mgray@foglerbrar.com

713-481-1010 (Main)

713-325-8243 (Direct)

Michelle Gray

Michelle Gray realizes that litigation is about the client.  Her approach to each and every case is to identify the client’s goals and fiercely advocate to accomplish those in the most efficient manner possible for the client.   To do that, Michelle focuses on strategic case management, clear and concise written work, and straight-to-the-point oral advocacy.

Raised in Waller, Texas, Michelle can connect with almost anyone.  She is also a charismatic advocate that can distill even the most complicated cases into their key elements.   As a result, judges, juries, and arbitrators alike find Michelle’s style both persuasive and trustworthy.

Clients praise Michelle for her responsiveness, her directness, and her relentless hard work. Michelle represents individuals and corporations, plaintiffs or defendants.

In 2021, Super Lawyers magazine named Michelle to both the Texas “Up and Coming 100” list and the Texas “Up and Coming 50 Women” list. Michelle has been named a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine for the past five years (2016 to 2021).

Representative Matters

LEGAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE

Michelle regularly defends law firms and attorneys against allegations of legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty. Recently she has:

  • Defended an Am Law 100 law firm in a case involving allegations of malpractice in connection with patent prosecution. Following a three-week jury trial, the trial court entered a take-nothing judgement in favor of our client. Michelle tried the case with Murray Fogler & Jas Brar. The Court of Appeals recently upheld the judgment and the Texas Supreme Court has denied cert.
  • Defended a prominent plaintiff’s lawyer in a two-week trial against former clients who were alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and seeking punitive damages. Despite the litany of complaints lodged by the Plaintiffs, the jury returned a complete defense verdict, finding no wrongdoing on behalf of the firm’s client. Michelle tried this case with Murray Fogler & Jas Brar as well.
  • Defended large Texas-based law firm in a case involving allegations of malpractice arising from a family dispute. As part of this case, Michelle was part of a four-week trial. The case eventually settled.
  • Defended multiple Am Law 100 law firms in cases that have settled on confidential terms after significant discovery and motion practice.

CONTRACT DISPUTES

Michelle represents both individuals and companies in breach of contract cases. These cases range from collections of unpaid amounts owed to heavily disputed and contentious battles arising from multi-million dollar contracts.

  • Negotiated a work-out and secured payment for a client after a purchaser wrongly rejected goods and refused to pay.
  • Obtained a summary dismissal for a client in federal court against breach of contract allegations.
  • Secured a favorable outcome for a California client who had been sued in Texas. After removing the case to federal court, Michelle obtained a favorable ruling: the federal court determined that Texas did not have subject-matter jurisdiction over the California resident.

DEALERSHIP LAW

Michelle is familiar with the Texas Equipment Dealership Act and has developed a unique expertise in the area.

  • Represented an industrial distributor in arbitration with its supplier.

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION

Michelle also represents clients in construction litigation.

  • Represented an engineering and environmental management company in a dispute with its primary subcontractor arising from the demolition of a power plant in Austin, Texas.
  • Along with her partner, Robert Ford, Michelle has assisted a land-owner with a Chapter 95 defense case.

PROBATE LITIGATION & WILL CONTESTS

Michelle has also handled an array of other litigation matters including the representation of a charitable beneficiary of a Will in a probate contest, where she negotiated a favorable settlement for her client and other charitable beneficiaries on the eve of trial.

LITIGATION WHEN IT MATTERS MOST

Although Michelle’s practice is typically focused on commercial litigation, she has a heart for clients and has helped both individuals and companies in an array of matters. Michelle represents individuals or companies who have been wrongly denied insurance coverage or are being denied payment for work they have performed. She has assisted clients with obtaining HOA approval for solar panel installations. And she routinely assists the community with pro-bono matters for those that need legal assistance most.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
  • J.D., summa cum laude, University of Houston Law Center
    • Valedictorian
    • University of Houston Law Review, Editor-in-Chief
    • Order of the Coif
    • Order of the Barons
  • Dual B.B.A. (Finance & Marketing), summa cum laude, Texas A&M University
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS
  • Clerk to Hon. David Hittner, U.S. District Court for Southern District of Texas
    • Lead briefing attorney on a vast array of cases with wide-ranging subject matters, including employment disputes; trademark, trade secret, and copyright infringement; and white-collar crime.
  • Intern to The Honorable Sim Lake, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • Intern to The Honorable Jennifer Elrod, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
BAR ADMISSIONS
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • Fifth Circuit
  • State Bar of Texas
MEMBERSHIPS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
  • Board Member, Child Advocates
    • Development Chair
  • Board Member, University of Houston Law Center Alumni Board
  • Board Member, Houston Law Review
  • Secretary, Association of Women Attorneys (AWA)
  • Auction Chair, Tahirih Justice Center (Houston)
  • Chair, University of Houston Law Center Young Alumni Association
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Houston Young Lawyers’ Foundation (HYLF)
  • Member, Houston Bar Association
  • Former Trustee, Houston Young Lawyers’ Foundation (2015-2017)
  • Former Chair, Houston Young Lawyers’ Foundation Adopt-an-Angel Program (2015-2016)
  • Former Board Member, Southern District of Texas Federal Bar Association
  • Former Chair, Southern District of Texas Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel (Appointed by Special Order No. H-2018-2)
  • Former Auction Chair, University of Houston Law Center Gala (2016, 2017 & 2018)
  • Former Chair, Parents’ Night Out, Cathedral House Episcopal School (2018)
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
  • 2023 Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters
  • 2022 Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters
  • 2021 Texas “Up and Coming 100,” Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers
  • 2021 Texas “Up and Coming 50 Women,” Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers
  • 2016-2021 Texas Rising Star, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers
  • 2017 Rising Star Award, University of Houston Law Alumni Association
  • 2017 Committee Chair Award, Houston Young Lawyers’ Association
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