Robert M. Schick, a commercial trial attorney with more than 35 years of experience representing clients across a broad spectrum of industries, has rejoined Vinson & Elkins as a partner in the firm’s Houston office. From 2014 to 2017, Schick was a partner in Houston-based litigation boutique Schick & Copeland.
Schick, who began his career at V&E, focuses his practice on a wide range of business disputes, including energy, class action, environmental, complex toxic tort, products liability and pharmaceutical litigation at both the trial and appellate levels.
“Bob is a great friend who I’ve personally known since 1981, when we both started at V&E,” said V&E Chairman Mark Kelly. “He is a nationally recognized trial lawyer whose contributions will enhance the firm’s litigation practice and reinforce the exceptional service we provide to our clients. We couldn’t be more pleased that Bob has returned to the firm.”
Schick joined V&E out of law school and was made partner in 1989. As a partner, Schick served a 12-year term on V&E’s Management Committee and was a co-leader of the firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation department.
“I’ve had the good fortune to collaborate with my friends and colleagues at V&E on several matters over the past three years and increasingly felt the call to return to the place I called home for more than three decades,” said Schick. “This move also enables me to better leverage V&E’s global resources to the benefit of my clients.”
Over the course of his career, Schick has played a leading role in more than 50 jury trials and arbitrations and has taken more than 30 cases to verdict. His litigation experience includes serving as regional counsel for a global chemical company in a historic air pollution lawsuit involving more than 6,000 plaintiffs, representing a major international mining company in toxic tort cases involving CERCLA contribution claims and property damage claims asserted as a class action, and defending a major agrichemical company against eight lawsuits filed in three Texas state and federal courts alleging a toxic release spanning 40 years.
In the energy sector, Schick has represented companies in toxic exposure cases, including those related to hydraulic fracturing; contract disputes; down-hole equipment failure claims; partnership disputes; offshore personal injury and wrongful death suits; and, royalty disputes and landowner litigation.
Schick also has significant products liability experience, having served as primary trial lawyer for a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in suits arising from the use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and serving as lead national defense counsel for a building component manufacturer in eight statewide and two nationwide class actions.
“Bob is highly regarded among clients and colleagues alike for his willingness and ability to take on, try, or otherwise successfully resolve high-stakes complex business disputes,” said V&E Global Litigation Head Jim Thompson. “Just as importantly, Bob is a friend to many at V&E and we are thrilled to welcome him back to the firm.”
Schick is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in civil trial law and personal injury trial law. He earned his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1981.
With more than 250 trial and regulatory lawyers located in offices across the globe, V&E’s Litigation Department has experience litigating major disputes covering multiple jurisdictions and devising innovative methods to resolve those disputes. The team’s seasoned attorneys have substantial experience in jury and bench trials in the federal and state courts when litigation is necessary, as well as before administrative agencies and in arbitration.
Source: www.velaw.com
