Michael S. Goldberg is a senior trial partner at Baker Botts, with extensive trial experience in complex commercial and international arbitration matters. He is co-chair of the firm's international dispute resolution section (international arbitration and litigation).
During more than twenty-nine years of practice, Mr. Goldberg has served as lead counsel in litigation matters as diverse as antitrust, banking, bankruptcy, commercial, construction, corporate acquisitions, defamation, discrimination, energy, ERISA, intellectual property, partnership, premises liability, products liability, qui tam and real estate.
Mr. Goldberg also serves as lead counsel and negotiator in a wide array of transactional matters. He has maintained a reputation of always striving for the best "big picture" result for his clients-whether negotiating with corporations, joint venturers, or governmental entities, acting as chief spokesperson with the media, or dealing with corporate crisis matters.
Mr. Goldberg's experience in both litigation and transactional work extends to a broad array of international matters involving clients, adversaries, and/or issues in Armenia, Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and Yemen.
Mr. Goldberg also has an extensive roster of entertainment and sports clients. He served as general counsel for professional sports teams such as the NBA's Houston Rockets.
Mr. Goldberg has served as a council member of the Council of Legal Opportunities (CLEO), an organization that works with minority and low-income students to help them prepare for and attend law school.
Mr. Goldberg is the immediate past Chair of the Holocaust Museum Houston.
Representative Engagements
Litigation
- International Arbitration - lead counsel in arbitrations under the AAA, ICC, LCIA, SCC and ZCC
- Russian Federation and key officials - lead counsel on several litigation matters brought against the Russian Federation and various Ministers
- Gazpromneft - lead counsel on a multibillion-dollar bankruptcy filing by Yukos Oil Company
- Ford Motor Company - national counsel for 20 years, handling a wide variety of high-stakes litigation matters for the company
- Kia Motors Corporation - lead counsel in an international (ICC) arbitration award of more than $200 million for Kia Motors Corp. in a dispute over a joint venture in Brazil
- Hines Interests Limited Partnership - lead counsel for 20 years on a wide variety of real estate matters
- Construtora Norberto Odebrecht (Brazil) - lead U.S. counsel on various commercial disputes
Governmental Relations
- Negotiations with mayors, city councils, and governors regarding financial subsidies for business relocations
- Negotiations with Justice Department officials regarding criminal investigations
- Negotiations with Chinese government officials regarding the release of international star Yao Ming to play in the NBA
- Negotiations with the Houston mayor and city council for a $300 million arena complex
- Former co-head of firm's Political Action Committees
International Transactional Matters
- Construtora Norberto Odebrecht and Techint International Construction Corp. - consortium bid with Enron and IPL for a BOT bid in excess of $1 billion for expansion of the TransEcuadorian Pipeline
- Mitsubishi Corporation - long-term styrene supply contract secured by a mortgage on the styrene plant
- Mitsubishi Corporation - asset purchase of a local U.S. engineering company
- Local U.S. company - advice regarding contractual issues with a manufacturer in India
- Construtora Norberto Odebrecht - consortium construction bid with Bechtel to Shell for the $3 billion development of the "Camisea" gas fields
Education and Honors
J.D. (with honors), The University of Texas School of Law, 1982
B.A. (magna cum laude), political science and legal studies, Rice University, 1979
Phi Beta Kappa