Mano DeAyala serves as counsel to individuals and companies in various industries, including oil and gas, real estate, construction, manufacturing, financial services, distribution, retail, healthcare, hospitality and non-profits. He handles claims involving business torts, corporate governance, contracts, and employment matters. His trial, arbitration, and appellate practice concentrates on disputes in domestic and international matters. He is licensed in multiple states and international jurisdictions and represents clients in courts and arbitrations throughout Texas, Alabama, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Illinois, the U.S. Court of Claims and in England. Mano regularly tries cases to verdict, judgment, or arbitration award.
Mano serves in the Texas House of Representatives, House District 133; home to several Fortune 500 companies and the Energy Corridor. As an appointee of the United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President, Mano serves as an arbitrator of trade disputes under the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. As an appointee of Governor Gregg Abbott, Mano served as a member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and the Windham School District (2017-2022), and in leadership roles with the “C” Club of Houston, Houston Regional Business Coalition, Hispanic Leadership Alliance, Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association and the Children’s Fund.
Mano is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell, a ranking at the highest level of professional excellence by his peers. He has also been recognized in Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Litigation), Texas Super Lawyers® (Business Litigation), and Best Lawyers in Houston. He is a Life Fellow the Houston and Texas Bar Foundations.
Selected Experience
- $10 million arbitration award confirmed to judgment on behalf of Sand Revolution LLC, a sand frac logistics company, in claims of fraud and breach of contract and fiduciary duties against shareholders self dealing to acquire the business.
- Arbitration award valued in excess of $60 million arising out of eight industrial lease agreements involving acetylene manufacturing facilities located in Texas and six other states.
- $10 million verdict on behalf of lenders (including mezzanine lenders) in claims against real estate developers.
- $20 million award on behalf of U.S. energy concessionaire in London-based ICC and ICSID arbitrations against the Federal Government of Nigeria.
- Secured take nothing judgment for clients in a multimillion-dollar fair housing discrimination and conspiracy case in U.S. District Court.
- Secured take nothing judgment on behalf of oil field service company and its employees in the defense of multimillion-dollar non-competition and trade secret lawsuit brought by an industry competitor.
- Represented steel company in ICC arbitration and California Superior Court, in the prosecution of claims against scrap supplier fraud, theft, conspiracy, and breach of contract. $1.4 million judgment.
- In the defense of breach of contract, fraud, and fiduciary duties claims concerning an oil and gas concession with the government of Cameroon seeking $10 million, secured take nothing award against Claimant and an award of $296,000 in reimbursement of costs and fees for clients.
- $10 million settlement on behalf of general contractor in competing multimillion-dollar claims between client and owner concerning construction of a chemical plant.
- Represented shareholders of homebuilder in the defense of oppression and breach of fiduciary duty claims in Alabama Circuit Court and on appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court. Resulted in favorable settlement.
- $11 million settlement of claims brought in ICC arbitration alleging breach of contract and fraud involving a West African oil and gas concession agreement.
- Represented shareholder/founder of oil and gas company in the defense of oppression and breach of fiduciary duty claims in Colorado U.S. District Court resulting in favorable settlement.
- Represented founder of a technology company in claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, and contract against venture capital investors and attorneys resulting in $10 million settlement during trial.
- Successful representation of judgment creditor in garnishment action against the Central Bank of Nigeria.
- Represented clients in breach of tag-a-long agreement ancillary to sale of securities broker dealer business. $6.7 million arbitration award.
- Represented industrial gas company in the prosecution of claims against seller and others for fraud and breach of contract arising from client’s acquisition of competitor resulting in multimillion-dollar settlement.
- Represented software developer in copyright litigation resulting in favorable settlement.
- Represented clients in legal malpractice claim concerning the purchase of a business resulting in multimillion-dollar settlement.
- Represented various employers, executives, and professionals in employment and trade secret disputes including, non-solicitation and non-compete agreements.
- Represented manufactured and modular home builder in numerous construction-related litigation and arbitration matters.
- Represented real estate brokers throughout the state of Texas relating to claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation, statutory fraud, fraud, violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act, tortious interference, and negligence.
- Represented Fortune 100 company in multiple landlord-tenant disputes.
- Represented franchisees in matters concerning breach of franchise agreements.
- Represented a foreign energy company in a claim adverse to an Argentina municipality concerning the breach of a development contract, garnishment, and stipulated penalties.
- Represented importer and distributor of mechanical pump OEM and replacement parts alleging conspiracy, conversion, theft, and tortious interference against a group of Chinese and U.S. nationals who copied the products to compete unfairly.
- Represented telecommunication company in a breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder oppression, and corporate governance action brought by lender and minority shareholders.
- Represented manufacturer of offshore drilling rig in construction defect case.
- Extensive experience representing operators and non-operators in resolving joint operating agreement disputes.
- Represented multiple oil and gas mineral owners throughout Texas for underpayment of royalties.
- Represented claimants and respondents in securities-related arbitrations administered by FINRA (formerly NASDAQ).
Thought Leadership
- "Anatomy of International Arbitration," Thompson & Knight Annual Energy Industry Symposium.
- "Anatomy of International Arbitration."
- "Texas High Court Broadens CGL Coverage of Construction Defects," Houston Business Journal.
- "Responding and Objection to Discovery Under the Texas Rules."
- "Business travelers find money talks, but in different languages," Houston Business Journal.
- "Electronic Discovery - Changes to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure," Document Retention and Destruction in Texas.
- "Issues Relating to the Purchase of Acreage," Fort Worth Business Journal.
- Minority Corporate Counsel Association.
- "Real Estate Agent and Broker Liability in Texas," Houston Association of Realtors.
- "Defense of Sexual Misconduct Allegations in Civil Lawsuits," Texas Association of Defense Counsel.
- "Sex, Lies and Video Torts," Ninth Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, State Bar of Texas.
- Professional Liability Newsletter (Non-Medical), Texas Association of Defense Counsel.