- Construction
- Real Estate Litigation
Overview
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, real estate transactions, foreclosures, lease disputes, mechanic’s liens, fiduciary duty violations, DTPA and/or 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 as a longtime coach in the Houston area.
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.
Areas of Practice
Bar & Court Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Representative Experience
- Secured more than $20 million in judgments and/or settlements to clients in 2025
- Represented a general contractor in a complex construction dispute related to the construction of $100 million power plant facility and obtained seven figure payment for client
- Represented commercial multi-family property owner facing two multi-million loan foreclosures and secured two contested temporary restraining orders and secured favorable outcome for client
- Represented general contractor in federal court facing seven figure breach of contract claim and obtained dismissal of entire case and seven figure payment to client based on counter-claim and summary judgment positioning
- Represented national insurance company defendant facing $1 million complex reinsurance dispute and obtained complete dismissal of claim via summary judgment
- 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 $30 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 contractor in litigation involving $20 million construction project and obtained favorable outcome for client
- Represented client in foreclosure and recovery of real property and equipment collateral valued at over $10 million including representation during litigation
- Represented general contractor against large municipality regarding complex construction case with over $10 million of liquidated damages in dispute and obtained favorable outcome for client
- Represented property owner in multi-million dollar construction dispute facing delay claims totaling $500k against general contractor and facilitated resolution and the completion of construction without litigation
- Represented property purchaser in breach of real estate transaction case and obtained six figure settlement
- Represented defendant commercial real estate lender in complex multi-million foreclosure under a subordination agreement facing temporary injunction by junior lender; obtained complete dismissal of injunction, lawsuit, and recovery of all debt and attorneys’ fees
- Represented general contractor in complex MUD District litigation and secured full amount owed under the contract despite claims for delay and construction defects
- Represented general contractor in change order dispute with large municipality and obtained favorable change order payment prior to litigation
- Represented title officer in complex fraud case concerning over $20 million in real estate transactions and obtained favorable outcome for client
- Represented individual in case against moving company and obtained favorable outcome for individual pre-litigation
- Represented engineering firm in breach of contract case in permian basin and obtained judgment against contractor for full amount of the contract plus attorneys’ fees
- Represented commercial automobile dealer against large municipality regarding taxes owed and obtained favorable outcome including case dismissal and 80% reduction in alleged taxes owed
- 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
- Defended contract and surety in complex multi-party action to enforce a construction lien brought by subcontractor regarding $2 million metal fabrication subcontract and obtained complete dismissal of lawsuit and release of lien
- Represented lender in federal court regarding $1 million guaranty and obtained favorable outcome for client
- Represented construction subcontractor against general contractor and obtained judgment for full contract amount plus attorneys’ fees
- Represented local business in property tax dispute with municipality and obtained favorable outcome for client
- Represented tenant in breach of lease and deceptive trade practices claims and obtained favorable outcome for tenant
- Represented property owner against national mortgage company and property investor and obtained a temporary restraining order and reversed foreclosure sale resulting in $300,000 in equity re-secured
- Represented general contractor in change order dispute with large municipality and secured six figure settlement prior to litigation
- Defended general contractor in change order dispute and obtained favorable outcome for client within weeks of lawsuit commencement based on counter-claim positioning
- Represented HVAC subcontractor in mediation and obtained six figure settlement against general contractor.
- Represented property owner in complex partition suit over three different properties in two different causes of action and obtained favorable outcome for client including sole ownership of the properties at issue
- Represented property owner in lease dispute and obtained favorable outcome for client pre-litigation
- Represented commercial landlord defendant in complex writ of re-entry, landlord’s lien, and lockout case and obtained dismissal of all claims and favorable outcome for client
- Represented automobile purchaser in fraud related case and obtained favorable outcome for client in litigation
- Represented defendant property owner against general contractor and obtained favorable outcome for client
- Represented commercial landowner and obtained temporary restraining order against adjacent property owner related to trespass, nuisance, and water code violations
- Successfully argued and set aside a $150k judgment against a general contractor in a subcontract dispute
- Successfully filed and secured a victory in a 202 Petition concerning pre-suit discovery related to a multi-million dollar estate
- 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
- Represented general contractor against large municipality in relation to multi-million-dollar construction project and obtained $350k settlement for additional work initially denied for payment
- Obtained summary judgment for a small business client who was defrauded in a real estate transaction resulting in $300k damages plus attorneys’ fees
- Represented defendant company in $250k negligence claim against employer and resolved the case 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
- Represented commercial lender in complex temporary injunction matter and effectively dismissed the injunction via presentation of counter-claims and defenses
- 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 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
Education
- University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas
- J.D. (Cum Laude) – 2021
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- M.P.A. – 2021
- Rice University, Houston, Texas
- B.S. – 2016
- Varsity Baseball
- Conference USA Academic Honor Roll
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Section
- Houston Bar Association, Construction Law Section
Speeches and Publications
- "Lis Pendens: What It Is, How It’s Used, and How to Remove It," AM Monthly Law Alert, July 2026
- “Defend Against Expedited Trial Settings: Know Your 45-Day Notice Rights,” AM Monthly Law Alert, October 2025
- “Under Texas Business and Commerce Code Section 27.01,” AM Monthly Law Alert, May 2025
Contact John G.
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Contact
We represent a diverse clientele in the Houston area, and Austin greater metropolitan areas, coastal Texas and statewide.
Please note, as a corporate-based law firm, we do not represent individuals seeking to sue their employer for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, or unpaid overtime. We also do not represent homeowners in contractor disputes.
Contact us using this form or call 713.489.8799 for an appointment.
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John G. Williamson
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