DLA Piper announced today that Mark Waite has joined the firm’s Litigation practice as a partner in Houston.
Waite has focused on complex commercial litigation in the energy industry for more than 20 years, with extensive experience in the area of petrochemicals. He comes to DLA Piper from LyondellBasell, a leading chemical company, where he served as head of global litigation and oversaw high-value disputes, advised C-level executives and led the company’s legal health, safety and environmental functions.
“Mark’s extensive experience in, and deep knowledge of, the energy sector, and in particular the chemical industry, will be tremendously valuable to clients,” said John Gilluly, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Texas offices. “Our clients can take confidence from Mark’s record of success and his proficiency in the courtroom and the boardroom that their interests are being well protected and represented.”
Waite has managed chemical construction projects and related labor, injury and product liability claims, including manufacturing defects and utilities incidents. He previously served as regional counsel for a global architectural and design firm before heading global litigation for LyondellBasell. Prior to his in-house practice, Mark served as a private practice litigation and trial attorney handling complex commercial litigation in various industries. In that role he obtained substantial first chair litigation and trial experience, and in 2004 became Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a certification he still holds today.
“Mark brings an ability to help executives navigate high-stakes disputes and an impressive trial record that demonstrates the firm’s commitment to further strengthening our litigation capabilities here in Texas and internationally,” said Jack Langlois, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Houston office and US co-chair of the firm’s Energy sector. “His deep understanding of the energy industry strengthens our already vast connections to the global chemical and petrochemical sectors.”
Waite is one of several additions to DLA Piper’s Texas offices, following Jason Whiteley (Houston), Amy Rudd (Austin), Deanna Reitman (Houston), Gislar Donnenberg (Houston), Carey Gunn Venditti (Austin), Caryn Smith (Austin), as well as its Litigation practice. In Litigation this year, the firm has welcomed partners Ilana Eisenstein (Philadelphia), Christopher Oprison (Miami), David Sager (New Jersey), John Rah (Washington, DC), Raphael Larson (Washington, DC), Thiru Vignarajah (Baltimore), and Louis Ramos (Washington, DC).
Source: www.dlapiper.com
