Adam Schiffer

Practice Areas

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Energy

Oil & Gas Litigation

Career

Adam Schiffer, a partner in Brown Rudnick's Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group, is a first-chair trial and arbitration lawyer. He has litigated on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in over 50 jury trials and 45 arbitrations, and is frequently hired to take on complex litigations shortly before trial.

Adam has led domestic and international disputes related to construction of power plants, oil refineries, offshore drilling platforms and energy industry contracts, and has led cases involving corporate malfeasance, securities fraud and breaches of fiduciary duty. He has arbitrated cases before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), JAMS, the American Arbitration Association (AAA), and according to the Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

Prior to joining Brown Rudnick, Adam spent nearly two decades as founding partner at a boutique Houston litigation firm, and before that worked at two large international law firms.

Professional Memberships

Elected member, American Board of Trial Advocates (2000-present)

Work Highlights

Over 240 plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging fraud against Intel, the global technology company, and its employee, relating to an investment in the Intel Engage Platform, an artificial intelligence tool for targeted ads.

Iskandia Exploration Company, a Texas-based firm specializing in acquiring and improving mature oil and gas assets using environmentally friendly technologies, in a lawsuit against Conoco, a multinational exploration and production company, for saltwater trespass.

Coastal Infrastructure Trust as a defendant in an arbitration in Panama over the sale of rights to develop a facility on the Panama Canal.

ZEEP, an Austin-based clean energy startup, in a lawsuit brought by its former broker for alleged breach of contract related to a land purchase in Mobile, Alabama to build a methanol plant.

A midstream company in an arbitration against a manufacturer of renewable energy equipment over allegedly defective pipe used to transport saltwater.

An oil and gas development company in an arbitration with their prior law firm over allegations of malpractice.

A former president of a steel distribution company in a breach of contract lawsuit against his former employer.

A leading US midstream energy services company in an arbitration against a global trader of energy over a pipeline transportation contract.

Renard Johnson, CEO of government contractor Management and Engineering Technologies International (METI), in a defamation matter related to his successful mayoral campaign in El Paso, Texas.

Some of Adam’s notable matters handled prior to joining Brown Rudnick include:

Claimant in bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in claims against a foreign sovereign in a two-week ICSID arbitration at the World Bank. Adam was retained midway through the proceeding.

A major oil company in successfully defending claims of over $70 million asserted by its non-working interest owner; tried case for four weeks and defended appeal.

A public utility in a two-week jury trial in Colorado state court bringing claims of $113 million.

An oil and gas exploration and development company in defending a conversion and negligence case. Adam was retained as lead trial lawyer four months before trial; plaintiff sought damages based on a claim that the client produced gas from zones owned by plaintiff. After an eight-week trial, the jury returned a verdict in the client’s favor on all counts.

Plaintiff in breach of contract and quantum meruit claims in a construction lawsuit. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Adam’s client, awarding approximately $35 million in damages. The case then successfully settled.

Plaintiff in a lawsuit arising out of a contract to manufacture and wholesale frozen dinners. After a six-day trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for the full amount sought.

Plaintiff in a breach of contract and fraud lawsuit arising from a letter agreement to acquire a company. After a five-week jury trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the client.

An engineering firm as respondent in an ad hoc construction arbitration. The claimant, owner of an offshore production platform, sought reimbursement of expenses associated with warranty repairs and deferred production damages. The tribunal awarded the claimant less than half of respondent’s last offer of settlement to avoid arbitration.

Claimant in a breach of contract case involving the distribution of electricity in Turkey. Turkish law applied at the hearing, which took place in Geneva. The client was awarded $28 million, paid by the Turkish government. Adam was hired two weeks before the final hearing as first chair.

Operator of an oil and gas lease off the coast of India as claimant in an LCIA arbitration to resolve a joint operations agreements dispute. Indian law applied. After a two-week trial, obtained an award entitling the client to sole possession of a gas property worth $30 million for a payment to respondent of a discounted book value of less than $4 million.

Respondent/counter-claimant in an ICC arbitration involving construction of a power plant in Peru, obtaining an award on the counterclaim and a finding of no liability on the respondent’s claims. After the award was affirmed on appeal in federal district court, the case successfully settled.

Claimant on a breach of contract claim involving the modernization of an oil refinery in Siberia. Three arbitrators, including a Queen’s Counsel and presiding judge of the World Court, conducted a two-week arbitration in London, England, and rendered a final award in favor of the client.

Education