Business Litigator - John G. Williamson
John Williamson focuses his practice on business litigation, construction litigation, and real estate litigation. He represents a variety of clients in matters related to contractual disputes, lease disputes, mechanic’s liens, fiduciary duty violations, fraud claims, and business separations.
John has extensive experience in negotiation, litigation, mediation, arbitration, and handling matters in both state and federal courts.
After graduating from Rice University, where he played Division 1 baseball, John was drafted as a relief pitcher by the Chicago Cubs. Following his baseball career, he attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina, and law school at the University of Houston, where he also worked as an advisor to coaches and athletes in Houston’s Athletics Compliance Department. Today, he remains active in the sport of baseball by coaching a 14U select baseball team.
Notably, John has distinguished himself by scoring in the top 1% of test takers on the Texas Bar Exam and passing the Major League Baseball Agent Exam. He was also a plaintiff in the landmark case Senne v. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, which resulted in a $185 million settlement for minor league players over wage violations.
- Construction
- Real Estate Litigation
- Texas
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- Represented a general contractor in a complex construction dispute related to the construction of $100 million power plant facility and obtained favorable outcome for the client.
- Represented nationally-chartered bank on appeal in a case involving the characterization of a $50 million estate and obtained a favorable outcome for the client.
- Defended commercial real property seller in complex multi-party construction defect and fraud case regarding $25 million property transaction and after extensive discovery and motion practice, obtained a favorable pre-trial settlement for client representing less than 2% of amount sought.
- Successfully argued and set aside a $23 million personal judgment against an individual guarantor in a complex healthcare facility financing dispute after being retained post-judgment.
- Represented client in the non-judicial foreclosure and recovery of real property and equipment collateral valued at over $10 million including representation during subsequent deficiency judgment litigation.
- Secured favorable jurisdictional ruling in multi-million dollar construction litigation against individual construction company officers on behalf of subcontractor preventing case dismissal and advancing client interests in pending litigation.
- Represented small business and individual facing $2 million breach of promissory note claiming and obtained favorable settlement after discovery and summary judgment positioning.
- Represented individual against condominium developer in real estate contract/fraud case and obtained $2 million settlement payment at mediation.
- Represented debtors in breach of multi-million dollar promissory note case and resolved case for 25% of the promissory note value through discovery, depositions, and summary judgment positioning.
- Successfully filed and secured a victory in a 202 Petition concerning pre-suit discovery related to a multi-million dollar estate.
- Authored a winning Motion for Summary Judgment that resulted in complete dismissal of a $1 million breach of contract claim involving a complex health reinsurance dispute in the Southern District of Texas.
- Represented client in complex breach of contract and fraud suit and obtained a settlement payment of $700k and achieving dismissal of all counter-claims.
- Represented general contractor pursuing complex delay and lien claims against commercial property owner and defended multiple counter and cross claims totaling over $1M in arbitration and obtained settlement payment of $700k to client achieving dismissal of all counter and cross claims.
- Negotiated termination of predatory purchase agreement that locked residential real property seller into below-market pricing, securing right to sell at true market value estimated around $650k.
- Obtained summary judgment for a small business client who was defrauded in a real estate transaction resulting in $300k damages plus attorneys’ fees.
- Resolved $250k negligence claim against employer for less than 8% of amount sought within two months of lawsuit filing through aggressive discovery tactics including key depositions and summary judgment positioning.
- Obtained complete dismissal of a $148k mechanic’s lien wrongfully filed against a commercial property, securing removal of the lien and recovery of all attorneys’ fees associated with removal.
- Secured a Temporary Restraining Order and Temporary Injunction against a financial lender and third-party purchaser of real property following an improper foreclosure and attempted eviction, resulting in rescission of the sale, return of the home, and reinstatement of the original loan effectively awarding the client with $140k of lost equity in their family home.
- Obtained summary judgment for $100k on behalf of a healthcare provider in a breach of contract case against a general contractor who misappropriated a construction deposit resulting in an award of the return of the deposit, consequential damages, and attorney’s fees totaling nearly double the client’s deposit.
- Obtained summary judgment for 75k for a computer manufacturing company against an equipment supplier for breach of contract and violation of the DTPA resulting in an award for the client totaling three times its actual damages plus attorney’s fees.
- Represented surety company in indemnity bond claim against subcontractor and obtained complete dismissal for client.
- Represented general contractor in a subcontractor termination dispute in state court and obtained favorable result for the client.
- Represented subcontractor in litigation and obtained payment for labor, services, and materials rendered from real property owner.
- Represented commercial property owner in a tax lawsuit against taxing authorities and secured reduction of taxes owed and dismissal of case.
- Represented multifamily property manager facing multiple lease-related claims and obtained complete dismissal of all claims.
- Represented homeowners facing breach of warranty claims regarding real property sale and obtained favorable settlement.
- Assisted in successful jury trial regarding adverse possession claims.
- Represented commercial property owner in construction case facing claims from subcontractor for alleged work not covered under contract and obtained dismissal of all claims before trial.
- Represented contractor in complex indemnity dispute with large oil company and obtained favorable outcome for client pre-litigation.
- Represented HVAC company facing fraud and deceptive trade practices allegations and settled matter for less than 20% of the amount sought.
- Represented client in connection with construction contract and obtained pre-trial agreement for client to be paid the entirety of his actual damages and attorneys’ fees.
- Successfully negotiated termination of “non-terminable” “auto-renewal” contract by preparing a comprehensive letter brief to opposing counsel applying case law on deceptive trade practices to the situation, saving the client from recurring payment penalties.
- Obtained summary judgment for commercial landlord on breach of contract and breach of guaranty resulting in an award for the client for its actual damages plus attorney’s fees.
- Obtained contested judgment on behalf of subcontractor against general contractor for unpaid construction services.
- Represented alternative financing company facing fraud claims, garnishment of numerous entities and individuals, and temporary restraining order, and obtained denial of temporary restraining order, dissolution of all pre-judgment writs of garnishment, and transfer of remaining claims to arbitration.
- Represented nationally-chartered bank at trial in fraud case and obtained favorable result for client.
- Represented commercial services vendor in arbitration against apartment complex and obtained settlement for full amount owed plus attorney’s fees.
- Represented commercial landlord in breach of contract case against tenant and obtained favorable settlement before trial.
- Represented local restaurant facing a six-figure lawsuit from a supplier and secured a favorable settlement for the client based on the presentation of client’s counter-claims.
- Negotiated and secured a favorable settlement pre-litigation, including actual damages and client’s attorney’s fees, related to engine damage sustained to client’s vehicle caused by an automobile repair shop’s negligence.
- Assisted in formation of non-profit organization specially dedicated to honoring school shooting victims and survivors.
- Represented commercial property owner facing a suit by municipality for demolition of property and imposition of fines and secured a dismissal of the suit with no assessment of fines.
- Recovered and collected judgment for turf installation company pursuing a breach of contract claim.
- Obtained, and collected on, a favorable judgment for a litigation client, arising out of a breach of contract claim.
- Obtained a favorable judgment for a litigation client, arising out of a breach of contract and suit on sworn account claim.
- Obtained summary judgment for a litigation client, arising out of a personal injury claim.
- Represented nationally-chartered bank on appeal in a case involving the characterization of a $50 million estate and obtained a favorable outcome for the client
- Successfully drafted and argued a motion to set aside a $23 million personal judgment against an individual guarantor in a healthcare facility financing dispute after being retained post-judgment
- Represented client in the non-judicial foreclosure and recovery of real property and equipment collateral valued at over $10 million including representation during subsequent deficiency judgment litigation
- Authored a winning Motion for Summary Judgment that resulted in complete dismissal of a $1 million breach of contract claim involving a complex health reinsurance dispute in the Southern District of Texas
- Obtained summary judgment for a small business client who was defrauded in a real estate transaction resulting in $200k damages plus attorneys’ fees
- Obtained dismissal of a $148k mechanic’s lien wrongfully filed against a commercial property, securing removal of the lien and recovery of all attorneys’ fees associated with removal
- Secured a Temporary Restraining Order and Temporary Injunction against a financial lender and third-party purchaser of real property following an improper foreclosure and attempted eviction, resulting in rescission of the sale and reinstatement of the original loan effectively awarding the client with $140k of lost equity in their family home
- Obtained summary judgment for $100k on behalf of a healthcare provider in a breach of contract case against a general contractor who misappropriated a construction deposit resulting in an award of the return of the deposit, consequential damages, and attorney’s fees totaling nearly double the client’s deposit
- Obtained summary judgment for $75k for a computer manufacturing company against an equipment supplier for breach of contract and violation of the DTPA resulting in an award for the client totaling three times its actual damages plus attorney’s fees
- Represented client in connection with construction contract and obtained agreement for client to be paid the entirety of his actual damages and attorneys’ fees
- Successfully negotiated termination of “non-terminable” “auto-renewal” contract by preparing a comprehensive letter brief to opposing counsel applying case law on deceptive trade practices to the situation, saving the client from recurring payment penalties
- Obtained summary judgment for commercial landlord on breach of contract and breach of guaranty resulting in an award for the client for its actual damages plus attorney’s fees
- Represented alternative financing company facing fraud claims, garnishment, and temporary restraining order, and obtained denial of temporary restraining order, dissolution of all pre-judgment writs of garnishment, and transfer of remaining claims to arbitration
- Represented nationally-chartered bank at trial in fraud case and obtained favorable result for client
- Represented commercial services vendor in arbitration against apartment complex and obtained settlement for full amount owed plus attorney’s fees
- Represented commercial landlord in breach of contract case against tenant and obtained favorable settlement before trial
- Represented local restaurant facing a six-figure lawsuit from a supplier and secured a favorable settlement for the client based on the presentation of client’s counter-claims
- Negotiated and secured a favorable settlement pre-litigation, including actual damages client’s attorney’s fees, related to engine damage sustained to client’s vehicle caused by an automobile repair shop’s negligence
- Represented commercial property owner facing a suit by municipality for demolition of property and imposition of fines and secured a dismissal of the suit with no assessment of fines
- Recovered and collected judgment for turf installation company pursuing a breach of contract claim
- Obtained, and collected on, a favorable judgment for a litigation client, arising out of a breach of contract claim
- Obtained a favorable judgment for a litigation client, arising out of a breach of contract and suit on sworn account claim
- Obtained summary judgment for a litigation client, arising out of a personal injury claim
- University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Rice University, Houston, Texas
- B.S. – 2016
- Varsity Baseball
- Conference USA Academic Honor Roll
- State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Section
- Houston Bar Association, Construction Law Section
