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MATTHEW B. HENNEMAN
Partner

Matt Henneman has been with WattBeckworth since its inception–joining the firm from a large New York-based firm, and becoming a partner in 2003. Mr. Henneman began his legal career as a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, trying dozens of jury trials and negotiating thousands of plea agreements in just a few short years. Since moving to the civil side of the docket, he has handled a wide range of litigation, including fiduciary litigation, non-competition and trade secret disputes, injunctive actions, product liability suits, first amendment claims, employment matters, whistleblower suits and securities arbitrations.

Over the past several years, Mr. Henneman has been tabbed to serve as regional and national litigation counsel for several large securities firms and has represented his clients in courts and before arbitration panels in over 30 states. His litigation and arbitration practice focuses on complex securities and business disputes of all types, and he is regularly called upon to both prosecute and defend claims of unfair competition and business "raiding" throughout the United States. Additionally, Mr. Henneman has been a much sought-after counselor by members of the banking and securities industry for issues related to business transition, regulatory compliance and customer disputes. In this area, Mr. Henneman works hard to help firms and individuals avoid litigation when possible and to provide the best possible defense for them when necessary.

Mr. Henneman is also an experienced employment law practitioner, providing practical, no-nonsense representation to both companies and individuals on wrongful termination, discrimination and other employment disputes.

Mr. Henneman is admitted to practice in the following courts:

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Texas State Courts

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Northwestern University, B.A. English Literature, 1990
  • The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1994
    • Fulbright and Jaworski Midlaw Award Recipient
    • Board of Advocates

Mr. Henneman grew up in a town of 600 people in rural Illinois, graduating as valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar. He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he played basketball and was a poetry editor for Helicon - Journal of the Humanities. Following graduation from Northwestern, Mr. Henneman moved to London, England, where he worked for a year in the publishing industry before returning to study law at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas. While there, Mr. Henneman was a member of the American Journal of Criminal Law and was selected to represent the University in four intercollegiate mock trial competitions, finishing as a finalist in the National Mock Trial Competition in 1994. He has resided in Houston since 1994 where he has been actively involved in the service and arts community. He enjoys hiking, biking, playing basketball, coaching soccer, reading and most of all, spending time with his wife and daughter.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Represented the Global Head of Energy Trading for a major investment bank in the transition of himself and eight senior investment bankers to a competing investment bank, and in the subsequent arbitration arising from the transition
  • Represented a major securities firm in litigation arising from the unlawful raid of their Puerto Rico offices by a competitor immediately prior to a contemplated sale to a third party
  • Representation of over 300 individual bankers and financial advisors in their respective transitions to new firms, responses to regulatory inquiries, U4 issues, FINRA investigations, and arbitrations before FINRA, AAA, NYSE, the CFP Board, and other supervisory entities
  • Representation of Receiver in significant energy industry receivership involving liquidation of oil and gas operator and subsequent distribution of various interests
  • National and Regional counsel for three major national securities firms
  • Texas counsel for several major national and regional banks
  • Represented CEO of major regional bank in resignation from a major national bank and transition to new bank
  • Representation of numerous individual investors in claims against major securities and investment firms in auction rate and suitability related claims
  • Defended major engine manufacturer in multi-million dollar litigation involving claims that its components allegedly caused damage to various marine vessels in which they were installed
  • Representation of regional newspaper group in defense of defamation and copyright claims made by former advertising customer of group
  • Representation of national direct marketing firm in Lanham Act litigation in multiple Texas federal district courts
  • Representation of major energy executive in negotiation of terms of his resignation from one major energy company and terms of employment with another similarly situated company
  • Representation of large Houston environmental business owner in litigation with the City of Houston and the TCEQ regarding alleged violations of state and local environmental codes
  • Representation of international chemical company in litigation arising from alleged dumping of hazardous waste materials in retention ponds in South Texas, allegedly caused significant health problems in workers in and around their facility
  • Representation of group of investors in litigation involving an SEC imposed receivership of local business radio network and associated financial advisory firm
  • Represented national advisory firm in major litigation involving claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition and breach of contract claims in both federal district court and FINRA arbitration
  • Represented Health Care Group in negotiation of separation from Practice Group, avoidance of non-compete litigation and subsequent employment with major medical facility in Houston
  • Represented major securities firm in nationwide litigation against several firms for "raiding" and unfair competition following announcement of prospective merger with another firm
  • Defense of products liability claims involving damage to several frac trucks allegedly caused by a major component fire
  • Defended whistle-blowers in Stanford Financial litigation in claims that ultimately caused the SEC to initiate the investigation of Stanford Financial, leading to its seizure by the Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Representation of individual in litigation against a "life settlement" company for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty
  • Representation of a Receiver in claw-back litigation related to alleged Ponzi scheme perpetrated by former investment advisory firm
  • Representation of American citizen and business executive of Saudi-Arabian descent in discrimination claim after he was illegally removed from an airplane, handcuffed and placed in custody by Houston Police based on mistaken identity on purported "no-fly" list
  • Represented female executive in sexual harassment and assault claims against a nationally known financial advisory firm
  • Representation of numerous doctors in litigation arising from a reduction in force by a major Texas medical institution
  • Represented newspaper reported in asserting a reporter's privilege in Texas state court after being subpoenaed by District Attorney to turn over her privileged notes during a criminal trial
  • Represented regional oil and gas exploration company in litigation over breach of operating agreement and repayment of damage to offshore equipment
  • Represented up and coming solar technology company in litigation in breach of contract action involving multiple distributors of its product
  • Retained as counsel to advise major Latin American securities firm in efforts to establish a U.S. brokerage presence.

SPEECHES & ARTICLES

  • Public Interest v. Private Justice, American Journal of Criminal Law, 1994
  • The Avian Flu - Legal Issues Presented by the Potential Pandemic, The Executive Legal Advisor, 2006
  • Arbitration - Drafting, Enforcement and Breaches, Texas Advanced Civil Litigation Conference, 2007
  • Panelist - Raiding Claims in the Securities Industry, Conference on Broker Recruiting, 2008

PROFESSIONAL HONORS

  • Texas Rising Star, 2004-2005 (recognized by Thomson Reuters, published in Texas Monthly)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

  • Texas Bar Association
    • Litigation Section
  • Houston Bar Association
    • Securities and Arbitration Section
    • Labor and Employment Section
  • Houston Bar Foundation, Fellow

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND INTERESTS

  • Inprint, Inc. - President (2010-2012)
  • The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts - Director
  • Jenga Jumaiya, Building Community Through School Building - Director
  • Alley Theatre's First Act Young Professional's Association - Founding Chairperson
  • Alley Theatre - Advisory Board (2001-2009)
  • Houston Grand Opera Ovation Award - Recipient 2007
  • Boulevard Oaks Civic Association - Board Member
  • Texas Children's Hospital - Ambassador

Matthew B. Henneman
mhenneman@wattbeckworth.com
D: +1 713.333.9105

1800 Pennzoil Place
South Tower
711 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002
T: +1 713.650.8100
F: +1 713.650.8141

Practice Areas
Employment
Securities Litigation
Arbitration
Financial Service Litigation
Complex Business Litigation
Media Litigation
Products Liability
Trade Secret Litigation