John Sanders, Jr.
Partner
Described as an “impact player” by Texas Lawyer and “simply excellent” by The Legal 500 US, John is a trial lawyer, whose national practice focuses on complex business litigation and class actions. His litigation achievements include plaintiff-side wins for millions of dollars and multiple defense wins rejecting claims for billions of dollars. Along with his jury trial practice, John has extensive experience representing clients in arbitration proceedings, including those administered by the American Arbitration Association and JAMS. In 2023, the National Law Journal named John to its list of “General Litigation Trailblazers.”
Key Matters
Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.
- Represented CEO of medical device manufacturer who was sued by his former employer in Delaware Chancery Court. The former employer claimed that the CEO had breached his fiduciary duties when departing their company and joining one of its competitors. After conducting a week-long trial, the Chancery Court found that my client had not breached his fiduciary duties and ruled in his favor on all claims.
- Represented publicly traded spinal device manufacturer which was alleged to have engaged in unfair competition and tortious interference with contract in its recruitment of distributors of a competing company. The Plaintiff claimed damages in excess of $75 million. After a 3-month long jury trial in California state court, the jury found in favor of my client on all but one claim, and for that claim, only awarded nominal damages.
- Defended electrical infrastructure maintenance company in suit brought by competitor alleging trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition. Successfully obtained summary judgment in federal court in the Northern District of Texas dismissing all claims against the company.
- Represented physician in dispute involving partnership rights in the practice after client was reportedly terminated and kicked out of the practice by his other partners. Obtained injunctive relief reinstating the physician’s rights in the practice and later secured favorable settlement for the client.
- Represented hedge fund manager in dispute with his partner over control of the fund. Obtained injunctive relief preserving fund manager’s control of the fund and secured successful settlement in favor of the client thereafter.
- Represented international direct selling company facing class actions case alleging that the company operated a pyramid scheme in violation of U.S. securities laws. Successfully defeated class claim at motion to certify at state by demonstrating that difference among class members made class action treatment unworkable.
- Represented large steel fabrication company in bet-the-company suit against competitor. Obtained early injunction against competitor restraining the competitor’s theft and unlawful use of trade secrets. After litigating for two years, obtained successful settlement for client on eve of trial.
- Represented national auto auction company in case involving breach of acquisition agreement and fraud. After a two-week trial, obtained unanimous jury verdict in favor of client on all claims as well as unanimous finding that the defendant’s conduct was malicious. Case settled at trial before punitive damage phase for confidential sum.
- Represented fund managers in suit brought by disgruntled executive and former owner of business which fund acquired. Obtained settlement for fund for nominal amount prior to clients having to be deposed.
- Obtained injunction for Fortune 500 healthcare company restraining departed executive’s competitive activities after a three-day injunction hearing. The competitor and the departing employee appealed. Achieved full appellate victory in which court of appeals upheld trial court’s grant of injunction and ordered trial court to broaden the injunction granted.
- Obtained dismissal of class claims for direct-selling organization in bet-the-company class action after successfully compelling arbitration and enforcement of class-action waiver.
- Obtained dismissal of class claims for direct-selling organization before having to file responsive pleadings after sending letter to plaintiff’s attorney demonstrating that claims were demonstrably false and threatening sanctions if the case moved forward.
- Achieved arbitration win for client in multimillion-dollar employment dispute. Arbitration panel rendered complete defense verdict and awarded client attorneys’ fees for compelling arbitration.
- Obtained summary judgment for client in hard-fought dispute involving billion-dollar real estate development. The win allowed the development to proceed and saved the client millions of dollars in delay costs.
- Represented Fortune 200 consumer electronics company to address departure of its Chief Marketing Officer, who sought to join arch-competitor in same position. Obtained temporary restraining order and, thereafter, leveraged restraining order to obtain a settlement preventing former executive from working for competitor for a period of time sufficient to protect client’s trade secrets.
- Represented private equity fund in case alleging fraud and negligent misrepresentation when portfolio company defaulted on certain debts. Obtained dismissal of all claims against fund totaling more than US$7M.
- Obtained favorable settlement for private equity fund in case involving breach of contract and fraud with alleged damages of over US$5M.
- Obtained settlement for fund in dispute over oil and gas partnerships. Plaintiff claimed damages over US$18M, but agreed to settle the case for a nominal amount after the Plaintiff was deposed.
- Represented logistics company bringing clams for fraud, breach of contract, and trade secret misappropriation. Obtained jury verdict for client of over US$7M and defeated counterclaim alleging US$28M in damages.
- Represented the Dallas Independent School District in high-profile race-discrimination case. Achieved dismissal of all claims against client at summary judgment.
- Represented Fortune 100 semiconductor company bringing state court action against former senior-level employee after he resigned to take similar position with competing company. After obtaining temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against new employer and former employee, defendant agreed to settle case and agreed to a permanent injunction.
- Represented private equity fund in case against insurer for wrongful denial of insurance coverage. After court granted summary judgment in favor of insurer, achieved reversal on appeal, finding that insurer had wrongfully denied coverage and ordering the district court to conduct a trial on damages and bad faith. Achieved successful multimillion-dollar settlement for client thereafter.
- Represented ultra-high net worth individual in complex partnership dispute with departed family office CEO. After two-week bench trial, achieved verdict in favor of client on all issues submitted to the court.