David W. Jones
Partner
,Direct: 713.951.6279
Fax: 713.951.3720
Direct: 713.951.6279
Fax: 713.951.3720

For nearly 30 years, David Jones has represented plaintiffs and defendants in commercial lawsuits and arbitrations across the country.
Whether it is high stakes litigation for a Fortune 500 company or a claim involving individuals, David identifies the key issues and presents them in a simple story for the court, jury, or tribunal.
With an emphasis on insurance and energy, David represents policyholders in coverage disputes involving all types of polices—including general liability, property & casualty, title, employers liability, environmental liability, professional liability, directors & officers liability, and business interruption. He also advises and represents lessees, operators, service providers, equipment manufacturers, and other stakeholders in onshore and offshore commercial disputes and oilfield accident litigation and investigations. David leads the Firm’s Class Action/Multidistrict Litigation and Insurance practices.
-
Representative experience
Energy
- In re: Deepwater Horizon Multidistrict Litigation in the Eastern District of Louisiana
Coordinated multi-firm defense of Cameron International Corporation (blowout preventer manufacturer) resulting in a judgment of no liability in favor of client after six-week trial. - Lead counsel for Cameron as a party-in-interest in a multi-week hearing before the United States Coast Guard/Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Board of Investigation into the Marine Casualty, Explosion, Fire, Pollution and Sinking of Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon.
- Lead counsel in bench trial in the Southern District of Mississippi involving force majeure under natural gas purchase and sale agreements resulting in take-nothing judgment in favor of client.
- Lead counsel in AAA arbitration hearing involving P&A and surface restoration obligations on hundreds of wells in the Permian Basin resulting in confidential award providing requested relief to client.
- Lead counsel for various operators in numerous lawsuits and arbitrations involving royalties, development, drainage, joint operating and farmout agreements, surface use, and commercial disputes in Texas and Arkansas.
Insurance
- Lead counsel for waste disposal company in insurance recovery action involving multiple jury trials for environmental liabilities at hundreds of sites throughout the United States resulting in substantial recoveries for client.
- Lead counsel for multinational oil company in insurance recovery action for environmental liabilities and property damage arising from a fire and release from a well pad in the Marcellus Shale resulting in complete recovery for client.
- Lead counsel for multinational construction company in insurance recovery seeking coverage for property damage occurring during pipeline construction resulting in complete recovery for client.
- Lead counsel for numerous companies and individual seeking coverage under general liability, property & casualty, title, employers liability, environmental liability, professional liability, directors & officers liability, and business interruption, and other insurance policies.
Business
- Lead counsel for production homebuilder in jury trial in Austin involving alleged misrepresentations in connection with home sale resulting in take-nothing judgment for client.
- Lead counsel in suit against client’s former manager for violation of non-compete and confidentiality agreements resulting in injunction against former manager and employer.
- In re: Deepwater Horizon Multidistrict Litigation in the Eastern District of Louisiana
-
Honors & Awards
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, 2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Energy Litigation, 2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, Commercial Litigation, esp. Insurance, Energy, 2022 & 2024-2025
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Law, 2016 – 2025
- Named in Benchmark Litigation – Future Star, 2013 – 2021, 2023 – 2025
- Recognized in Chambers USA: Litigation: General Commercial (Texas), 2017 – 2018
- Named in Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers – Insurance Coverage, 2014 – 2020, Business Litigation, 2022 – 2024
- Named in US News Best Lawyers, Insurance, 2012
-
Publications & Presentations
- Winter Strom Uri and Force Majeure Under Gas Purchase and Sale Agreements, Author and Speaker, Gas and Power Institute, 2021
- Ethical Communications in the Age of Social Media, Society for Corporate Governance, Houston Chapter Annual Meeting, Presenter, 2021
- Ethical Communications in the Age of Flexible Work, Association of Corporate Counsel, Houston, Presenter, 2021
- American Law Institute, Presentation of new Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance, Panelist, 2019
-
Professional Activities & Memberships
- Texas Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- Life Fellow, State Bar of Texas Foundation
-
Community Involvement
- Advisory Board, Aperio Music for the Americas
- Houston Gator Club, Board Member
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church





October 19, 2012
October 19, 2012
October 19, 2012
October 10, 2024
September 9, 2024
September 9, 2024
August 8, 2024
May 5, 2024
October 10, 2023
September 9, 2023
September 9, 2023
August 8, 2023
October 10, 2022
September 9, 2022
August 8, 2022
November 11, 2021
October 10, 2021
September 9, 2021
August 8, 2021
October 10, 2020
October 10, 2020
August 8, 2020
September 9, 2019
August 8, 2019
September 9, 2018
August 8, 2018
David W. Jones
Partner,
Houston
Direct: 713.951.6279
Fax: 713.951.3720
Direct: 713.951.6279
Fax: 713.951.3720

For nearly 30 years, David Jones has represented plaintiffs and defendants in commercial lawsuits and arbitrations across the country.
Whether it is high stakes litigation for a Fortune 500 company or a claim involving individuals, David identifies the key issues and presents them in a simple story for the court, jury, or tribunal.
With an emphasis on insurance and energy, David represents policyholders in coverage disputes involving all types of polices—including general liability, property & casualty, title, employers liability, environmental liability, professional liability, directors & officers liability, and business interruption. He also advises and represents lessees, operators, service providers, equipment manufacturers, and other stakeholders in onshore and offshore commercial disputes and oilfield accident litigation and investigations. David leads the Firm’s Class Action/Multidistrict Litigation and Insurance practices.
-
Representative experience
Energy
- In re: Deepwater Horizon Multidistrict Litigation in the Eastern District of Louisiana
Coordinated multi-firm defense of Cameron International Corporation (blowout preventer manufacturer) resulting in a judgment of no liability in favor of client after six-week trial. - Lead counsel for Cameron as a party-in-interest in a multi-week hearing before the United States Coast Guard/Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Board of Investigation into the Marine Casualty, Explosion, Fire, Pollution and Sinking of Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon.
- Lead counsel in bench trial in the Southern District of Mississippi involving force majeure under natural gas purchase and sale agreements resulting in take-nothing judgment in favor of client.
- Lead counsel in AAA arbitration hearing involving P&A and surface restoration obligations on hundreds of wells in the Permian Basin resulting in confidential award providing requested relief to client.
- Lead counsel for various operators in numerous lawsuits and arbitrations involving royalties, development, drainage, joint operating and farmout agreements, surface use, and commercial disputes in Texas and Arkansas.
Insurance
- Lead counsel for waste disposal company in insurance recovery action involving multiple jury trials for environmental liabilities at hundreds of sites throughout the United States resulting in substantial recoveries for client.
- Lead counsel for multinational oil company in insurance recovery action for environmental liabilities and property damage arising from a fire and release from a well pad in the Marcellus Shale resulting in complete recovery for client.
- Lead counsel for multinational construction company in insurance recovery seeking coverage for property damage occurring during pipeline construction resulting in complete recovery for client.
- Lead counsel for numerous companies and individual seeking coverage under general liability, property & casualty, title, employers liability, environmental liability, professional liability, directors & officers liability, and business interruption, and other insurance policies.
Business
- Lead counsel for production homebuilder in jury trial in Austin involving alleged misrepresentations in connection with home sale resulting in take-nothing judgment for client.
- Lead counsel in suit against client’s former manager for violation of non-compete and confidentiality agreements resulting in injunction against former manager and employer.
- In re: Deepwater Horizon Multidistrict Litigation in the Eastern District of Louisiana
-
Honors & Awards
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, 2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Energy Litigation, 2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, Commercial Litigation, esp. Insurance, Energy, 2022 & 2024-2025
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Law, 2016 – 2025
- Named in Benchmark Litigation – Future Star, 2013 – 2021, 2023 – 2025
- Recognized in Chambers USA: Litigation: General Commercial (Texas), 2017 – 2018
- Named in Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers – Insurance Coverage, 2014 – 2020, Business Litigation, 2022 – 2024
- Named in US News Best Lawyers, Insurance, 2012
-
Publications & Presentations
- Winter Strom Uri and Force Majeure Under Gas Purchase and Sale Agreements, Author and Speaker, Gas and Power Institute, 2021
- Ethical Communications in the Age of Social Media, Society for Corporate Governance, Houston Chapter Annual Meeting, Presenter, 2021
- Ethical Communications in the Age of Flexible Work, Association of Corporate Counsel, Houston, Presenter, 2021
- American Law Institute, Presentation of new Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance, Panelist, 2019
-
Professional Activities & Memberships
- Texas Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- Life Fellow, State Bar of Texas Foundation
-
Community Involvement
- Advisory Board, Aperio Music for the Americas
- Houston Gator Club, Board Member
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
October 19, 2012
October 19, 2012
October 19, 2012
October 10, 2024
September 9, 2024
September 9, 2024
August 8, 2024
May 5, 2024
October 10, 2023
September 9, 2023
September 9, 2023
August 8, 2023
October 10, 2022
September 9, 2022
August 8, 2022
November 11, 2021
October 10, 2021
September 9, 2021
August 8, 2021
October 10, 2020
October 10, 2020
August 8, 2020
September 9, 2019
August 8, 2019
September 9, 2018
August 8, 2018




