Travis Denton Steele Cox

Associate

Phone: 832.849.1812

Fax: 832.849.1799

tcox@copelandrice.com

My practice and experience cover a wide spectrum of subject matters and issues, including the types of disputes that are most often experienced by energy companies, such as commercial disputes, upstream and midstream oil and gas matters, and toxic tort and environmental claims. I feel fortunate to have handled many matters as a first-chair lawyer and have worked on other larger matters in a supportive capacity. My role is to contribute in whatever way makes the most sense and adds value to the team effort. Our first priority is to understand the client’s goals and desired endpoint for each case or issue. My overarching goals are to be responsive and creative in responding to our clients’ problems, requests, and objectives.

My experience also includes successfully handling cases involving breaches of contract and fiduciary duty, product liability, personal injury and wrongful death, and fraud. I have experience representing both multinational and closely-held corporate clients in the energy, transportation, construction, real estate, and healthcare industries in contract negotiations and business disputes, and advising them on legislative changes and regulatory compliance issues. In addition to defending my clients’ rights and enforcing obligations in court, I am formally trained as a civil mediator. This helps me guide clients through alternative dispute resolution before trial when litigation presents business obstacles or would not be cost-effective.

I graduated from the University of Texas with a degree from the Plan II Honors program and hold certificates in Business Foundations and Core Texts & Ideas. After college, I received a Dean’s Scholarship to attend the SMU Dedman School of Law. I served as article editor of the International Law Review Association, which published the second-most widely circulated legal journal at the time: The International Lawyer. I interned with a highly respected federal judge in the Southern District of Texas before I went on to train at private practices and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, where I worked on complex cases involving fraud, kickback schemes, and personal injury defense.

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my family at the ranch and on the coast, and rooting for the Texas Longhorns, Houston Astros, and Dallas Cowboys.

Affiliations

  • Houston Bar Association & Houston Young Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Institute for Energy Law
    • The Energy Dispatch Editorial Board
    • Young Energy Professionals Committee
  • Texas Bar College
  • TPWD Stewards of the Wild, Houston Chapter
  • Coastal Conservation Association, Central Houston Chapter

Representative Matters

  • Obtained final judgment dismissing all claims against multinational energy company after drafting and arguing all related filings
  • First-chair trial experience defending multinational elevator company against customer in a construction contract dispute; obtained favorable judgment after making opening and closing arguments, cross-examining the plaintiff, and presenting witnesses
  • Arbitration experience in multimillion-dollar, multi-party complex commercial case involving alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud, and usurpation of corporate opportunity in the ecommerce and transportation industry
  • Defended energy, trucking, elevator, construction, and real estate companies in multimillion-dollar, multi-party wrongful death, gross negligence, product and premises liability, motor vehicle accident, and property fire cases from investigation to resolution

Some experience listed is prior to working at Copeland & Rice LLP.