Derrick Carson

• Representative Energy Experience
  • Represented a midstream company in collecting the full balance of a disputed minimum volume commitment payment and in defense of various business tort claims.
  • Represented a multinational energy company in an ad hoc international arbitration against an African state-owned oil company regarding a tertiary development project with over $300 million dollars in controversy.
  • Defended a Saudi petrochemicals company against claims of misappropriation of acetyls manufacturing technology.
  • Represented offshore drilling rig contractor in an international arbitration against Egyptian operating company.
  • Tried a two-week jury trial in which he defended a midstream company in claims that it sold contaminated propane and butane to an international commodities trader.
  • Represented a midstream company in claims against Korean supplier of defective valves for gas processing plants.
  • Represented Canadian and U.S. suppliers of natural gas and power in connection with dispute with U.S. purchaser.
  • Defended an offshore drilling contractor against claims brought by its Saudi agents.
  • Represented a publicly traded midstream company in claims arising out of purchase of marine transportation business.
  • Represented an offshore diving contractor in arbitration over title to offshore support vessel.
  • Regular representation of operators and non-operators in disputes related to joint operating agreements.
  • Representation of buyers and sellers of Gulf of Mexico assets regarding plugging and abandonment liabilities.
• Representative Construction Experience
  • Represented either the owner or general contractor in disputes arising out of the construction of seven different gas processing plants.
  • Represented a general contractor in a dispute concerning the construction of an offshore to onshore natural gas pipeline involving horizontal directional drilling.
  • Represented subcontractor with a several million dollar extra work claim against a general contractor on cogeneration project.
  • Represented the owner in an international arbitration involving claims arising out of a pipeline construction project in Trinidad.
  • Represented an offshore contractor asserting claims against the owner of a major offshore pipeline; the representation included filing a $75 million lien claim across three states.
  • Represented a general contractor in disputes with both the developer and subcontractors regarding the development of a windfarm.
  • Represented owner of cogeneration plant in claims against EPC contractor related to delays and defects in the plant's construction.
  • Represented the developer of a windfarm in an arbitration arising out of the termination of a general contractor.
  • Defended a refinery owner against extra work claim by the general contractor on a refinery expansion project.
  • Defended owner of AAA professional baseball team against extra work claims arising out of the construction of the team’s ballpark.
  • Represented owner in dispute with architect over design-related issues on high-rise luxury apartment building.
  • Represented owner of high-rise senior living development in claims against contractor and architect.
  • Advised a municipal entity regarding its development of a convention center hotel; the project was completed on time, on budget, and without any claims asserted against his client.
• Other Representative Commercial Matters
  • Represented a business owner in a literally bet-the-company trial regarding the enforceability of an agreement to sell the business.
  • Defended a large banking institution in a jury trial against claims from a high-net-worth individual that resulted in a total defense judgment.
  • Tried a two-week arbitration in which he defended his construction-industry client against a host of claims by a joint venturer. Derrick took over the case, which had been pending for nearly three years, just months before the merits hearing. His client received an award denying recovery to the joint venturer on its $20 million claim and awarded over a million dollars to Derrick’s client.
  • Tried a commercial dispute in which his client regained title to and possession of a dozen wind turbines valued at over $18 million.
  • Defended Singaporean companies in U.S. litigation regarding global expansion of marine services business.
  • Represented owner of offshore diving vessel in an international arbitration against vessel management company.
  • Represented a minority shareholder in claims against his fellow business owners when they forced him out of the business.

Associations

• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2010 – Present)

-  Executive Committee (2012 – 2015)

-  Vice Chair (Arbitrator Training & Education)

• Adjunct Professor, University of Houston Law Center, “International Arbitration Advocacy” (2016 – 2022)
• Advisory Board Member, Institute for Transnational Arbitration
• Advisory Board Member, Institute for Energy Law
• Member, American Bar Association, Construction Law Forum
• Member, State Bar of Texas, Construction Law, International Law and Litigation Sections
• Member, Houston International Arbitration Club