John J. Deis

Some cases are complex because of the mountains of ​evidence at issue; others because of the technical complexity of the industry involved. Either way, John Deis has a knack for distilling his cases down to the core issues and clearly presenting his client’s side to judges and juries.

Mr. Deis once spent four days living aboard an oilrig offshore of Libya in order to understand how various equipment worked and the crew's performance. This was key to disproving his opponent’s contention that the rig’s equipment and crew were not fit for purpose. The resulting expert reports and witness statements that he presented to an arbitration tribunal proved that the rig was fully operational and capable of meeting the requirements of a long-term assignment.

Mr. Deis honed his legal writing skills working as the managing editor for the Houston Law Review. It was his experience as an undergraduate and his enjoyment of business law classes that motivated him to pursue a career as an attorney. His understanding of complex issues and his willingness to get his hands dirty have benefited his clients in cases ranging from catastrophic oil and gas accidents to industrial construction projects, contract disputes and trade secret matters.

He is a former Marine Corps officer who spent four years on active duty and four more in the reserves. He attributes his effectiveness in front of judges and juries to the lessons he learned while serving: quickly assess the situation, develop a plan of action and out execute your opponent, even in the most stressful environments. It’s this ability that allows him to keep calm under pressure and to be a leader, even when going up against some formidable opponents.