Blog Post 10.31.24
William McMichael is a trial lawyer who maintains a nationwide practice representing businesses and high-net-worth individuals in commercial disputes and complex insurance coverage matters.
His representative experience includes serving as trial counsel in state and federal courts in more than a dozen states across the nation. He also advises policyholders on emerging insurance coverage issues, including issues impacting general liability, commercial property, business interruption, and directors and officers coverage.
Representative Experience
- Represented Fortune 500 utility provider as trial counsel in state court in Nueces County, Texas in insurance coverage dispute arising out of catastrophic workplace accident.
- Represented family office as trial counsel in federal court in Houston, Texas against Ivy League university in dispute arising out of agreement to showcase the world’s largest private collection of Florentine Baroque art.
- Represented Texas judicial officer as trial counsel in civil rights case in state court in Matagorda County, Texas. Obtained complete dismissal of all claims and permanent anti-suit injunction to prevent further harassment from vexatious litigant.
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- Insurance Coverage Litigation
- Represented oilfield services company in coverage dispute arising out of catastrophic oilfield accident in Reeves County, Texas.
- Represented national hospitality business in insurance coverage litigation arising out of business income losses sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Represented carbon capture company in insurance coverage dispute arising out of industrial machinery damage and resulting business income loss.
- Represented accounting firm in directors and officers coverage dispute arising out of SEC investigation into former client’s business practices.
- Served as trial counsel in federal court in Butte, Montana in coverage dispute arising out of catastrophic injury claims asserted against political subdivisions of the State of Montana.
- Served as trial counsel in federal court in Dallas, Texas in property and business interruption coverage dispute over damage to luxury golf course during tornadic weather event.
- Served as trial counsel in federal court in Los Angeles, California in property and business interruption coverage dispute arising out of the cancellation of film production due to 2014 Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
- Served as trial counsel in state court in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma and in federal court in Fargo, North Dakota in coverage litigation arising out of catastrophic oilfield accident in the Bakken.
- Served as trial counsel in state court in Los Alamos, New Mexico in directors and officers coverage dispute arising out of federal prosecution of prominent regional bank and its executives.
- Served as trial counsel in state court in Tulsa County, Oklahoma in coverage litigation arising out of earthquake-related property damage.
- Commercial Litigation
- Represented limited partner as trial counsel in state court in Harris County, Texas in dispute concerning management and operation of family-owned ranch and cattle business.
- Represented agribusiness as trial counsel in state court in Fort Bend County, Texas in joint venture dispute arising out of failed real estate transaction.
- Represented EPC contractor in federal court in Galveston, Texas in dispute regarding alleged negligent design and construction of conventional refinery.
- Represented international commodities supplier in LCIA arbitration arising out of natural gas pricing disputes following Winter Storm Uri.
- Represented Texas dental practice in AAA arbitration over post-transaction dispute with foreign-backed private equity group.
- Represented midstream services company in trade secrets case in state court in Martin County, Texas over alleged breach of non-disclosure agreement.
- Represented former accounting firm partner in state court in Harris County, Texas arising out of post-transaction dispute with former partner.
- Represented oilfield services company as trial counsel in multiple Texas state court lawsuits arising out of misappropriation of corporate funds by former employees.
- Represented fire suppression contractor as trial counsel in state court in Harris County, Texas in a construction defect case arising out of water damage to high-value commercial office building.
- Other Representation
- Served as trial counsel in state court in Baltimore, Maryland, seeking a writ of actional innocence for an individual wrongfully convicted of murder based on flawed expert testimony.
- Represented entertainment company as trial counsel in state court in Harris County, Texas in personal injury lawsuit arising out of violent altercation involving professional basketball players.
- Served as trial counsel in consumer class action lawsuit in state court in Dallas County, Texas over alleged improper appraisal of classic cars. Obtained dismissal of all class claims at Texas Supreme Court.
- Represented prominent Houston architecture firm in connection with its acquisition of Dallas-area architectural firm, advising regarding insurance and litigation-related due diligence matters.
- Represented electrical contractor as trial counsel in state court in Harris County, Texas arising out personal injuries sustained by patron at luxury shopping mall following renovations to ice skating rink.
- Represented real estate developer in wrongful death case in state court in Harris County, Texas arising out of drowning at a community pool.
Professional Highlights
- Recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Texas Rising Star” (2023 – 2024).
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America as “One to Watch” (2023 – 2025).
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- Publications & Presentations
- “Fifth Circuit Reminds Policyholders to Be ‘Not Less Than’ Careful When Drafting Master Service Agreements” Pillsbury Policyholder Pulse, October 31, 2024.
- “Insurance Basics for Construction Attorneys,” NBI: Texas Construction Law from Start to Finish CLE Seminar, October 29, 2024.
- “So You’ve Got a Verdict … What Now?! Post-Verdict Procedure and Practice Tips for Texas Insurance Lawyers,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Insurance Law Seminar, June 6 – 7, 2024.
- “Coverage for Biometric Information and Privacy-Related Claims” – American Bar Association TIPS Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Mid-Year Conference, February 22, 2024.
- “That’s Just Your Opinion, Man! How Differences in Texas and Federal Rules of Evidence’s Treatment of Opinion Testimony May Impact Your Coverage Case,” Journal of Texas Insurance Law, 20 J. Tex. Ins. L. 30 (Winter 2024).
- “Harvard's Broker Fight Shows Active Risk Management Is Key,” Law360, November 17, 2023. Co-author.
- “Nobody Told Me That! Lessons Learned from Real Insurance Coverage Disputes,” State Bar of Texas Insurance Law CLE Webinar, October 30, 2023.
- “Taking the Market’s Temperature on Coverage for Climate Change-Related Property Damage,” Pillsbury Policyholder Pulse, August 1, 2023.
- “Trial Technology and Digital Resources Every Trial Lawyer Needs,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel Summer Seminar, July 19, 2023
- “Practice Tips for New Insurance Lawyers,” State Bar of Texas Insurance Law 101 Seminar, May 31, 2023.
- “The Wrong Tool for the Job – Insurers Seek to Avoid Coverage for BIPA Claims by Using Old Exclusions for New Purposes,” Pillsbury Pulse, April 19, 2023.
- “War! What Is It Good For? Helping Companies Avoid Insurance Coverage Battles,” SHALE Magazine, June 12, 2022.
- “Insurance Coverage for Human Trafficking Litigation,” State Bar of Texas – Advanced Insurance Law Seminar, June 3, 2022.
- “COVID-19 Update,” State Bar of Texas – Advanced Insurance Law Seminar, October 1, 2021.
- “Subject to Exceptions? Texas Supreme Court Accepts Challenge to ‘Eight Corners’ Rule,” State Bar of Texas – Insurance Law Section, April 6, 2021.
- “#64: Complete the Texas Bucket List,” Texas Monthly, May 20, 2015.
- Memberships & Associations
- Insurance Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (Young Lawyer Liaison to the Council for Insurance Section for State Bar of Texas; Founding Member – Young Lawyer Subcommittee)
- Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas
- Texas Bar Foundation – Fellow
- Texas Bar College
- Houston Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association – Fellow
- Baylor Law Alumni Association
- Texas Exes – Life Member
- Risk & Insurance Management Society – Houston Chapter
- Institute for Energy Law – Young Energy Professionals
Education
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J.D., Baylor University School of Law, 2017
With Special Distinction; Matt “Mad Dog” Dawson Mock Trial ChampionB.A., History, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014
With Honors
Admissions
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Texas
District of Columbia
Pro Hac Vice: Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah
Courts
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U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
Pro Hac Vice: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Languages
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Spanish