Eric P. Haas
Partner
Eric Haas brings over a decade of business litigation experience to Gardner Haas PLLC.
Mr. Haas’s practice is focused on advising and representing entrepreneurs and companies in business disputes and related matters. Prior to founding Gardner Haas PLLC, Mr. Haas practiced for nearly a decade at a national business litigation boutique, representing Fortune 500 companies, private investment funds, and high-net worth individuals in a variety of high-stakes cases.
Mr. Haas has litigated cases in state and federal courts around the country that have involved claims for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, trademark infringement, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, professional negligence, oil and gas interests, accounting issues, corporate governance, and compliance with securities laws. He has also prosecuted claims and defended clients in arbitration.
With years of experience working on high-dollar, high risk cases, Mr. Haas understands not only how to analyze unique risks and opportunities, but also how to develop and execute a strategic plan to achieve the best possible results for his clients.
Representative Clients and Cases
- Represented hotel management company in defending against claims for tortious interference with contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Represented private equity fund managers and private equity funds in defending against fraud claims asserted by minority owner of portfolio company. Obtained judgment dismissing all claims against clients and secured award of over $1 million in attorneys’ fees from plaintiffs; dismissal affirmed on appeal.
- Defended closely-held business and its owners against claims for theft of trade secrets. Obtained judgment dismissing all claims against clients and secured award of over $100,000 in attorneys’ fees from plaintiff; dismissal affirmed on appeal.
- Prosecuted claims against investment fund managers for breach of fiduciary duty, diversion of investment proceeds, and accounting.
- Represented private equity fund in prosecuting claims against its insurance company for breach of contract and bad faith.
- Represented minority business owner in pursuing claims against co-owner for breach of joint venture agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and theft of corporate opportunities.
- Represented working interest owner in pursuing claims for oil and gas interests and royalties under preferential rights provision in joint operating agreement.
- Represented minority owner in television network in prosecuting claims for breach of fiduciary duty against board of directors and officers arising out of a reverse “squeeze-out” merger.
- Represented venture capital fund in prosecuting fraud claims against portfolio company.
- Represented hotel owner in prosecuting claims against hotel management company for breach of contract and fraud relating to undisclosed and/or unauthorized marketing expenses.
- Represented resort owner in breach of contract dispute against licensor involving licensed-property rights for the themed resort.
- Represented real estate investment fund company in commercial property lease disputes.
- Represented Fortune 500 company in defending against complex, multi-party environmental claims seeking in excess of $1 billion in damages.
- Represented private company in prosecuting antitrust, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty claims against Fortune 500 insurance companies.
- Represented hotel management company in defending against breach of contract and construction delay claims by hotel owner.
- Represented insurance agency and agent in defending against claims for theft of trade secrets, unfair competition, and breach of fiduciary duty.
- Represented reverse logistics company in pursuing claims for breach of non-circumvention and non-solicitation agreement.
- Defended hotel management company against claims for breach of contract, fraud, and negligent representation relating to a cancelled Super Bowl event.
- Represented revenue cycle management company in pursuing claims against health care providers for wrongful termination and breach of contract.
- Represented holding company in pursuing claims against private equity firm and its managers for breach of fiduciary duty arising from the pilfering and replacement of high-quality assets with overvalued, illiquid, and sometimes valueless or fraudulent assets.
Publications
Back to the Future? The Use of Biometrics, Its Impact on Airport Security, and How This Technology Should Be Governed, Journal of Air Law & Commerce, (69 J. Air L. & Comm. 459)
Upon Closer Review: How Hotel Management Agreements Are Interpreted – And Enforced, Hotel Business Review, Coauthor
Honors
Texas Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2008, 2010-2019)
Texas Super Lawyers “Up-and-Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars 2019”
D Magazine Best Lawyers, Business Litigation (2021)
Education
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D., cum laude (2005)
Baylor University, B.B.A., cum laude (2002)
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Texas
- Northern District of Texas
- Eastern District of Texas
- Southern District of Texas
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims