Biography
Brian H. Oates is a trial lawyer capable of assisting clients with any legal issue they face. Over the last few years alone, Brian has served as lead trial attorney in multiple weeks’ long jury trials in federal and state courts around the country involving tens of millions of dollars. As a fifth generation Texan, Brian feels just at home in small town courtrooms in East and West Texas as he does in federal courts in the nation’s largest cities. He has also argued before various appellate courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas. Brian routinely represents clients in trademark, oil and gas, and real estate disputes. His goal is to efficiently and strategically navigate clients through each phase of litigation and is not afraid to take the matter to the jury.
Brian’s trademark practice involves assisting clients with trademark registration, protection, licensing, cease and desist, and infringement matters, including representing clients in adversary proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Brian has represented clients in trademark infringement lawsuits in every federal district court in Texas.
Brian’s oil and gas practice involves representing oil and gas companies, working interest owners, royalty interest owners, and landowners in a variety of contexts. He has handled cases involving disputes over joint operating agreements, overriding royalty interests, and lease termination. For example, Brian secured for his non-operator client a multi-million settlement stemming from an operator’s breach of a joint operating agreement and a million dollar settlement for an operator client stemming from an oilfield services company’s negligence during a workover. Brian has also been engaged by some of the largest landowners in West and South Texas to provide legal guidance.
Brian’s real estate practice includes representing a variety of property owners, including hotel and resort owners and real estate development companies, in breach of purchase and sale agreements, title, and operational issues. That experience also includes construction related issues, and Brian has handled numerous disputes with general contractors, subcontractors, and other lienholders.
In addition to advising clients that are pursuing and defending their rights in court, Brian has significant experience assisting entrepreneurs and businesses in all facets, from entity selection to day-to-day guidance on legal and operational issues. Brian has negotiated dozens of agreements for his clients, including purchase and sale agreements, licensing agreements, distribution agreements, commercial contracts, and facility use agreements.
Brian also utilizes his prior experience as a professional baseball player to assist athletes in all sports, including representing top 10 round picks in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, advising National Basketball Association Lottery Picks, and providing guidance to those preparing for the National Football League’s Scouting Combine.
Brian earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree at Texas Tech University School of Law, where he graduated second in his class and received a number of honors, including induction into the Order of the Coif.
Before law school, Brian played professional baseball in the Seattle Mariners’ organization. These days, he carries out his love of sports through coaching his kids’ teams. Brian is married to a North Carolina Tar Heel and they stay busy chasing their three young children.
Career Highlights:
- Led trial team in five-week jury trial in Texas state court over eight-figure damages claim stemming from a franchise dispute that resulted in a take nothing judgment for the plaintiff.
- Led trial team in two-week jury trial in federal court regarding breach of contract claims with millions of dollars in damages.
- Argued multi-million dollar appeal in New Orleans, Louisiana before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- Secured multi-million dollar settlement in trademark infringement lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas.
- Prevailed in trademark infringement lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas resulting in corporate defendant changing its infringing name.
- Obtained judgment in client’s favor in dispute over breach of purchase and sale agreement for multiple hotel properties.
- Part of trial team resulting in million dollar judgment for client in fraud case related to oil and gas investments.
- Won multi-million dollar judgment in breach of contract case and affirmed on appeal.
- Secured dismissal from lawsuit for Florida company sued in Texas based on lack of jurisdiction and affirmed on appeal.
Education
B.A., Trinity University
J.D., summa cum laude, Texas Tech University School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
United States District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.), 2021-2024
- Commercial Litigation, 2021-2024
- Intellectual Property Law, 2021-2024
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022-2023

August 17, 2023
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

March 23, 2023
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 2023 Texas Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 63 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2023 “Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list, which recognizes only 5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less.




August 18, 2022
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.


March 22, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 2022 Texas Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 51 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2022 “Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list, which recognizes only 2.5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less.


February 11, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Announces Largest Class of Newly Elected Partners to Date
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the election of 14 attorneys to the Firm’s partnership on Friday, February 11, 2022. In addition to electing 14 new partners, the Firm also congratulates Bart Cicuto, Noah Speck, and Austin Thomas on their promotion from associates to senior counsel.




August 19, 2021
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.


August 20, 2020
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 164 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2021 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 25 “Ones to Watch”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 164 attorneys who were selected by their peers as Best Lawyers, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 25 Ones to Watch, across 6 offices and 66 specialty practice areas.


April 17, 2020
InsightsCOVID-19 and Cameras in the Courtroom: Could the Pandemic and Emerging Technologies Usher in a New Era of Judicial Transparency?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused courts to drastically shift their rules regarding cameras and other recording devices in the courtroom.


January 8, 2019
NewslettersJW Media | VIA ePostcard – January 2019
The Newsworthy Newsperson; Paul Watler Featured on NBC 5’s Lone Star Politics; Beware: Breaking NCAA Rules Could Result In A Visit From the FBI (and Worse); Matt Acosta on Fortnite Dance Lawsuits; Winners & Losers: “1968 in Hindsight.”
January 3, 2019
InsightsBeware: Breaking NCAA Rules Could Result In A Visit From the FBI (and Worse)
Bob Latham, Nate St. Clair, and Brian Oates were featured in Sports Litigation Alert for their article regarding the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys’ Office’s actions to protect amateurism in college sports.