Anna G. Rotman, P.C.
Overview
Anna has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state courts, federal courts and arbitrations throughout the United States. She has accumulated significant first-chair trial experience in business disputes, representing both large and small companies, environmental and products liability cases, and in restructuring-related litigation, representing both debtors and creditors. Chambers describes her as “a go-to litigator in energy-sector disputes,” with one source describing her as an “exceptional advocate” and another noting “Anna is always well prepared and her strong demeanor in the courtroom makes her a formidable opponent.” She also advises boards, in house counsel and company executives on litigation and corporate governance considerations, in close collaboration with the Firm’s transactional attorneys. According to Chambers, clients value her “well-reasoned and extremely practical advice.” A Texas Lawyer “Woman in Energy,” Anna has played a leading role in hallmark cases shaping the energy industry in recent years. In 2018, Law360 named her to its list of “10 Influential Women in Energy.”
A graduate of Harvard Law School, Anna has been honored as one of Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 100 Trial Attorneys” in the country and as one of its “Top 250 Women in Litigation.” She has also been recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for her work in antitrust litigation. Anna clerked for the Honorable Marvin J. Garbis on the Federal District Court for the District of Maryland.
Anna is an active leader in the legal community, having served as president of the Federal Bar Association for the Southern District of Texas and of the Harvard Law School Alumni Association of Houston. She is currently the co-vice chair of the Houston Chapter of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum. Within Kirkland, Anna leads the Women’s Professional Network in the Houston office and serves on the Firmwide Administration Committee, Associate and Partner Compensation Committee, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Special Fee Arrangements Committee.
Experience
Representative Matters
Commercial Litigation
-
Lead trial counsel for Rice Drilling D, LLC in a jury trial in which plaintiffs sought over $60 million in damages for allegedly trespassing on and converting their oil and gas below the surface. Successfully defeated several claims prior to trial with dispositive motions and, after a two-week jury trial before the Chief Judge of the Southern District of Ohio, secured a unanimous jury verdict in the client’s favor.
-
Lead trial counsel for Midstates Petroleum in contract and lien disputes over amounts allegedly owed for goods and services. Obtained a multimillion-dollar summary judgment for actual fraud against service provider.
-
Trial counsel for Repsol USA in litigation related to alleged breach of joint venture agreement to explore for and develop wells in the Marcellus Shale region. Settled on favorable terms right before trial.
-
Litigation counsel for Newfield Exploration in successfully resolving dispute arising from ownership rights to seismic data.
-
Lead trial counsel for Bayou City Energy in claims arising from gathering dedications pending in Oklahoma state court.
-
Lead trial counsel for MEG Energy in defending a contract dispute in Delaware Superior Court. Successfully settled.
-
Litigation counsel for CM Energy in prosecuting breach of asset purchase agreement in Delaware state court. Successfully settled.
-
Lead trial counsel for Tennant Metals Pty and Metalcorp Group in a breach of contract action in Utah state court arising from a multiparty agreement to remediate iron ore from a defunct steel plant.
-
Lead trial counsel for Panalpina World Transport Ltd. in Texas state court defending breach of contract and fraud claims arising from freight forwarding services provided in connection with a construction project in Southern Iraq. The parties reached a favorable settlement.
-
Counsel for BASF in a lawsuit brought in the Southern District of Texas by INEOS seeking to enjoin the sale of BASF’s polyolefin catalysts business to W.R. Grace. After an evidentiary hearing, a preliminary injunction was denied and the case was dismissed.
-
Litigation counsel for TPG Special Situations Partners, LLC in formation of $400 million drilling partnership to develop domestic unconventional resources in the Midland Basin with Hunt Oil Company.
-
Confidential clients — Pre-litigation counseling on behalf of domestic and international airlines in contract negotiations with content distribution channels, including global distribution systems and online travel agencies.
Environmental/Products Liability Litigation
- Trial counsel for Total E&P USA and Total Specialties in climate change litigation pending in the Northern District of California.
- Lead trial counsel for Primexx in three lawsuits in Oklahoma state court alleging injection of wastewater from fracking at disposal wells caused seismic activity. Successfully settled.
- Trial counsel for German fund prosecuting products liability claims related to defective oil and gas equipment in gas-storage caverns in Germany. Pending in the Southern District of Texas.
Restructuring-Related Litigation
-
Appellate counsel for Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation in successfully defending the bankruptcy court’s high-profile ruling that allowed debtors to reject certain midstream contracts during its Chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of New York.
-
Co-lead trial counsel for GenOn Energy, Inc. during its Chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of Texas in $600 million estimation trial to value contract and tort claims arising from complex owner-lessor agreements. After 10 days of trial, the claims against GenOn were estimated at $0. In addition, successfully defended GenOn and certain of its affiliates against a motion to certify class proofs of claim.
-
Lead trial counsel for Gastar Exploration Inc. in its Chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of Texas in defeating an emergency motion to appoint an equity committee, and an objection by an equity-holder to confirmation of the plan.
-
Trial counsel for Parker Drilling Company in its contested examiner motion and confirmation hearing, where court confirmed Parker’s plan of reorganization.
-
Trial counsel for creditor, ECP, in defending standing and conversion motions in Furie Operating Alaska, LLC’s Chapter 11 cases pending in the District of Delaware.
-
Lead trial counsel for Sherwin Alumina in adversary proceeding pending in the Southern District of Texas to unwind confirmation order from its Chapter 11 cases. Motion to dismiss fraud and Constitutional claims were granted and upheld by the Fifth Circuit on appeal.
-
Co-lead trial counsel for Nine West Holdings, Inc. during its Chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of New York in successfully settling contested confirmation trial over value of settled claims arising out of prior LBO.
-
Trial counsel for Linn Energy, LLC and its affiliates in multiple disputes arising in its Chapter 11 cases filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Successes include defeating $55 million+ claim for default interest, which was upheld on appeal by the Fifth Circuit, defeating attempt to certify class proof of claim in royalty dispute, and defeating contractual counterparties’ attempt to terminate contract.
-
Lead trial counsel for Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. in its successful confirmation trial in its Chapter 11 restructuring in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
-
Trial counsel for Seadrill Limited and 85 subsidiaries and affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of Texas to restructure $11 billion of contract and debt obligations.
-
Litigation counsel for the ad hoc committee of unsecured noteholders in successfully defeating ad hoc equity group’s valuation challenge in the Chapter 11 cases of Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
-
Lead trial lawyer for Emerald Oil, Inc., in successful trial of a contract rejection dispute in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
-
Lead trial counsel for Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries in its successful valuation trial in its Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
-
Trial counsel for Penn Virginia Corporation in its successful valuation trial in its Chapter 11 restructuring in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
-
Trial counsel for Victory Park Capital in connection with Think Finance’s Chapter 11 cases in the Northern District of Texas.
-
Trial counsel for Charming Charlie, a Houston-based specialty retailer in its Chapter 11 restructuring in the District of Delaware.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Anna was involved in the following representations:
-
South Tilden II, LLC, et al. v. Petrohawk Properties, LP, et al. — Representing BHP Billiton in Texas state court, prevailed on summary judgment on a multimillion-dollar claim for breach of a term assignment arising from working interest revisions in the Eagle Ford Shale and successfully settled a related dispute over the term of a waiver of overriding royalty interests and claims for trespass and breach of contract.
-
American Airlines, Inc. v. Sabre — Represented American Airlines in Tarrant County state court against Sabre, one of the nation’s largest airline ticket distributors, involving new technology to sell corporate air travel. After a three-week jury trial, American and Sabre settled the lawsuit, with American receiving a nine-figure monetary payment from Sabre and the parties agreeing to a multiyear renewal of their distribution agreement.
-
American Airlines, Inc. v. Frequent Flyer Depot, et al. — Represented American Airlines in Tarrant County state court against several companies and individuals who defrauded American’s AAdvantage frequent flier program. Successfully obtained injunctive relief against several defendants and awarded summary judgment against multiple defendants. Briefed and argued successful defense of appeal of injunctive relief.
-
ABM Industries — Successful defense of a Miller Act claim seeking allegedly unpaid fees, extended general conditions and overhead arising from a federal construction project. Secured preferred forum, leading to a quick and favorable settlement.
-
Confidential Client — Pre-litigation counseling to defend Fortune 10 industrial client facing allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets related to software development.
-
Confidential Client — Pre-litigation counseling to assess claims and resolve software license compliance disputes on behalf of Fortune 50 technology client.
-
Sanchez v. City of Austin — Led five-person trial team in a successful First Amendment and due process challenge to the City of Austin’s policy of banning arrestees at the Occupy Austin protest site from returning to any portion of City Hall property, for any purpose, for as much as a year.
Clerk & Government Experience
Law ClerkHonorable Marvin J. GarbisUnited States District Court for the District of Maryland2004–2005
Prior Experience
Yetter Coleman LLP
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
“Implications for the Energy Industry in Light of the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma,” Energy Law Report, November 2020
“7 Concepts Every In-House Lawyer Needs to Know About Bankruptcy,” The Texas Lawyer, June 2016
“7 Antitrust Concepts that Every Lawyer and Business Person Should Know,” The Texas Lawyer, October 2015
“Nonparty Discovery in Texas: An Overview For Practitioners,” The State Bar of Texas, 38th Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course (co-author), 2015
“How to Prepare Your Executives to Testify,” The Texas Lawyer, August 2015
“6 Tips for Leveraging Gender Stereotypes in Negotiations,” The Texas Lawyer, April 2015
“Fifth Circuit Cracks Open the Courthouse Doors to Decide ‘Arbitrability’,” The Texas Lawyer, February 2015
“Ending the Tendency to Over-Preserve ESI,” The Texas Lawyer, October 2014
“Update of Federal Courts and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” The State Bar of Texas, 37th Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course (co-author), 2014
“Preserving Privilege When In-House Counsel Wear Multiple Hats,” The Texas Lawyer, July 2014
“Lucky 13: A Baker’s Dozen of Tips for Stopping a Departed Employee from Using Protected Company Info,” The Texas Lawyer, April 2014
“Cringe-worthy: 8 Tips to Prevent Embarrassing Emails,” The Texas Lawyer, February 2014
Press Mentions
“Texas Powerhouse: Kirkland & Ellis,” Law360, August 9, 2022
“Texas Powerhouses Excel in Saturated Market,” Law360 Pulse, August 5, 2022
CLEs
“11 T&Cs that Impact Litigation in Texas,” CLE presentation to Marathon Oil & Gas, September 2019
“Making Effective Use of Expert Witnesses,” CLE panelist, Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference, May 2018
“Can We Be Better? It’s a Two-Way Street,” CLE panelist, Southern District of Texas Houston/Galveston Bench-Bar Conference, November 2017
“Legal Strategies to Protect Your Trade Secrets,” CLE presentation to National Oilwell Varco, August 2017, and Association of Corporate Counsel, May 2017
“Protecting Privilege When In-House Counsel Wears Two Hats,” CLE presentation to Exxon Mobil legal department, February 2017
“Gathering Agreements - Nuts and Bolts,” CLE presentation to BHP Billiton, Houston, April 2016
“Written Discovery: Strategies and Tactics,” CLE presented to HewlettPackard legal department, September 2013
Seminars
“Leveraging Gender Stereotypes in Negotiations,” Keynote address at BBVA Women in Leadership Summit, November 2019 and Kayo Women’s Energy Investment Conference, June 2016
“A View From the Bench,” Moderator, Women in Law Empowerment Forum, June 2019
“When and How to Ask for Business,” Moderator, Women In Law Empowerment Forum, June 2017
“Network of Women,” Panelist, Turnaround Management Association, Houston Chapter, April 2017
“Women in the Law: A Panel Discussion from Across the Practice,” Moderator, Federal Bar Association for the Southern District of Texas, June 2016
“Approaching Gender Differences in Negotiations,” presentation to Texas Wall Street Women, May 2016, and Association of Women Attorneys, Houston, May 2014
“Competition Law,” presentation to General Electric Oil & Gas, February 2014
Recognition
“500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2024–2025
Recognized as “Litigator of the Week” runners-up by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily for securing a unanimous jury verdict in a federal trial where plaintiffs were seeking $100 million in mineral trespass claims in the Southern District of Ohio on behalf of client Rice Drilling D, LLC, 2024
Recognized for Commercial Litigation, The Best Lawyers in America, 2019–2024
Recognized as “Litigator of the Week” runners-up by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily for class certification denial in a case involving more than 1,200 oil and gas leases in the Southern District of Ohio on behalf of client Rice Drilling D, LLC, 2023
Ranked for Oil & Gas Litigation – Nationwide, Chambers USA, 2022–2024
Recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas – The Legal 500 United States, 2024
Recognized for Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas – The Legal 500 United States, 2019–2024
Recognized for General Commercial Disputes – The Legal 500 United States, 2019, 2023–2024
Ranked for Litigation: General Commercial – Texas, Chambers USA, 2018, 2021–2024
“Litigation Star,” Benchmark Litigation, 2020–2024
“Top 250 Women in Litigation,” Benchmark Litigation, 2016–2023
“Texas Super Lawyer,” in Business Litigation, Thomson Reuters, 2013–2023
Ranked for Litigation: Energy & Natural Resources – Texas, Chambers USA, 2019–2020
“Top 100 Trial Lawyers,” Benchmark Litigation, 2017–2019
“10 Influential Women in Energy Law,” Law360, 2018
“Women in Energy,” Texas Lawyer, 2016
Texas Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2010, 2012–2013
Kristi Couvillon Pro Bono Award, Texas Civil Rights Project, 2011
Memberships & Affiliations
Co-Vice Chair, Women In Law Empowerment Forum, Houston
Former President, Federal Bar Association for the Southern District of Texas National Delegate
Former President, Harvard Law School Association of Houston
Former Foundation Trustee, Association of Women Attorneys
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2004Texas
Courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
Languages
- English
- French
- Spanish
Education
- Harvard Law SchoolJ.D.cum laude2004
- Georgetown UniversityB.S., School of Foreign Servicemagna cum laude1998
- Institut d'Études Politiques de ParisHonors Diploma1996–1997