Alicia F. Castro

Alicia Castro concentrates her practice in business litigation, securities litigation, internal and government investigations and arbitration. She has a wide range of litigation experience, including in the energy, chemical, electric, banking and financial services industries, in actions involving securities violations, fiduciary issues, fraud, negligence, fraudulent transfer, breach of contract and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. 

She has also led numerous internal investigations concerning the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other laws, and she has advised clients with respect to compliance matters, such as agent retention issues under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other relevant law and export-import issues regarding sanctioned countries.

Compliance and White Collar Experience

• Represent clients in the oil and gas, energy, chemical and private equity industries in responding to federal and state government investigations, including investigations by the Securities & Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, Texas Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. Coast Guard
• Handled numerous Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations centered in Latin America and the Middle East
• Performed Foreign Corrupt Practices Act due diligence investigations and risk assessments
• Investigated issues concerning compliance with U.S. export controls

Dispute Resolution Experience

• Represent oil and gas companies in disputes in private arbitration and in the Southern District of Texas concerning Gulf of Mexico decommissioning liabilities, including with respect to contractual indemnities, joint operating agreements and purchase and sale agreements
• Represent financial institutions defending against claims of breach of fiduciary duty by direct as well as contingent remainder trust beneficiaries concerning a wide range of issues, such as alleged self-dealing, the prudent investor rule, asset allocation and disclosure issues
• Defended private equity company in JAMS arbitration arising from Investor’s allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and securities fraud
• Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of outside directors of oil and gas company in securities fraud class action alleging over $1 billion in damages
• Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of outside directors of oil and gas company against claims of breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy and aiding and abetting claims
• Secured dismissal with prejudice of retail customer’s claims against Retail Electric Provider asserting breach of contract and violation of the Texas DTPA
• Member of trial team in four-month bench trial defending against an alleged $20 billion fraudulent transfer, Tronox Inc. v. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (In re Tronox), No. 09-01198, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
• Defended numerous claims for fraudulent transfer, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, negligence and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act for various clients in the energy, chemical, electric, banking and financial services industries
• Handled as first chair numerous jury trials as volunteer prosecutor for the City of Houston