Michelle Blair

Partner

michelleblair@warejackson.com (713) 335-4834 Download vCard Download PDF

• Representative Experience

  Appeals

  Michelle handles appeals from final judgments, original mandamus proceedings, and interlocutory appeals from pretrial rulings at every level of the state and federal systems. Her appellate matters have spanned the spectrum of civil disputes, involving fiduciary duties, allegations of fraud, premises liability, business disputes, residential developers, property disputes, covenants not to compete, personal injuries, civil rights, probate matters, oil and gas, and procedural matters such as enforcement of arbitral rights.

  Some of Michelle’s notable appellate results include:

  • Victory for Residential Developer Affirmed on Appeal
  • Judgment Denying Claims Against Estate Client Upheld by Texas Supreme Court
  • Texas Supreme Court Allows Jury Verdict in Partnership Dispute to Stand
  • Mandamus Win Sets Aside Mistrial Order After Jury Verdict for Client on Fraud and Contract Claims
  • Appellate Success in Fort Worth Reduces Judgment by Millions
  • Texas Supreme Court Leaves Judgment for Parents of Injured Child Intact

  
  Arbitration

  Michelle represents clients in both domestic and international arbitrations, from assisting in drafting agreements to judicial confirmation of awards, and when necessary, defending awards on appeal. She has handled numerous international arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules and Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, including a dispute between shareholders in a Trinidadian energy company, defending an international energy company against claims of fraud under U.S. and Norwegian law, and a construction dispute involving a nickel processing plant that was subject to Canadian law.

  Some of Michelle’s notable arbitration results include:

  • Complete Victory in International Commercial Arbitration Against Saudi Joint Venture
  • Fifth Circuit Upholds International Arbitration Award Vindicating Client
  • Defense Victory in International Commercial Arbitration of Shareholder Dispute
  • Rare Dispositive Rulings in $2 Billion International Commercial Arbitration
  • Big Victory for Energy Company in Long-Fought $2 Billion International Commercial Arbitration

  
  Commercial

  Michelle represents partners, shareholder, joint ventures, individuals and numerous other entities from a wide range of industries in vindicating their contractual or trade secrets rights or defending themselves against claims such as fraud or breach of fiduciary duty.

  Some of Michelle’s notable commercial results include:

  • Take-Nothing Judgment for Real Estate Client Accused of Fraud
  • Multi-Billion Dollar Claim Against Energy Client Dismissed on Summary Judgment
  • $1.2 Million Summary Judgment Win for Plaintiff Client 
  • Ware Jackson Secures Full Defense Verdict on $17M Claim, Plus $2.2M for Counterclaim
  • Client’s Interests in Real Estate Entities Vindicated on Appeal to Texas Supreme Court

  
  Energy

  Michelle represents local and international energy companies as well as individual subsurface owners in contract matters, pipeline and royalty disputes, construction disputes, and a variety of other disputes that arise in the industry.

  Some of Michelle’s notable results in the energy field include:

  • Large Settlement in Gas Contract Dispute
  • Pipeline Company Defeats Trespass and Nuisance Claims
  • Summary Judgment for Oil Refiner Client on $15 Million in Contract Claims Affirmed on Appeal

  
  Premises & Products Liability

  Drawing on her extensive knowledge of the laws governing duties and premises and products liability, Michelle represents premises owners and operators and product manufacturers and distributors in catastrophic personal injury cases.

  Some of Michelle’s notable premises liability results include:

  • Premises Liability Claim Against Chemical Manufacturer Dismissed on Summary Judgment

  
  Probate

  Michelle handles a wide array of complex probate litigation, including will contests, guardianship proceedings, and claims against trustees and executors.

  Some of Michelle’s notable probate results include:

  • Ware Jackson Secures Estate for Charitable Foundation
  • Summary Judgment in Estate Dispute Reversed on Appeal
  • Long Battle is Won to Secure $1.6 Billion Estate of J. Howard Marshall Against Claims by Anna Nicole Smith
  • Appellate Court Affirms Judgment for Incapacitated Client
• RECOGNITIONS
  • Board Certified, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (since 2020)
  • Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Civil Appeals, Thomson Reuters (2016-2021)
  • Texas Bar College (since 2014)
  • Certificate of Achievement in International Arbitration from the International Chamber of Commerce
  • Certificate in Advanced Arbitration Skills from the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center
  • Order of the Barristers (honor society for oral and written advocacy)
  • Order of the Coif (scholastic honor society)
  • Order of the Barons (scholastic honor society)
  • Order of the Scribes (honor society for written advocacy)
  • Distinguished Service Award for University of Houston Law Center (2011)
• PUBLICATIONS
  • Co-Author, The Testamentary Exception to the Attorney Client Privilege: A Trap for the Unwary and Treasure Trove for the Savvy, TADC Magazine (Spring/Summer 2025)
  • Author, Finding the Offramps on the Road to Premises Liability: Negating a Duty to Protect Independent Contractors from Dangerous Conditions on Property, TADC Magazine (Fall/Winter 2024)
  • Co-Author, Agreeing on How to Disagree: Post-Dispute Arbitration Agreements, Business Disputes Course, State Bar of Texas (Sept. 2016)
• PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
  • Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel
  • Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Member
  • Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Advisory Board
  • American Bar Association, International Law Section
  • State Bar of Texas, Appellate & Litigation Sections
  • Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, former competitor, coach, and judge
• ADMISSIONS
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court