Skip to content
Jackson Walker
  • People

        • View All People
  • Experience
        • Bankruptcy, Restructuring, & Recovery
        • Business Immigration & Compliance
        • Corporate & Securities
        • Cybersecurity, Data Protection, & Privacy
        • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
        • Energy
        • Environment & Natural Resources
        • Finance & Banking
        • Government Relations & Public Policy
        • Healthcare & Life Sciences
        • Intellectual Property
        • International
        • Investigations & White Collar Defense
        • Labor & Employment
        • Land Use
        • Public Finance
        • Real Estate
        • Tax
        • Trial & Appellate Litigation
        • Trusts & Estates
  • News
        • All News
        • Fast Takes Podcasts
        • Future-Ready Business Podcast
        • Insights
        • Subscribe to JW News & Insights
  • Offices
        • Austin
        • Dallas
        • Fort Worth
        • Houston
        • San Angelo
        • San Antonio
  • Meet JW
    • How We Work
      • Globalaw
      • Project Management
      • Value Management
    • What We Value
      • Community
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Jackson Walker Women
      • Pro Bono
    • Who We Are
      • Meet JW Videos
      • Fast Takes Podcasts
      • Recognition
      • JW Alumni
  • JW Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Search



Contact | Careers
Jackson Walker
Brian H. Oates

Brian H. Oates

Partner, Dallas
214.953.5935
boates@jw.com
Email LinkedIn vCard Print
Recognition & Accolades Attorney News

Practice Areas

  • Trial & Appellate Litigation

Experience

  • Arbitration
  • Business Litigation
  • Entertainment Litigation
  • Entertainment, Digital, & Sports
  • Sports

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

Recognition & Accolades Attorney News
  • 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
USA flags

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 News

Jackson 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.

2022 Texas Rising Stars list

March 22, 2022

Attorney News

Jackson 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.

2022 New Partners

February 11, 2022

Attorney News

Jackson 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.

Best Lawyers in America 2021 Edition - Jackson Walker

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.

Screenshot of broadcast of oral arguments before the Texas Supreme Court

April 17, 2020

Insights

COVID-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.

JW Media Group VIA eNewsletter

January 8, 2019

Newsletters

JW 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

Insights

Beware: 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.

More Attorney News

Recognition & Accolades

  • 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

Practice Areas

  • Trial & Appellate Litigation

Experience

  • Arbitration
  • Business Litigation
  • Entertainment Litigation
  • Entertainment, Digital, & Sports
  • Sports
© 2023 Jackson Walker LLP
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies & Tracking Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Attorney Advertising
  • SCAC
  • JW Login
LinkedIn Facebook Instagram
  • Who We Are
  • What We Value
  • How We Work
Subscribe to JW News & Insights
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. View Cookie Policy Allow Cookies
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT