A Commercial Litigator With a Client’s Perspective
Michelle Brockway has spent half her legal career as a commercial litigator and half as in-house counsel. These two perspectives—firm lawyer and general counsel—have shaped her legal practice.
Before she joined NWT, Michelle served as general counsel for a commercial construction company. As that company’s sole in-house counsel, she saw how her prior experience as a BigLaw litigator provided invaluable perspective into, for example, assessing contractual risk and handling disputes with customers, vendors, and employees. Now as an NWT litigator, Michelle finds that her in-house experience reinforces her commitment to understanding clients’ priorities and providing services aligned with those priorities—and to keeping clients abreast of developments in their cases and responding quickly to client inquiries.
- Obtained summary judgment in $20+ million lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas on behalf of defendant manufacturer of air compressors in breach of contract and breach of warranty lawsuit.
- Resolved a dispute between owners of a medical group and client surgery center and its principals in multimillion-dollar lawsuit involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, healthcare regulatory violations, and anti-competitive conduct and retaliation.
- Obtained summary judgment in Texas state court and secured an award of attorneys’ fees on behalf of two company owners whom the third owner sued for $20 million for breach of fiduciary duty.
- Brought successful counterclaims on behalf of a medical practice against a former physician member who sued them for claims related to his compensation and liability under the parties’ agreements.
- Represented a plaintiff medical group in a securities fraud case against defendants who engaged in fraudulent practices in the sale of interests in healthcare entities.
- Drafted and reviewed company contracts, including prime contracts and subcontracts.
- Advised company on customer and vendor disputes and prepared correspondence in connection with same.
- Managed outside counsel handling company litigation and arbitrations, compiled the company’s written discovery responses, and coordinated depositions and hearings.
- Formed new entities and prepared associated company agreements.
- Provided legal advice regarding employee matters.
- Worked with management to formalize company policies.
- Analyzed lien and bond claims.
Michelle is licensed by the State Bar of Texas.
Michelle brings a varied employment background to her legal practice, most of it centered around writing. She taught high school English, composition at the University of Houston and Houston Community College, and even creative writing to third graders. Between teaching and law school, she spent several years in marketing and communications, both as a freelance writer and as an employee of two Houston-area nonprofits.
Michelle enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, gardening, traveling, and live music.