Wolf

A trusted legal advisor and courtroom advocate, Alex represents clients in civil cases, white collar criminal matters, and investigations. 

He is always ready for trial, but knows that for many of his clients, the best result skips such expense and publicity—whether that means discreetly avoiding criminal charges or favorably resolving a civil dispute.  Alex also advises his clients on managing risk, particularly concerning litigation, criminal exposure, and misconduct.  Recently, that has included advising multiple clients on Dobbs-related issues with respect to their policies and benefits. 

Alex has represented clients in investigations and prosecutions by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC), Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), and Texas Attorney General.  He was part of the SKV trial teams that secured jury acquittals in federal court for the BP wellsite leader wrongfully blamed for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and a dentist charged with insider trading.

In his civil practice, Alex represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex disputes, whether in federal courts, state courts, or arbitrations.  His industry experience encompasses healthcare, higher education, transportation, energy, financial services, and real estate, among others.  Alex’s Representative Matters section details some of his recent victories.

Alex attended Cornell University and Harvard Law School.  After law school, he practiced in the Boston office of an international law firm and clerked for the Honorable Carolyn Dineen King on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  He also holds a master’s degree in higher education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and worked in alumni affairs and development at Cornell University before attending law school. 

Outside of the office, Alex is a mentor with the Emerge Fellowship and a member of the Houston Urban Debate League’s Young Professionals Council.  Alex believes strongly in mentorship and speaks with numerous high school, college, and law school students and recent graduates every year about a variety of career issues; he has also spoken on alumni panels and at local secondary schools.  An experienced editor and researcher, Alex has also provided editorial or research support for four books on a range of topics including legal history, architecture, and parenting.  Alex is an Eagle Scout.  

Alex is licensed to practice in Texas, Massachusetts, and Illinois.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

• Represented the nation’s largest railroad in a series of arbitrations against one of the country’s largest electric power generation corporations; resulted in a favorable global settlement on the first day of the first arbitration hearing.
• Won summary judgment for client surgery center against contractual counterparty in a dispute concerning the parties’ rights to pursue unpaid claims against health insurance company.
• Secured favorable settlements for natural gas and crude company in two separate breach of contract cases against different defendants based on deficient contractor work that caused leaks in storage tanks.
• Won dismissal of duplicative breach of contract cause of action filed against client.
• Won summary judgment for client healthcare corporation against insurance company that refused to advance costs of defense.
• Secured favorable settlement for contractor client in multi-million dollar construction dispute against factory.
• Secured favorable settlement for client against professional services firm that provided negligent professional advice.

FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT

• Secured jury acquittal for client charged with insider trading arising from the merger of the Shaw Group and Chicago Bridge & Iron. Following jury acquittal, secured voluntary dismissal of related charges brought by SEC.
• Represented individual client in tax fraud investigation by the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division with no charges filed.
• Represented individual client and client’s beauty industry business in tax fraud investigation by the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division with no charges filed.

PUBLIC CORRUPTION, BRIBERY, AND FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT (FCPA)

• Represented Division I coach indicted in “Varsity Blues” investigation; secured resolution through a Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
• Represented former officers of energy-industry company in parallel DOJ and SEC investigations into foreign corruption; resolved with no charges filed against officers.
• Represented former employee of Citgo in FCPA investigation and indictment.
• Secured voluntary dismissal of felony and misdemeanor charges against Texas Representative Dawnna Dukes that alleged falsification of travel vouchers and improper receipt of reimbursements.

HIGHER EDUCATION AND NONPROFIT

• Advised R1 research university on Dobbs issues.
• Represented Division I coach indicted in “Varsity Blues” investigation; secured resolution through a Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
• Represented regional nonprofit hospital system in various litigation matters.
• Advised nonprofit on risk mitigation, updating policies and procedures, and revising grant agreements.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES

• Secured jury acquittal for client, BP Well-Site Leader on board Deepwater Horizon, charged with Clean Water Act violations stemming from rig explosion and oil spill.
• Won dismissal of felony Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act charges against client offshore contractor based on offshore rig explosion in Gulf of Mexico. Affirmed by the Fifth Circuit. Secured favorable settlement on misdemeanor charges.
• Currently represent energy-industry client in criminal investigation into offshore leak.

TRADE SECRETS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

• Secured multi-million dollar jury verdict in favor of client, a Houston-based high-frequency trading firm, on claims for theft of trade secrets and copyright infringement. Affirmed by the Fifth Circuit. Secured multi-million dollar award of attorney and expert fees.
• Secured favorable settlement for client energy company in trade secrets dispute.
• Represented health insurance company in software licensing investigation.

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

• Won summary judgment for client against former employer in dispute over unpaid commissions; secured favorable settlement.
• Currently represent multiple former employees in ongoing trade secrets and breach of contract action.
• Advised multiple clients on Dobbs issues related to policies and benefits.

APPEALS

• Briefed and won Fifth Circuit appeal in criminal matter arising from rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Briefed and won Fifth Circuit appeal in civil matter involving theft of trade secrets from client in financial services industry.
• Briefed and won appeal in Fourteenth Court of Appeals in civil matter involving claims of fraud against client in financial services industry.