C. Robert Mace

Partner

Phone: 832-849-1815

Fax: 832-849-1799

bmace@copelandrice.com

For over 40 years, I have successfully represented clients in civil litigation in State and Federal Courts and have handled many cases to jury verdict.  I am Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

I started my legal career at Fulbright & Jaworski (now Norton Rose Fulbright), where I spent almost 20 years as an associate and then partner handling large dockets for public and private corporations, a great many of which were in the energy sector.  I had the great privilege of being mentored by some of the great trial attorneys in the State of Texas including Jim Sales and Royce Till, among others.   I learned how to try lawsuits with partners as well as handling my own docket early on in my career.  In 2001, I left Fulbright to join my good friend Ken Tekell at Tekell, Book Matthews & Limmer, a litigation boutique, where I continued  to handle complex commercial and personal injury litigation. In 2023, I joined Copeland & Rice and their outstanding team to support and expand my ability to represent clients.  My docket includes cases that I handle with the assistance of younger lawyers as well as much larger cases where I manage teams of attorneys from multiple firms. The goal is the same in both situations: to ensure that my clients have the best representation possible.

I am a hands-on lawyer. There is no substitute for sitting down for face-to-face meetings with key witnesses, and for building a deep understanding of the facts. If my client is involved in an accident, there is no better way to get to the truth of what happened than to investigate the scene and talk to the people involved. Sitting behind a desk is my least favorite part of the job.

Working directly with clients, getting to know them, and listening to what the client is trying to achieve are critical components for a successful result. Relationships built on honesty and integrity are key to my ability to navigate the often complex and unique problems confronting my clients.  I understand the cost of litigation, as it concerns both the client’s emotional wellbeing and their business. With these things in mind, I work hard to find solutions that will meet their needs.

Areas of Concentration

  • Catastrophic Incident Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability Litigation
  • Products Liability Litigation
  • Environmental Litigation & Toxic Tort
  • Mass Torts
  • Arbitration

Affiliations

  • College of the State Bar of Texas
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow

Representative Matters

  • Represented major oil and gas company in a trial following a catastrophic explosion and fire at a refinery in Southeast Texas, resulting in favorable settlements of hundreds of personal injury claims.
  • Achieved favorable results for major electrical supply company in product liability trial.
  • Negotiated favorable settlement of product liability case on behalf of major oil and gas company.
  • Favorably resolved insurance agent malpractice lawsuit.
  • Favorably resolved property tax malpractice lawsuit.
  • Has served as national counsel for international energy corporation in matters related to toxic tort litigation for more than five years.
  • Has successfully represented a range of national corporations in matters relating to premises liability, products liability, and trucking fatalities.