Abby Noebels

I try complex civil cases and handle appeals in state and federal courts across the country.  I am a creative problem-solver, no matter the subject matter – I litigate high-stakes disputes across a variety of practice areas, including energy, breach of contract, professional malpractice, employment, partnership issues, and personal injury.

My clients are big and small. I represent individuals and closely held entities when they face significant legal problems, and also major corporate and institutional clients, including Walmart, Inc., Apache Corporation, Vistra Corp., the City of Houston, Hess Corporation, Chevron, Inc., and T-Mobile USA, Inc. Clients value my measured, strategic approach that places a premium on efficiency and results.

I have been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star (Thomson Reuters) for six consecutive years and was recognized by the Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation (Woodward White) from 2021 – 2023.  I am a Fellow of both the Texas Bar Foundation and the American Bar Foundation.

Significant Wins

As lead trial and appellate counsel, I won a $9.9 million judgment in Harris County for plaintiff Princeton Capital Corporation in a breach of contract suit relating to an unpaid note.  I defended the judgment through contentious post-judgment proceedings and collection efforts, including numerous appeals in the First Court of Appeals.  You can watch my oral argument here. The First Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment, and Princeton ultimately received more than 100 cents on the dollar in a bankruptcy court-approved settlement.

I secured a complete defense-side win for American energy company Apache Corporation when Chief Judge H. Lee Rosenthal of the S.D. Tex. granted a motion to dismiss a royalty class action brought by a putative class of plaintiffs who alleged – contrary to existing law – that Apache breached thousands of mineral leases by allegedly underpaying royalties. Read more.

On the plaintiff’s side, I secured a $43.2 million damages award for Apache in a contract dispute with W&T Offshore. At trial, I cross-examined the defense’s only damages expert. This verdict was included on National Law Journal’s Top 100 Verdicts list (ALM) and on Texas Lawyer’s “Contract Cases Hall of Fame.” The trial court later granted Apache final judgment  based on the jury’s verdict, plus $2.5 million in attorney’s fees and expenses, and $2.8 million in pre-judgment interest. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the trial court, 3-0, and the US Supreme Court later denied W&T’s petition for a writ of certiorari.

Just two years before that, I won a two-week federal court jury trial for Apache, defeating W&T Offshore’s multi-million dollar breach claims arising out of the allocation of offshore oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico.  We then secured the win before the Fifth Circuit with a 3-0 affirmance of the district court’s final judgment. Read more.

On behalf of the City of Houston, I obtained a $40 million settlement from Towers Watson & Co. in an actuarial malpractice case based on pension benefits consulting. I worked the case from start to finish, handling nearly every deposition, briefing every significant motion, and working closely with the team of actuarial experts. Read more (subscription required).

I secured a complete summary judgment win for EP Energy E&P, LP in the Harris County district court against Fairfield Industries Inc. in a multi-million-dollar seismic data licensing dispute.

Outside My Practice

I am a proud Houston native and resident of the Montrose neighborhood, where I live with my husband and two daughters. In 2021, I was appointed by the Mayor and City Council of Houston to serve as a Board Member on the Houston Montrose TIRZ. Our mission is to support redevelopment within one of Houston’s most vibrant areas.

In 2021, I was profiled on Law.com’s “How I Made Partner” series. My best advice to young lawyers? Do good work, and don’t be a jerk!

I am committed to the advancement of young lawyers and diversity in the practice of law. For two years, I served as the Chair of the firm’s Employment Committee overseeing attorney recruiting, during which the firm made tremendous advancements in hiring of lawyers from underrepresented groups.

I am a past board member of the Houston lawyer chapter of the American Constitution society, and I served as a member of the Institute for Energy Law’s 2019-20 Leadership Class and as an editor of the Energy Law Adviser.

Honors & Distinctions

Clerkships

Education

Admissions

Leadership & Professional Memberships