Matthew E. Parks

Bar / Professional Activity

• State of Texas, 2012
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2012

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• Represented the former General Counsel of LNG company Tellurian Inc. and co-founder of Parallax Enterprises against claims brought by rival LNG company Cheniere Energy. Cheniere sued Parallax, Tellurian, and Tellurian’s founding officers, including Cheniere’s former CEO Charif Souki, alleging breach of a significant promissory note. Parallax brought claims against Cheniere for breaching a $500 million joint development agreement. Following two years of litigation, Burford Perry filed a summary judgment leading Cheniere to dismiss its claims against our client. Parallax Enterprises LLC v. Cheniere Energy, Inc. v. Tellurian, Inc., et al., Cause No. 2017-49685 in the 61st District Court of Harris Court, Texas
• Represented the founder of Life Partners, Brian Pardo, in a suit seeking $700 million for breaches of fiduciary duty and violations of the Texas Securities Act relating to an alleged Ponzi Scheme. We narrowed the claims significantly pre-trial through various motions and defeated nearly all of plaintiffs’ claims, leading to a very favorable post-judgment settlement. Thomas Moran II, as Trustee for Life Partners Holdings, Inc. v. Brian Pardo, et al, Adversary No. 15-04079-RFN in the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division
• Represented an investor in a high-rise condo project that was not being developed on schedule. On the eve of the related arbitration, we obtained a very favorable settlement for Ms. Lizeroux. Lehang Lizeroux v. Great Texas Regional Center, LLC, et al., Cause No. 2017-58912 in the 334th Judicial District of Harris County, Texas
• Represented the seller of a successful chemical standards company in a case seeking liquidated damages and enforcement of a non-complete arising out of the sale transaction. After winning partial summary judgment declaring the liquidated damages clause and non-compete unenforceable, we effectively ended the plaintiff’s ability to recoup damages and forced a favorable settlement. Red Ball Technical Gas Servs., Inc. v. Hua, Cause No. 2016-63707 in the 234th Judicial District of Harris County, Texas
• Represented the defendants in a suit brought to compel specific performance of a contract for the sale of a 50% interest in a series of very valuable mineral and royalty interests in Louisiana. We discovered misdeeds by the plaintiff in the underlying transaction, forcing a confidential, very advantageous settlement. William R. “Rusty” Nichols v. Robert H. Moses and Moses Gulf Coast Holdings, L.P., Cause No. 2019-13716
• In a series of related cases, represented six plaintiffs who invested millions of dollars into Panton, Inc., a “big data” technology startup that purported to leverage artificial intelligence for the insurance industry. We proved that Panton had misrepresented its technology and misstated its financials, resulting in recouping nearly all of our clients’ investments through confidential, pre-trial settlements. Panton, Inc. securities litigation, Harris County, Texas: Cause No. 2018-50246; Cause No. 2017-59023; and Cause No. 2017-77055
• Represented, alongside the Kim Law Firm and Eversheds Sutherland, a multinational engineering, procurement, and construction company in securing an injunction against a $77 million draw on a letter of credit based on fraud arising out of two $1.2 billion EPC contracts. 
• Represented, with Flood Trial Lawyers, midstream energy logistics provider TYR Energy Logistics in a $25 million breach of contract suit filed by oil and petrochemical supplier/seller IWC Oil & Refinery. Through two years of arbitration and a final hearing, we defeated IWC’s claims in full and prevailed on our counterclaims of $1.9 million. We were then able to confirm the arbitration award and immediately recover $1.4 million from an injunction bond posted by IWC at the start of the case. IWC Oil & Refinery, LLC v. TYR Energy Logistics, LLC, et al., American Arbitration Association Case No. 01-22-0001-3134
• Second chair in arbitration that won $300k breach of fiduciary duty award. We represented a limited partner against the general partner and the business 
• Drafted summary judgment that disposed $1 million personal injury claim on a drilling rig 
• Member of the legal team for a security fraud suit that, to date, has resulted in about $800k in settlements 
• Part of 2 person trial team that won summary judgment on $3 million suit alleging breach of fiduciary duty, unfair trade practices, and violation of non-compete 
• Second chair in trial that won a declaratory judgment that a business could operate within certain zoning restrictions 

Honors

• Chambers and Partners USA Up & Coming, Litigation: General Commercial, 2023 to present, Chambers and Partners USA, 2025
• Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under, 2024 to present, Benchmark Litigation, 2025
• Benchmark Future Star, 2025-present, Benchmark Litigation, 2026
• Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2024 to present, Best Lawyers in America, 2026
• Legal 500 City Elite, Commercial Disputes, Legal 500, 2025
• Texas Super Lawyers, 2023 to present, Super Lawyers, 2025
• Texas Rising Stars, 2017-2022, Super Lawyers, 2022
• Top Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2016
• Top Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2015

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas At Austin, 2009

• Healthcare
• Oil And Gas
• Real Estate