Stephen D. Wilson

Steve Wilson has tried or resolved complex disputes in state and federal courts, mediation or arbitration for nearly 25 years.

He has experience involving: antitrust, arbitration, civil rights, collective actions, class actions, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), conspiracy, construction, consumer protection, contracts, conversion and civil theft, copyright, criminal assault, defamation (libel and slander), Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), divorce, entertainment, false advertising, fiduciary duties, fraud, fraudulent transfer, insurance bad faith and coverage, interstate shipping, labor and employment, Lanham Act, negligence, oil and gas exploration, partnership, patent infringement and validity, personal injury, piercing the corporate veil, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, trademark, trade secrets, unfair competition, unjust enrichment and others.

Steve has also negotiated copyright, entertainment and motion picture, oil and gas, and software deals and represented clients in negotiations with federal agencies as well as:

• Advised in negotiation and drafting of oil and gas participation agreements
• Advised advertising agency on content of national and regional campaigns
• Conducted patent discovery in the United Kingdom leading to agreed stipulation of validity and infringement, payment of damages and cessation of competing sales
• Defended corporations, partnerships and individuals against RICO claims
• Defended horticultural nursery in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action
• Defended movie studio in Lanham Act, trademark and unfair competition litigation
• Defended museum in Open Records Requests under the Texas Public Information Act
• Defended national pizza chain in false advertising litigation against its largest competitor
• Defended plumbing and HVAC sub-contractor in multi-family housing litigation
• Defended reinsurer against coverage claims for intentional acts of the insured
• Negotiated motion picture and ancillary rights to print works and advised producers and investors in independent film production and financing
• Obtained Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act injury records from hospitals nationwide under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and related state statutes
• Obtained precedent-setting coverage ruling for insured in declaratory judgment action
• Prosecuted antitrust and false advertising claims against medical device manufacturer’s largest competitor
• Prosecuted trade secret, CFAA, DMCA and RICO claims to early settlement
• Prosecuted wildcatter’s contract, fraud and libel claims stemming from the breach of a joint venture agreement for the development of oil and gas prospects in Texas
• Prosecuted enforcement actions for trademark, trade dress and copyright owners
• Prosecuted inventor's patent infringement and trade secret claims, garnering two top 15 verdicts in the Eastern District of Texas in 2009
• Prosecuted war hero's right of publicity claims against a movie studio and cable channel
• Recovered professional boxer’s kidnapped tigers and defended tiger bite litigation
• Represented manufacturer of steel plate connectors in Colorado and Texas litigation involving software license, development, and sales and escrow agreement
• Represented musician's corporation in fiduciary claims against managers
• Secured summary judgment for defendant in tortious interference and slander litigation
• Before the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, rebutted appeal of liability for Lanham Act false advertising claims based on affirmative defenses of res judicata, laches and attribution
• Before the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, addressed issues of attorneys’ fees for insured and fiduciary nature of relation between insurer and its insured under Arkansas law