Mark

Deaton

Shareholder
700 Milam Street, Suite 800
Houston, TX 77002

Overview

Mark routinely represents clients in complex litigation involving commercial disputes and product liability in both state and federal courts. His litigation experience covers a broad group of industries, including oil and gas, transportation, construction, manufacturing, premises liability and brick-and-mortar retail.

Mark counsels owners, contractors and other stakeholders in contract disputes and construction defect matters. Recent matters include the AstroWorld concert disaster, commercial landlord-tenant litigation, electrical and mechanical issues in state university dormitories and welding issues in agricultural products handling facilities. Mark also has extensive experience representing a wide range of upstream and midstream oil and gas entities in commercial, title and personal injury disputes, including Winter Storm Uri natural gas contractual disputes and natural gas facility construction and contamination disputes, from both defense and plaintiff sides. For his entire career, Mark has represented both heavy-equipment and commercial appliance manufacturers on a variety of product design, manufacturing, warning defect and negligence-related claims.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mark spent more than 15 years in commercial aviation managing airline crews and designing and delivering onboard security and safety curricula. He is committed to achieving practical business solutions with integrity while maintaining open and authentic communication with clients and colleagues. Mark recognizes corporate clients face many pressures in litigation, be they economic, governance, or public perception, and he strives to provide thoughtful, creative counsel that exceeds the client’s expectations in order to build lasting relationships.

Mark currently serves as a member of Munsch Hardt's Diversity Committee and is formerly the co-chair of the Firm’s Summer Associate Program. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Houston’s Council on Recovery and is an inaugural member of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.

Education

Admissions

Achievements

  • Thomson Reuters – Texas Rising Stars (2018-2020)
  • Memberships

    • American Bar Association
    • Houston Bar Association
    • State Bar of Texas

Overview

Mark routinely represents clients in complex litigation involving commercial disputes and product liability in both state and federal courts. His litigation experience covers a broad group of industries, including oil and gas, transportation, construction, manufacturing, premises liability and brick-and-mortar retail.

Mark counsels owners, contractors and other stakeholders in contract disputes and construction defect matters. Recent matters include the AstroWorld concert disaster, commercial landlord-tenant litigation, electrical and mechanical issues in state university dormitories and welding issues in agricultural products handling facilities. Mark also has extensive experience representing a wide range of upstream and midstream oil and gas entities in commercial, title and personal injury disputes, including Winter Storm Uri natural gas contractual disputes and natural gas facility construction and contamination disputes, from both defense and plaintiff sides. For his entire career, Mark has represented both heavy-equipment and commercial appliance manufacturers on a variety of product design, manufacturing, warning defect and negligence-related claims.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mark spent more than 15 years in commercial aviation managing airline crews and designing and delivering onboard security and safety curricula. He is committed to achieving practical business solutions with integrity while maintaining open and authentic communication with clients and colleagues. Mark recognizes corporate clients face many pressures in litigation, be they economic, governance, or public perception, and he strives to provide thoughtful, creative counsel that exceeds the client’s expectations in order to build lasting relationships.

Mark currently serves as a member of Munsch Hardt's Diversity Committee and is formerly the co-chair of the Firm’s Summer Associate Program. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Houston’s Council on Recovery and is an inaugural member of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.

Experience

  • Negligence + Premises Liability Defense

    Successfully defended concert-services provider in AstroWorld concert disaster, deposing dozens of codefendant entities and drafting summary judgment motion that

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  • Energy Litigation

    Successfully defended claims of breach of contract, negligence and negligent misrepresentation resulting from failed natural gas transaction due to Winter Storm Uri. The dispute implicated the Natrual Gas

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  • Construction Litigation

    Successfully defended an interstate pipeline company in a construction defect dispute arising from the expansion of a Houston Ship Channel 100+ oil tank farm. 

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