Courtney Scobie’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts, arbitration, and federal government investigations. Her experience includes a fraud and theft case on behalf of a large technology company, a breach of fiduciary duty and legal malpractice case on behalf of a real estate investment trust, a DOJ investigation into possible antitrust violations, FINRA arbitrations involving potential ERISA violations, copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation cases against a leading enterprise software company, government agency investigations into both the technology and energy sectors, contract and insurance disputes, product liability and toxic tort litigation, medical malpractice litigation, and Fair Credit Reporting Act disputes. She has drafted several successful motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment and has significant experience in e-discovery matters.

Courtney has worked on legal disputes and government investigations involving a wide variety of industries, including the energy, technology, financial services, fashion, automotive, and healthcare industries. She also has worked on several pro bono matters with the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program and the Houston Bar Association, including working with victims of Hurricane Katrina and assisting pro bono clients in family court. Additionally, Courtney participated in the Houston Volunteer Prosecutors Program where she has tried over a dozen cases in Houston’s municipal court.

Distinctions

• Texas Super Lawyer
• Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers

Court Admissions

• All Texas State Courts
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Eastern District of Michigan

Representative Matters

• Won a $12.2 million judgment, including full damages and all attorneys’ fees, on behalf of a multinational computer technology company against its former employees and contractors who conspired to engage in a false-invoice and bid-rigging scheme to defraud the company. Two of the defendants were later sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy on fraud charges.
• Legal counsel to the Super Bowl LI Houston Host Committee providing a wide range of legal services for this multi-billion dollar event, including preventive litigation counseling, risk management, contract negotiation and liability prevention advice for the tens of thousands of workers and volunteers involved in events leading up to and including the big game.
• Won the dismissal of a complaint filed in New Jersey by Prime Healthcare, Inc. against our client who operates hospitals in New Jersey. The complaint asserted antitrust and common law claims and alleged that our client had conspired with others to prevent Prime from competing in New Jersey. Damages were potentially in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.
• Represented expert witness an effort to address and overturn federal district court findings regarding expert’s causation testimony in securities arbitration, resulting in Fifth Circuit appellate opinion completely vacating adverse findings.
• Researched and drafted successful motion to dismiss on behalf of a major software company and one of its subsidiaries in a misappropriation of trade secrets case in Texas federal court.
• Represented a multinational chemical company in a breach of contract case in Texas federal court.
• Represented a major software company and its subsidiaries in defending a copyright infringement case in California federal court.
• Represented a major energy company in a Department of Justice (“DOJ”) investigation, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) investigation, CFTC enforcement action, and related class action litigation regarding alleged market manipulation of the propane market.
• Represented a major computer corporation in a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) investigation and related class action related to accounting irregularities.

Publications, Speeches, and Presentations

• "Litigation: Law and Practice (USA)," Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guides 2024
• "TEXAS: An Introduction to Litigation: General Commercial," Chambers and Partners USA Guide 2023
• "An Interview with Courtney D. Scobie," Best Lawyers, July 13, 2018
• Co-author, Expert Witnesses, Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts,Fourth Edition
• Co-Author, "Benefits of Preventative Legal Counselling," BUSINESS RESOURCE: Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution 2016
• “The Keystone XL Pipeline Faces a New Challenge,” ABA Energy Litigation Website, October 22, 2013
• “Houston Appeals Court Overturns Oil and Gas Royalty Verdict,” ABA Energy Litigation Website, June 28, 2012
• “Protecting Against an FCPA Violation Through a Third-Party Agent,” ABA Energy Litigation Website, June 28, 2012
• Co-Author, “Will Rule 10b-5 Go Global? The Status of Private Rights of Action after Morrison v. National Australia Bank,” The Advocate, State Bar Litigation Section Report, Vol. 59, Summer 2012

Memberships & Community

• State Bar of Texas
• Houston Bar Association (CLE Committee 2014-2015, AIDS Outreach Committee Chair 2016-2017, President's Award Recipient 2017-2018)
• Houston Young Lawyers Association, including the Leadership Academy and the Adopt-an-Angel Committee

Other Attorney Experience

• Jones Day