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Jim L. Silliman

Partner

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Languages: German

Jim represents energy, construction and offshore services clients in commercial, maritime and bankruptcy disputes, crisis response and compliance matters.

His clients include multinational oil and gas companies, exploration and production companies, offshore drilling contractors, pipeline operators, oilfield services firms, refiners, multi-commodity trading companies and generation and transmission cooperatives. Jim's litigation docket includes complex contract disputes, business tort claims, bankruptcy matters and catastrophic offshore Jones Act claims in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels and in arbitration. He also serves clients in numerous other capacities such as in emergency and crisis response efforts, internal investigations, regulatory compliance and general business advice.

Jim served as co-chairman of the Eversheds Sutherland Global Litigation Associate Board. He has extensive experience managing litigation at all stages ranging from pre-suit through settlement efforts and to trial when necessary. He is a regular in the courtroom advocating on behalf of his clients, and in deposing party and fact witnesses, corporate representatives and experts in all types of disputes. His clients know him for his professionalism, thoroughness and creativity in conflict resolution to get their best possible results.

Jim has substantial experience guiding clients through inquiries brought by state and federal agencies, often in response to jobsite incidents and complaints. He also routinely advises clients on risk mitigation and compliance efforts associated with trending bet-the-company exposures arising out of the rapidly developing patchwork of new municipal, state and federal regulations in various industries (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

Jim serves in various international relations roles to help clients find congruent global legal representation. His clients know him as an “emergency dispatcher” for timely locating the necessary assistance across the globe, ranging from managing a one-off urgent matter to developing a global legal strategy.  

Prior to practicing law, Jim served more than four years as a legislative assistant to a Texas congressman in Washington DC, where he was the lead policy advisor on labor law, defense appropriations, financial services regulation, veterans’ affairs, federal taxation and the budget. In that role, he led efforts in the drafting and advocacy of Public Law No. 110-363—the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act—signed by the President on October 8, 2008 (minting 350,000 one-dollar coins and providing $7 million to expand Scouting) and Section 704 of Public Law No. 113-66—the TBI Treatment Act—signed by the President on December 26, 2013 (authorizing a $50 million treatment reimbursement program that makes cutting-edge brain injury treatments available to soldiers and veterans).
  • Represented Texas’s largest G&T electric cooperative in multi-billion dollar federal bankruptcy trial involving market manipulation by government entities.
  • Won eight-figure arbitration award (full damages with fees) for prominent international energy company in a complex NAESB dispute.
  • Represented carbon credit owners in $300+ million trial in a dispute over 500,000+ acres of timber interests.
  • Represented traders and distribution companies in their OPA recovery of demurrage and lost profit damages incurred by chartering disruptions from ship channel and bay closures.
  • Represented product importers in cargo seizure negotiations with the US EPA and CBP.
  • Represented commodities traders in maritime contract disputes involving vessel operations, cargo quality and demurrage claims.
  • Represented E&P companies in crisis response investigations involving plant explosions, loss of well control and unintended pipeline releases.
  • Represented downhole tubing and tool services provider in subsurface loss of well control litigation.
  • Represented vessel owners in federal toxic tort class action trial involving a Houston Ship Channel collision between bulk carrier and tanker vessels.
  • Represented windfarm purchasers in federal court claims against sellers involving misrepresented production and failed maintenance.
  • Represented owner of deep-water marine terminal in federal court construction dispute over design deficiencies.
  • Represented multinational pipeline company in arbitration involving construction disputes over EPCM services on a transcontinental pipeline.
  • Represented major commercial lessee in multi-million dollar trial involving a leaseback dispute over a two-tower international headquarters.
  • Won a full award at arbitration on behalf of a Japanese petroleum trading company in a dispute regarding a biodiesel tax credit.
  • Ron Zdrojeski, Lewis Wiener & Jim Silliman, Opening Statements in 2021 and Beyond: Storytelling in a Post-Pandemic Courthouse with New Jurors, Practising Law Institute, Trial by Jury 2021 (Litigation and Adminsitrative Practice Series; Litigation; Course Handbook Series; Number H-1237) (September 2021).

  • Speaker, Financial Times Global Innovative Lawyers Summit (Collaborative Innovation Awards), MariTime Track: Efficiency in Relationships (2022) (presentation on prototype legal technology product to enhance contract negotiations).

  • Speaker, Various Client CLEs, Investigations and Crisis Response Best Practices (2016 - 2022).

  • Speaker, International Association of Drilling Contractors, A Playbook on How to Avoid (but Ultimately Respond to and Manage) High-Exposure Catastrophic Incidents in Oilfield Services (2020).

  • Moderator/Speaker, Association of Corporate Counsel, Project Due Diligence and Knowing Your Contractual Roadmap to Recovery When Disputes Arise (2018). 

  • Jim Silliman, Automated Cars Are Here While Regulators Remain En Route, Law360 (2016).

  • Named to the “Ones to Watch” list by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of energy law (2021-2022, 2024) and litigation – environmental (2024)
  • Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers® “Rising Stars” (2022-2023)
  • Annual Fundraiser Chair and Volunteer, Bayou City Blessings in a Backpack
  • Capital Campaign Member and Stewardship Chair, Holy Spirit Episcopal Church
  • Cubmaster, Pack 599, Boy Scouts of America 
  • Certified Mediator, TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 154.052(a)
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Houston Bar Association
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • B.A., with honors, Southwestern University
  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center,

    International Law Moot Court Team

Jim Silliman

Partner

Jim Silliman

Partner

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