Geoff Gannaway
Partner
,
Everything Geoff Gannaway does is geared toward persuading a judge and jury.
He works with each client to develop a strategy for success in the courtroom, and then weaves together every deposition taken, every motion filed, and every jury argument made. At the onset of a new case, Geoff never loses sight of the end goal: distilling factual details into persuasive themes to present to a jury, ultimately making the most complicated cases understandable and the client’s position clear.
Geoff honed an attention to detail in Rice University’s engineering program, and now uses an engineer’s discipline to serve his clients as a lawyer. The more complex the case, the more Geoff relishes the challenge. The subject matter of cases he has handled spans a broad array of industries and legal issues.
After a successful jury verdict, Tom Moogan, CFO for Advance International, explained: “From the intense level of preparation, to his collaboration with us to understand the particular complexities of our case, it was clear that Geoff worked to make this a case that a jury would hear and decide in our favor.”
-
Representative experience
- Represented Cameron International Corporation (blowout preventer manufacturer) in the Gulf Oil Spill Multidistrict Litigation. After six weeks of trial, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana found that Cameron was not liable to any claimant related to the Deepwater Horizon incident and entered an order completely dismissing Cameron from the litigation.
- Represented major oil and gas company as lead counsel in confidential arbitration proceeding in which supplier claimed breach of contract. The three-arbitrator panel returned a unanimous award in favor of Geoff’s client.
- Defended oil and gas exploration company against allegations that it agreed to enter into a partnership to manage oil and gas projects in the Fayetteville shale after the plaintiff introduced defendant to a financing source. Joe Redden was lead counsel at trial, with Geoff presenting the opening statement, cross-examining several witnesses, and successfully arguing for directed verdict on some claims. The plaintiff sought millions of dollars in damages, claiming breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and quantum meruit. After a six-day jury trial, a unanimous jury returned a defense verdict on all but one cause of action. On the plaintiff’s quantum meruit cause of action, the jury awarded $16,700. In post-judgment motions, Beck Redden argued that the quantum meruit finding should be thrown out. The Court agreed, and entered a take-nothing judgment. On appeal, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the judgment. The case is styled The Strickland Group, Inc. v. Pathfinder Exploration, LLC, No. 02-12-00187-CV.
- Obtained defense verdict for Memorial Hermann Hospital System in a major antitrust lawsuit in Texas state court. David J. Beck was lead counsel at trial, with Geoff cross-examining a number of witnesses over the course of a trial that lasted almost two and a half months. The plaintiffs, who were physician-investors in a now defunct physician-owned hospital in West Houston, claimed that Memorial Hermann was responsible for their hospital’s failure and asserted antitrust claims and claims for tortious interference with prospective and existing business relationships. The plaintiffs sought millions in actual damages, plus several millions in attorneys’ fees. The jury entered a complete defense verdict.
- Served as lead trial lawyer in securing a favorable verdict for his client, an importer of seasonal decorations, in a breach-of-contract dispute with a major retail chain. After a three-day trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict for Geoff’s client, and, in addition, awarded damages to the client after finding on the counterclaim that the retailer had breached three separate contracts. The retail chain appealed the judgment. Houston’s Fourteenth Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment with a significant holding about liquidated damages provisions under the Uniform Commercial Code. The court held that the liquidated damages provisions in the retail chain’s standard vendor contracts are unenforceable penalties. The case is styled Garden Ridge, L.P. v. Advance International, Inc., No. 14-11-00624-CV.
- Obtained summary judgment for major law firm accused of legal malpractice related to patent prosecution.
-
Honors & Awards
- Recognized in Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America for Commercial Litigation, Class Actions, Energy Disputes, 2025
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Health Care, 2025
- Named in Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers – Business Litigation, 2015 – 2024
- AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell, 2018-2020
- Recognized as a “Rising Star” in business litigation by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers – Texas, 2008, 2011-2014
-
Publications & Presentations
- Presenter, “Civil Procedure Update,” Litigation Update Institute (January 2024)
- Presenter, “Hot Button Ethics Issues in the Renewables Industry,” Institute for Energy Law 2nd Conference on Renewable Project Development (April 2023)
- Panelist, “Not Just for Trial Lawyers; Lessons from the Courtroom You Can Use in the Conference Room,” Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Chapter Half-Day Seminar (December 2022)
- Co-Presenter, “Lawyer Ethics in the Conference Room and the Courtroom,” Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Chapter (October 2020)
- Presenter, “Ethics and Energy Transactions: How to Keep Yourself and Your Client Out of the Courtroom,” 2019 Institute for Energy Law Energy Transactions Conference (October 2019)
- Panelist, Anti-SLAPP Panel Discussion, 2019 HBA Bench/Bar Conference (April 2019)
- Author, “Foreign ‘Special Legal Consultant’ Rules in Question,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (September 2019)
- Author, “Thorny Cross-Border E-discovery Issues on the Rise“, American Bar Association Section of Litigation (August 2019)
- Author, “Supreme Court Rejects Service on Foreign State Via Embassy“, American Bar Association Section of Litigation (August 2019)
- Author, “ABA Provides Ethics Advice for Disaster Preparedness,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (March 2019)
- Presenter, “Jury Research: What are the Ethical Limits?” 35th Annual Litigation Update, State Bar of Texas (January 2019)
- Author, “Poll of Potential Jurors Results in Six-Figure Sanction“, American Bar Association Section of Litigation (October 2018)
- Author, “New Trigger for Determining Removal Deadline,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (June 2018)
- Judicial Panel Moderator, Civility and Ethics in the Courtroom, The Texas Day of Civility in the Law 2018 (April 2018)
- Author, “Knowledge of False Label Does Not Flush Standing for Injunction,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (February 2018)
- Presenter, When Juries Throw You a Curve Ball: Batson, Conflicting Verdicts, Misbehaving Jurors, and More, 34th Annual Litigation Update, State Bar of Texas (January 2018)
- Author, “Cloudy with a Chance of Sanctions,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (November 2017)
- Presenter, Damages on the Fringes-Seldom-Used Theories of Recovery, HBA Litigation Section (May 2017)
- Presenter, Damages on the Fringes-Seldom-Used Theories of Recovery, TADC Spring Meeting (April 2017)
- Presenter, Consequential Damages: Probing the Limits of What Can be Recovered, 9th Annual Damages in Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas (February 2017)
- Presenter, Anti-SLAPP and Rule 91a Motions Update: Ending The Lawsuit Before it Begins, 33rd Annual Litigation Update, State Bar of Texas (January 2017)
- Presenter, Does Anti-SLAPP Apply to Your Lawsuit? You Might Be Surprised., Houston Paralegal Association 13th Annual Spring Conference (April 2016)
- Author, Does the Texas Anti-SLAPP Statute Apply to Your Lawsuit? You Might Be Surprised., State Bar Litigation Section News for the Bar (Winter 2014)
- Author, Communications with Your Client’s Former Employees: Privileged?, State Bar Litigation Section News for the Bar (Spring 2007)
- Co-Author, The Vitality of Barcelo After Ten Years: When Can an Attorney Be Sued for Negligence by Someone Other than His Client?, 58 Baylor L. Rev. 371 (Spring 2006)
- Co-Author, House Bill 4, Class-Action Certification Requirements, and Res Judicata, 46 S. Tex. L. Rev. 913 (Summer 2005)
- Author, Texas Independence: The Lone Star State Serves as an Example to Other Jurisdictions as it Rejects Mixed-Motive Defenses to Batson Challenges, 21 The Rev. of Litigation 375 (Spring 2002)
-
Professional Activities & Memberships
- Chair, Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2023-2024
- Chair-Elect, 2022-2023
- Vice-Chair, 2021-2022
- Treasurer, 2020-2021
- Secretary, 2019-2020
- Outstanding Council Member Award, 2020
- Council Member, 2012-2023
- President, Texas Law Review Association, 2023-2024
- Chair, The University of Texas Law School Houston Area Alumni, 2023-2024
- Houston Bar Association
- Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2017-2018, 2020-2021 (Chair 2017-2018)
- Member, Professionalism Committee, 2017-2018, 2020-2021
- Member, Bench/Bar Committee, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2022-2023
- American Bar Association, Contributing Editor, Section of Litigation’s Litigation News publication, 2017
- Board Member, Texas Law Review Association
- Executive Committee Member, The University of Texas Law School Alumni Association
- Fellow, Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors, Texas Young Lawyers Association, 2008-2012
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Editor-in-Chief, State Bar Litigation Section News for the Bar, quarterly newsletter for the State Bar of Texas, 2007-2010
- Chair, Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2023-2024
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Community Involvement
- Director, Rice Engineering Alumni Board of Directors
- Member, University of Texas Law Alumni Association, Houston Steering Committee, 2013-2021
- Chair, University of Texas Law Alumni Association, Houston Young Alumni Steering Committee, 2014-2015
- Associate, Brown College, Rice University
- Active Member, First Presbyterian Church
- Interviewer, Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission
- Chair, Board of Directors, Cho-Yeh Camp & Conference Center
Pro Bono Victory
May 16, 2018
Deepwater Horizon Litigation
October 19, 2012
The New Frontier: Practicing in All Five Texas Business Court Divisions
September 9, 2024
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2024 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2024
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
September 9, 2024
2025 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2024
Hot Button Ethics Issues in the Renewables Industry
January 1, 2024
State Bar of Texas 40th Annual Litigation Update Institute
January 1, 2024
Texas Judges Are Underpaid
January 1, 2024
The Importance of Juries–and How We Can Support Them
November 11, 2023
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2023 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2023
2024 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2023
What I Wish I Knew: Stories from Boutique Litigators
March 3, 2023
15th Annual Damages in Civil Litigation
February 2, 2023
Not Just for Trial Lawyers; Lessons from the Courtroom You Can Use in the Conference Room
December 12, 2022
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2022 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2022
2023 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2022
57th Academy of American and International Law
July 7, 2022
2021 Texas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting
September 9, 2021
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2021 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2021
Making the Most of Mentorship
September 9, 2021
2022 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2021
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2020 Texas Super Lawyers
October 10, 2020
Lawyer Ethics in the Conference Room and the Courtroom
October 10, 2020
2021 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2020
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2019 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2019
HYLA Honors Geoff Gannaway with Outstanding Mentor Award
April 4, 2019
Beck Redden Lawyers Featured in Anti-SLAPP Edition of the Advocate
October 10, 2018
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2018 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2018
Judicial Panel on Civility and Ethics in the Courtroom
April 4, 2018
Knowledge of False Label Does Not Flush Standing for Injunction
February 2, 2018
Geoff Gannaway
Partner,
Houston
Direct: 713.951.6263
Mobile: 713.569.9667
Fax: 713.951.3720
Direct: 713.951.6263
Mobile: 713.569.9667
Fax: 713.951.3720
Everything Geoff Gannaway does is geared toward persuading a judge and jury.
He works with each client to develop a strategy for success in the courtroom, and then weaves together every deposition taken, every motion filed, and every jury argument made. At the onset of a new case, Geoff never loses sight of the end goal: distilling factual details into persuasive themes to present to a jury, ultimately making the most complicated cases understandable and the client’s position clear.
Geoff honed an attention to detail in Rice University’s engineering program, and now uses an engineer’s discipline to serve his clients as a lawyer. The more complex the case, the more Geoff relishes the challenge. The subject matter of cases he has handled spans a broad array of industries and legal issues.
After a successful jury verdict, Tom Moogan, CFO for Advance International, explained: “From the intense level of preparation, to his collaboration with us to understand the particular complexities of our case, it was clear that Geoff worked to make this a case that a jury would hear and decide in our favor.”
-
Representative experience
- Represented Cameron International Corporation (blowout preventer manufacturer) in the Gulf Oil Spill Multidistrict Litigation. After six weeks of trial, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana found that Cameron was not liable to any claimant related to the Deepwater Horizon incident and entered an order completely dismissing Cameron from the litigation.
- Represented major oil and gas company as lead counsel in confidential arbitration proceeding in which supplier claimed breach of contract. The three-arbitrator panel returned a unanimous award in favor of Geoff’s client.
- Defended oil and gas exploration company against allegations that it agreed to enter into a partnership to manage oil and gas projects in the Fayetteville shale after the plaintiff introduced defendant to a financing source. Joe Redden was lead counsel at trial, with Geoff presenting the opening statement, cross-examining several witnesses, and successfully arguing for directed verdict on some claims. The plaintiff sought millions of dollars in damages, claiming breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and quantum meruit. After a six-day jury trial, a unanimous jury returned a defense verdict on all but one cause of action. On the plaintiff’s quantum meruit cause of action, the jury awarded $16,700. In post-judgment motions, Beck Redden argued that the quantum meruit finding should be thrown out. The Court agreed, and entered a take-nothing judgment. On appeal, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the judgment. The case is styled The Strickland Group, Inc. v. Pathfinder Exploration, LLC, No. 02-12-00187-CV.
- Obtained defense verdict for Memorial Hermann Hospital System in a major antitrust lawsuit in Texas state court. David J. Beck was lead counsel at trial, with Geoff cross-examining a number of witnesses over the course of a trial that lasted almost two and a half months. The plaintiffs, who were physician-investors in a now defunct physician-owned hospital in West Houston, claimed that Memorial Hermann was responsible for their hospital’s failure and asserted antitrust claims and claims for tortious interference with prospective and existing business relationships. The plaintiffs sought millions in actual damages, plus several millions in attorneys’ fees. The jury entered a complete defense verdict.
- Served as lead trial lawyer in securing a favorable verdict for his client, an importer of seasonal decorations, in a breach-of-contract dispute with a major retail chain. After a three-day trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict for Geoff’s client, and, in addition, awarded damages to the client after finding on the counterclaim that the retailer had breached three separate contracts. The retail chain appealed the judgment. Houston’s Fourteenth Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment with a significant holding about liquidated damages provisions under the Uniform Commercial Code. The court held that the liquidated damages provisions in the retail chain’s standard vendor contracts are unenforceable penalties. The case is styled Garden Ridge, L.P. v. Advance International, Inc., No. 14-11-00624-CV.
- Obtained summary judgment for major law firm accused of legal malpractice related to patent prosecution.
-
Honors & Awards
- Recognized in Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America for Commercial Litigation, Class Actions, Energy Disputes, 2025
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Health Care, 2025
- Named in Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers – Business Litigation, 2015 – 2024
- AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell, 2018-2020
- Recognized as a “Rising Star” in business litigation by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers – Texas, 2008, 2011-2014
-
Publications & Presentations
- Presenter, “Civil Procedure Update,” Litigation Update Institute (January 2024)
- Presenter, “Hot Button Ethics Issues in the Renewables Industry,” Institute for Energy Law 2nd Conference on Renewable Project Development (April 2023)
- Panelist, “Not Just for Trial Lawyers; Lessons from the Courtroom You Can Use in the Conference Room,” Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Chapter Half-Day Seminar (December 2022)
- Co-Presenter, “Lawyer Ethics in the Conference Room and the Courtroom,” Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Chapter (October 2020)
- Presenter, “Ethics and Energy Transactions: How to Keep Yourself and Your Client Out of the Courtroom,” 2019 Institute for Energy Law Energy Transactions Conference (October 2019)
- Panelist, Anti-SLAPP Panel Discussion, 2019 HBA Bench/Bar Conference (April 2019)
- Author, “Foreign ‘Special Legal Consultant’ Rules in Question,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (September 2019)
- Author, “Thorny Cross-Border E-discovery Issues on the Rise“, American Bar Association Section of Litigation (August 2019)
- Author, “Supreme Court Rejects Service on Foreign State Via Embassy“, American Bar Association Section of Litigation (August 2019)
- Author, “ABA Provides Ethics Advice for Disaster Preparedness,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (March 2019)
- Presenter, “Jury Research: What are the Ethical Limits?” 35th Annual Litigation Update, State Bar of Texas (January 2019)
- Author, “Poll of Potential Jurors Results in Six-Figure Sanction“, American Bar Association Section of Litigation (October 2018)
- Author, “New Trigger for Determining Removal Deadline,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (June 2018)
- Judicial Panel Moderator, Civility and Ethics in the Courtroom, The Texas Day of Civility in the Law 2018 (April 2018)
- Author, “Knowledge of False Label Does Not Flush Standing for Injunction,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (February 2018)
- Presenter, When Juries Throw You a Curve Ball: Batson, Conflicting Verdicts, Misbehaving Jurors, and More, 34th Annual Litigation Update, State Bar of Texas (January 2018)
- Author, “Cloudy with a Chance of Sanctions,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation (November 2017)
- Presenter, Damages on the Fringes-Seldom-Used Theories of Recovery, HBA Litigation Section (May 2017)
- Presenter, Damages on the Fringes-Seldom-Used Theories of Recovery, TADC Spring Meeting (April 2017)
- Presenter, Consequential Damages: Probing the Limits of What Can be Recovered, 9th Annual Damages in Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas (February 2017)
- Presenter, Anti-SLAPP and Rule 91a Motions Update: Ending The Lawsuit Before it Begins, 33rd Annual Litigation Update, State Bar of Texas (January 2017)
- Presenter, Does Anti-SLAPP Apply to Your Lawsuit? You Might Be Surprised., Houston Paralegal Association 13th Annual Spring Conference (April 2016)
- Author, Does the Texas Anti-SLAPP Statute Apply to Your Lawsuit? You Might Be Surprised., State Bar Litigation Section News for the Bar (Winter 2014)
- Author, Communications with Your Client’s Former Employees: Privileged?, State Bar Litigation Section News for the Bar (Spring 2007)
- Co-Author, The Vitality of Barcelo After Ten Years: When Can an Attorney Be Sued for Negligence by Someone Other than His Client?, 58 Baylor L. Rev. 371 (Spring 2006)
- Co-Author, House Bill 4, Class-Action Certification Requirements, and Res Judicata, 46 S. Tex. L. Rev. 913 (Summer 2005)
- Author, Texas Independence: The Lone Star State Serves as an Example to Other Jurisdictions as it Rejects Mixed-Motive Defenses to Batson Challenges, 21 The Rev. of Litigation 375 (Spring 2002)
-
Professional Activities & Memberships
- Chair, Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2023-2024
- Chair-Elect, 2022-2023
- Vice-Chair, 2021-2022
- Treasurer, 2020-2021
- Secretary, 2019-2020
- Outstanding Council Member Award, 2020
- Council Member, 2012-2023
- President, Texas Law Review Association, 2023-2024
- Chair, The University of Texas Law School Houston Area Alumni, 2023-2024
- Houston Bar Association
- Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2017-2018, 2020-2021 (Chair 2017-2018)
- Member, Professionalism Committee, 2017-2018, 2020-2021
- Member, Bench/Bar Committee, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2022-2023
- American Bar Association, Contributing Editor, Section of Litigation’s Litigation News publication, 2017
- Board Member, Texas Law Review Association
- Executive Committee Member, The University of Texas Law School Alumni Association
- Fellow, Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors, Texas Young Lawyers Association, 2008-2012
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Editor-in-Chief, State Bar Litigation Section News for the Bar, quarterly newsletter for the State Bar of Texas, 2007-2010
- Chair, Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2023-2024
-
Community Involvement
- Director, Rice Engineering Alumni Board of Directors
- Member, University of Texas Law Alumni Association, Houston Steering Committee, 2013-2021
- Chair, University of Texas Law Alumni Association, Houston Young Alumni Steering Committee, 2014-2015
- Associate, Brown College, Rice University
- Active Member, First Presbyterian Church
- Interviewer, Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission
- Chair, Board of Directors, Cho-Yeh Camp & Conference Center
Pro Bono Victory
May 16, 2018
Deepwater Horizon Litigation
October 19, 2012
The New Frontier: Practicing in All Five Texas Business Court Divisions
September 9, 2024
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2024 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2024
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
September 9, 2024
2025 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2024
Hot Button Ethics Issues in the Renewables Industry
January 1, 2024
State Bar of Texas 40th Annual Litigation Update Institute
January 1, 2024
Texas Judges Are Underpaid
January 1, 2024
The Importance of Juries–and How We Can Support Them
November 11, 2023
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2023 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2023
2024 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2023
What I Wish I Knew: Stories from Boutique Litigators
March 3, 2023
15th Annual Damages in Civil Litigation
February 2, 2023
Not Just for Trial Lawyers; Lessons from the Courtroom You Can Use in the Conference Room
December 12, 2022
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2022 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2022
2023 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2022
57th Academy of American and International Law
July 7, 2022
2021 Texas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting
September 9, 2021
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2021 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2021
Making the Most of Mentorship
September 9, 2021
2022 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2021
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2020 Texas Super Lawyers
October 10, 2020
Lawyer Ethics in the Conference Room and the Courtroom
October 10, 2020
2021 Best Lawyers in America Honors Beck Redden Attorneys
August 8, 2020
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2019 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2019
HYLA Honors Geoff Gannaway with Outstanding Mentor Award
April 4, 2019
Beck Redden Lawyers Featured in Anti-SLAPP Edition of the Advocate
October 10, 2018
Beck Redden Lawyers Recognized as 2018 Texas Super Lawyers
September 9, 2018
Judicial Panel on Civility and Ethics in the Courtroom
April 4, 2018
Knowledge of False Label Does Not Flush Standing for Injunction
February 2, 2018