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Heather Kabele is a litigator who represents her clients’ interests in state and federal courts in a wide variety of commercial and tort disputes, including oil and gas, trade secret and non-compete, railroad, and transportation and logistics matters.

Heather handles litigation involving manufacturing and transportation casualties. She works on a variety of railroad matters, including related FELA litigation. Heather has broad experience in supply chain issues and regularly counsels clients in that area and litigates supply chain disputes. Heather also represents clients in complex commercial litigation across a variety of industries, including through trial.

Heather’s litigation experience extends beyond trials and appeals, so as to include extensive arbitration experience before the AAA, ICDR, NASD, FINRA, JAMS and other arbitral forums.  Outside of the courtroom, Heather serves as trusted counsel to clients who engage her services to advise on corporate strategy surrounding transactional and litigation functions of the organization.

Heather’s notable experience includes:

  • Successful defense in 2022 trial involving train derailment, with jury verdict and judgment rendered for amount much lower than prior demands and settlement offers
  • Leading arbitration team that successfully represented operator before ICDR in a dispute concerning UOA operating rights over $1 billion project in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Defending a publicly-traded company on $27 million lost profit and unfair competition claims, leading to dismissal at the pleading stage
  • Representing and advising global freight management and contract logistics company on commercial matters throughout the country, including matters concerning contract, real estate, customer and vendor issues
  • Defending international oil and gas company against preferential transfer and fraud claims in adversary proceeding
  • Prosecuting and defending claims against companies and individuals for trade secret misappropriation and related statutory and tort violations, in state and federal courts
  • Defending international oil and gas exploration and production company against claims of breach of operating agreements and leases stemming from an environmental legacy litigation lawsuit
  • Defending employers in labor and employment matters, including discrimination, retaliation, harassment, non-compete, and wage and hour issues
  • Representing claimants and respondents in arbitration in a wide variety of matters involving claims of sales practice violations, securities fraud, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, non-compete violations and other employment issues

Away from the Office

Many early mornings, you can find Heather logging some miles training for her next marathon.  Heather and her husband also enjoy attending their three teenagers’ various sporting events, as well as cheering on USC football.

Bar Admissions

  • Texas (2012)
  • California (1999)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern Districts of California

Education

  • University of Southern California Law School, J.D., 1999
    • Southern California Law Review, Senior Editor, 1998-1999
    • Order of the Coif
  • Rice University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1996
  • Speaker, “Arbitration and Arbitration Provisions,” BP Legal CLE Training Camp (December 2020)
  • Speaker, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Liability for Shipping,” HBA CLE Seminar Series (May 2020)
  • Speaker, “Corporate Communications:  Problems, Pitfalls and Ethical Considerations,” BP Legal CLE Training Camp (January 2019)
  • Speaker, “Trade Secrets Update:  Texas Supreme Court Raises Bar for Lost Profits Damages Again,” Texas Bar Association (August 2017)
  • Author, “FinCEN Expands Data Collection Geography Beyond Banking,” International Law360 (November 2015)
  • Author, “Treasury Targets Electronics Exporters, Carriers in Miami,” Journal of Commerce (June 2015)
  • Co-Author, “Litigating Cases Under the Texas Securities Act,” HBA Securities Litigation & Arbitration Section (February 2013)
  • National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC), Member
  • Women’s Energy Network, Member
  • Transportation & Logistics Council, Member
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Houston Bar Association, Securities and Arbitration Section
  • Houston Bar Association, Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section
  • State Bar of California, Member
  • State Bar of Texas, Member