Owen J. McGovern
Partner
,
Direct: 713.951.6210
Fax: 713.951.3720
Direct: 713.951.6210
Fax: 713.951.3720
Owen McGovern is board-certified appellate specialist who understands that exceptional advocacy requires both a superior understanding of the law and the ability to frame the dispositive legal issues within a compelling narrative.
From the moment a case is filed through appeal, Owen is focused on distilling intricate facts and legal concepts into a coherent, compelling story. An appellate specialist with a sharp business mindset, Owen’s breadth of experience makes him an excellent addition to sophisticated matters requiring the high degree of precision appellate courts demand. Owen helps clients sort through complex legal issues to develop sound, persuasive arguments and strategies that help maximize the prospects of success both at trial and on appeal.
A dedicated student of legal argument and persuasion, Owen regularly handles appeals in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Supreme Court of Texas, and courts of appeals across the state and federal system. Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Owen brings his appellate expertise to bear in complex class action, mass tort and personal injury matters, as well as impact litigation involving constitutional claims.
As a federal law clerk at both the trial and appellate level, Owen handled cases at all stages of litigation and came to understand that clarity and credibility are the keys to persuasive advocacy. Owen brings this experience and an intense attention to detail to every stage of litigation, handling critical motions and jury charges across all areas of civil law.
Owen was recognized in the edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2021-2025) and named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters (2024) for his work as an Appellate practitioner.
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Representative experience
- Olive v. University of Houston: Lead appellate counsel for plaintiff before the Supreme Court of Texas. Prosecuting claim that copyright infringement by a state actor constitutes a “taking” under the United States and Texas Constitutions.
- Accordant v. Sayers: Lead appellate counsel for plaintiff. Successfully obtained remand in dispute regarding federal jurisdiction over a AAA arbitration judgment.
- In re Jesus Rodriguez Aguero, M.D., Deceased: Lead appellate counsel for plaintiff. Successfully defeated multiple mandamus petitions before the Thirteenth Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Texas.
- Valles v. Bayou Place: Lead appellate counsel for plaintiff. Successfully secured remand in the Southern District of Texas.
- Allen v. Cooper: Drafted amicus curiae brief in support of plaintiff in the Supreme Court of the United States.
- Gao v. Blue Ridge Landfill: Appellate counsel and primary drafting attorney for defendant. Summary judgment in client’s favor affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- Waypoint Lodging LLC v. Catlin Insurance: Lead appellate counsel on insurance appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- QTAT v. LRS: Appellate counsel for defendant. Responsible for critical motions and jury charge at trial.
- Dalton Logistics v. Universal: Appellate counsel for plaintiff. Successfully affirmed multi-million dollar promissory estoppel verdict in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- Austin Materials v. Troche: Appellate counsel in the Third Court of Appeals.
- Moore Family Trust v. Bingham: Lead appellate counsel in the Sixth Circuit.
- Cline v. Sunoco: Appellate counsel in the Supreme Court of the United States and Tenth Circuit.
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Honors & Awards
- Named in Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers – Appellate, 2024
- Named in Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation in Appellate and Commercial Litigation, 2024
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in Appellate Practice, 2021 – 2025
- Recognized as a “Rising Star” in Appellate by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers – Texas, 2022
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Publications & Presentations
- Panelist, When States Infringe: The Curious Case of Copyright vs Sovereign Immunity, Los Angeles Copyright Society, May 25, 2022
- Panelist, Texas Greats on Business Litigation, 40th Annual Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference (UT Law CLE), October 2016
- Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Upheld; En Banc or Supreme Court Review Ahead? Bloomberg BNA The United States Law Week, May 5, 2015
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Professional Activities & Memberships
- Houston Bar Association, Appellate Section
- Federalist Society, Houston Lawyer’s Chapter
- Notre Dame Club of Houston, Lawyers’ Division
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Community Involvement
- Houston Achievement Place, Board of Directors
- Annual Holiday Gala Event Co-Chair (2020)
- Houston Achievement Place, Board of Directors
January 6, 2020
November 14, 2019
September 9, 2024
August 8, 2024
January 1, 2024
September 9, 2023
August 8, 2023
January 1, 2023
January 1, 2023
August 8, 2022
August 8, 2021
August 8, 2020
Owen J. McGovern
Partner,
Houston
Direct: 713.951.6210
Fax: 713.951.3720
Direct: 713.951.6210
Fax: 713.951.3720
A dedicated student of legal argument and persuasion, Owen regularly handles appeals in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Supreme Court of Texas, and courts of appeals across the state and federal system. Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Owen brings his appellate expertise to bear in complex class action, mass tort and personal injury matters, as well as impact litigation involving constitutional claims.
As a federal law clerk at both the trial and appellate level, Owen handled cases at all stages of litigation and came to understand that clarity and credibility are the keys to persuasive advocacy. Owen brings this experience and an intense attention to detail to every stage of litigation, handling critical motions and jury charges across all areas of civil law.
Owen was recognized in the edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2021-2025) and named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters (2024) for his work as an Appellate practitioner.
-
Representative experience
- Olive v. University of Houston: Lead appellate counsel for plaintiff before the Supreme Court of Texas. Prosecuting claim that copyright infringement by a state actor constitutes a “taking” under the United States and Texas Constitutions.
- Accordant v. Sayers: Lead appellate counsel for plaintiff. Successfully obtained remand in dispute regarding federal jurisdiction over a AAA arbitration judgment.
- In re Jesus Rodriguez Aguero, M.D., Deceased: Lead appellate counsel for plaintiff. Successfully defeated multiple mandamus petitions before the Thirteenth Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Texas.
- Valles v. Bayou Place: Lead appellate counsel for plaintiff. Successfully secured remand in the Southern District of Texas.
- Allen v. Cooper: Drafted amicus curiae brief in support of plaintiff in the Supreme Court of the United States.
- Gao v. Blue Ridge Landfill: Appellate counsel and primary drafting attorney for defendant. Summary judgment in client’s favor affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- Waypoint Lodging LLC v. Catlin Insurance: Lead appellate counsel on insurance appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- QTAT v. LRS: Appellate counsel for defendant. Responsible for critical motions and jury charge at trial.
- Dalton Logistics v. Universal: Appellate counsel for plaintiff. Successfully affirmed multi-million dollar promissory estoppel verdict in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- Austin Materials v. Troche: Appellate counsel in the Third Court of Appeals.
- Moore Family Trust v. Bingham: Lead appellate counsel in the Sixth Circuit.
- Cline v. Sunoco: Appellate counsel in the Supreme Court of the United States and Tenth Circuit.
-
Honors & Awards
- Named in Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers – Appellate, 2024
- Named in Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation in Appellate and Commercial Litigation, 2024
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in Appellate Practice, 2021 – 2025
- Recognized as a “Rising Star” in Appellate by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers – Texas, 2022
-
Publications & Presentations
- Panelist, When States Infringe: The Curious Case of Copyright vs Sovereign Immunity, Los Angeles Copyright Society, May 25, 2022
- Panelist, Texas Greats on Business Litigation, 40th Annual Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference (UT Law CLE), October 2016
- Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Upheld; En Banc or Supreme Court Review Ahead? Bloomberg BNA The United States Law Week, May 5, 2015
-
Professional Activities & Memberships
- Houston Bar Association, Appellate Section
- Federalist Society, Houston Lawyer’s Chapter
- Notre Dame Club of Houston, Lawyers’ Division
-
Community Involvement
- Houston Achievement Place, Board of Directors
- Annual Holiday Gala Event Co-Chair (2020)
- Houston Achievement Place, Board of Directors
January 6, 2020
November 14, 2019
September 9, 2024
August 8, 2024
January 1, 2024
September 9, 2023
August 8, 2023
January 1, 2023
January 1, 2023
August 8, 2022
August 8, 2021
August 8, 2020