HANNAH D. SIBISKI
Associate
Hannah Sibiski practices business litigation and appellate law. Hannah graduated from Rice University in 1994 and then worked in management and consulting positions for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch and Lawson Software. She then attended law school at Harvard, graduating in 2003 and returning to Texas to practice. Hannah practiced at Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. for seven years before moving her practice to WattBeckworth.
Hannah is not certified by the Texas Board of Specialization.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- 2003 - J.D., magna cum laude, Harvard Law School
- 1994 - B.A. (English Major), magna cum laude, Rice University
While attending Harvard Law School, Hannah was on the board of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review and was an active participant and board member of Harvard Defenders, an organization that provides free legal representation to residents accused of minor criminal offenses. Hannah also served as a student attorney for the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild.
Hannah was admitted to practice in Texas in 2003. She is admitted to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Southern District of Texas, and all Texas state courts.
PROFESSIONAL HONORS
- Hannah was selected as a 2009 and 2011 Texas Rising Star (recognized by Thomson Reuters, published in Texas Monthly).
- Hannah is a Continuing Member of the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, which recognizes attorneys who provide more than 75 hours of pro bono legal services each year.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Hannah’s practice has included substantial experience in a variety of business litigation and appeals. Below are some representative matters:
Business Litigation
Unfair Competition Litigation
- Served as a key member of the successful, multi-firm defense team that obtained a jury verdict in favor of a major hospital system against one set of plaintiffs’ state antitrust and tortious interference claims while favorably settling the other plaintiff’s similar claims.
Unfair Competition Appeals
- Authored the successful brief before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upholding summary judgment on Title VII and federal antitrust claims pursuant to the protections offered peer reviewing doctors under the Health Care Quality Improvement Act. Also authored the successful motion for summary judgment to the U.S. federal district court in that case.
- Wrote and argued two related appeals to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals in Corpus Christi, successfully upholding summary judgment in the clients’ favor against defamation, tortious interference, conspiracy, and state antitrust claims. Also authored the successful motions for summary judgment in the trial courts.
Contracts Litigation
- Second-chaired the successful defense to settlement of a contract dispute case concerning insurance adjustment services provided in the wake of catastrophic hurricanes.
Contracts Appeals
- Authored successful briefs to the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals in Houston in cases involving a family trust dispute and a contract dispute.
Class Actions
Insurance Litigation
- Successfully opposed class certification in U.S. federal district courts in cases involving insurance adjustment and insurance policy claims.
Class Actions
Insurance Appeals
- Served as one of the key defense group authors of a successful brief before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a case concerning whether an insurance-related claim was properly removed to federal court pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act.
Arbitration Appeals
- Authored a successful appellate brief before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in defense of an international arbitration decision in the client’s favor.
Other Business Litigation Appeals
- Authored a successful brief to the Third Court of Appeals in Austin in a property tax exemption case.
Tort Litigation
- First-chaired the successful defense to settlement of several premises liability cases.
- First-chaired the successful defense to settlement of a variety of personal injury cases.
- First- and second-chaired the successful defense to settlement of tort claims raised in business disputes.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Chair, Houston Bar Association Appellate Section Pro Bono Committee
- Treasurer, Houston Bar Association Appellate Section
- Board Member, The Houston Lawyer, a publication of the Houston Bar Association
- Member, State Bar of Texas Appellate Section
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Houston Bar Association
- Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation
- Member, Texas Appleseed Visionary Society
INTERESTS
Hannah has been an active volunteer ever since she served as a Child Advocate for Houston CASA during college. Hannah’s current volunteer legal work includes serving as the intake coordinator for pro bono appeals in the two Houston appellate courts and as a pro bono attorney representing an immigrant woman in her claim for asylum from gender-based violence. Hannah also volunteers with her son’s Cub Scout Pack, Sunday school, and third-grade class. Hannah and her son have many adventures in Texas and around the world, camping, hiking, and wildlife watching. When close to home, Hannah enjoys running, biking, reading and battling her dog for control of the leash.
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
- Lifetime Member, The Friends of Child Advocates
- Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church
- Roberts Elementary School
- Boy Scouts of America
Hannah D. Sibiski
hsibiski@wattbeckworth.com
D: +1 713.333.9140
1800 Pennzoil Place
South Tower
711 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002
T: +1 713.650.8100
F: +1 713.650.8141
Practice Areas
Business Litigation
Contracts
Trade Secrets
Class Actions
Indemnity
Tort Litigation
Catastrophic Accidents
Products Liability
Legal Malpractice
Insurance-Collusion and Fraud
Oil & Gas
Contracts
Environmental