Corporate Governance and Fiduciary Duty Lawsuits

Chris is at the forefront of corporate governance disputes, including shareholder litigation, entity control disputes, and challenges to M&A and other strategic transactions.  He has successfully litigated plaintiff and defense-side derivative and class actions, takeover battles, books and records demands, founder disputes, and disputes between stockholders.

Chris has experience representing officers and directors not only in the Business Court of Texas, but also in other common jurisdictions for business disputes, including Nevada and Delaware. Chris has particular experience in Delaware, having appeared and argued in the Delaware Chancery Court in several cases in recent years.  For example, Chris recently served as lead trial counsel in a multibillion-dollar governance battle involving data-center developers, leading the litigation in the Business Court of Texas and simultaneously defending companion proceedings in the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Chris has successfully handled a multitude of corporate governance disputes, including:

• Breach of Fiduciary Duty
• Shareholder and Investor Claims, including derivative lawsuits
• Claims on behalf of directors and controlling shareholders
• Majority/Minority shareholder disputes
• Founder disputes
• Disputes arising out of limited liability company, limited partnership, and investor agreements
• Disputes related to changes in control
• Prosecuting and defending books and records demands
• M&A related litigation
• Representing special committees of outside directors
• Bankruptcy Adversary Proceedings

Recent corporate governance and fiduciary representation includes:

• Thorburn vs. Pro Line Products, Business Court of Texas (2025)
• Quantum Loophole v. TPG RE III Volt Holdings, Business Court of Texas (2024)
• TPG RE III Volt Holdings, v. Quantum Loophole, Delaware Chancery Court (2024)
• Lenois v. Camac Energy et al, Delaware Chancery Court (2021)
• Classic Truck Sales v. Morrow, Dallas County, Texas (2021)
• E Squared Tech v. Garg, Dallas County, Texas (2020)
• Live Oak Rail Road v. Howard Midstream Energy Partners, Bexar County, Texas (2018)
• Balfe v. Glenn Beck; Mercury Radio Arts v. Balfe, Dallas County, Texas (2017)

Financial Institution Representation

Chris’ deep understanding of the matters important to financial institutions has made him the go-to counselor for many of Jackson Walker’s financial services clients. Chris represents a diverse range of financial institutions, including several national banks (3 of the top 10 largest banks in the United States), trust companies, community banks, and credit unions.

Chris has helped financial institutions resolve a variety of legal claims and disputes, including:

• Contract Disputes
• Lender Liability Suits
• Claims Involving Agented Loans
• Trust and Estate Fiduciary Claims

Corporate Investigations

Chris is the leader of the firm’s Special Investigations practice. He has been a lead special independent investigator multiple times on corporate and accounting issues, with particular focus on examining corporate director and officer fiduciary duties. Chris has worked closely with chief legal officers, corporate boards and committees to scope and complete the investigations. Chris has produced voluminous detailed reports or summary presentations of findings, as required by the circumstances.

• The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025
• Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2018-2024
• Named to “Up-and-Coming 100: 2022 Texas Rising Stars” list, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022-2024
• “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” D Magazine, 2019-2020
• “Best Lawyers Under 40,” D Magazine, 2021

A thought leader on corporate governance and fiduciary duties, Chris frequently writes and speaks on developments in fiduciary duty jurisprudence.  He is the publisher of TexasBusinessCourts.com, authoring regular analysis of the Business Court of Texas.

• Author, “Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Fiduciary Duties Between Business Partners,” Jackson Walker Insights (April 2025)
• Author, “Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Limits on Business Fiduciary Duties,” Jackson Walker Insights (February 2025)
• Author, “Texas Supreme Court Reaffirms Personal Liability for Corporate Officers and Directors in Fraud Cases,” Jackson Walker Insights (July 2024)
• Co-Author, “Texas Legislature Creates the Business Court of Texas and Companion Court of Appeals,” Jackson Walker Insights (June 2023)

• North Texas Food Bank, Advisory Council Member, 2018-2025
  • Taste! At The Star, Host Committee Member
• Cedars Union Arts Incubator, Board of Directors, 2020-2024

More Client Results

July 14, 2025
Insights

Texas Business Court Denies Severance in Multi-LLC Dispute—Signals Broad View of Jurisdiction

By Chris Bankler

In a recent decision out of the Texas Business Court’s Eleventh Division—Kassam v. Dosani, Cause No. 24-BC11A-0021—the court refused to let defendants fracture a complex business dispute into smaller pieces. A strong reaffirmation that the Texas Business Court has jurisdiction over multi-entity, high-stakes internal business disputes and will resist procedural tactics aimed at evading that jurisdiction.

July 2, 2025
Insights

Texas Business Courts Poised for Growth: New Texas Legislation Means More Corporate Cases Will Be Resolved in Specialized Texas Business Courts

By Chris Bankler

The Texas Legislature has refined the structure and jurisdiction of the Texas Business Court through amendments signed by Governor Abbott on June 21, 2025. The changes aim to broaden the court’s authority, streamline complex proceedings, and ensure judges have ample tools to handle high-stakes commercial disputes.

July 1, 2025
Insights

Texas Business Court Asserts Jurisdiction in $95 Million Texas Lottery Dispute

By Chris Bankler

A recent decision from the Texas Business Court, Reed v. Rook TX, LP, centers on a dramatic claim: Jerry Reed, who “won a $7.5 million Lotto Texas jackpot in May 2023,” alleges that “his winnings would have been $95 million greater if Rook and other defendants had not illegally manipulated the system to enable Rook to claim the $95 million jackpot in April 2023.”

June 9, 2025
Insights

Texas Business Court Upholds Exculpation Clause—Limits Fiduciary Duty Exposure

By Chris Bankler

In its May 22, 2025, memorandum opinion, the Business Court of Texas dismissed all claims against Christopher Doyle (PEC’s CEO) and certain Blackstone-affiliated entities. The Court held that § 13.9 of the Third Amended Partnership Agreement (“TAPA”) unambiguously barred liability claims for these parties.

May 21, 2025
Insights

Business Court of Texas Rebuffs Member’s Duty Claim, Reaffirms Freedom of Contract in LLC Agreement

By Chris Bankler

A recent decision from the Business Court of Texas, Eighth Division (Fort Worth), underscores that an LLC’s company agreement can effectively eliminate fiduciary duties between its members and managers.

May 19, 2025
Insights

Business Court of Texas Clarifies “Qualified Transaction” Jurisdiction

By Chris Bankler

A recent Texas Business Court decision clarified that a “qualified transaction” under Chapter 25A is measured based on the aggregate value of consideration at the time of the transaction, including anticipated interest on demand notes if alleged in good faith. The court also held that the amount in controversy includes both principal and interest due at the time of filing, not just principal alone.

April 10, 2025
Insights

Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Fiduciary Duties Between Business Partners

By Chris Bankler

The Texas Supreme Court has provided clarity on the fiduciary duties between business partners, particularly in the context of limited partnerships. The case, Bertucci v. Watkins, involved a dispute between two business partners, Anthony R. Bertucci and Eugene L. Watkins, who were engaged in developing low-income housing projects through various entities they co-owned.

April 4, 2025
Insights

Texas Business Court Upholds Fiduciary Duty Waivers and Clarifies Limits on Partnership Agreement Provisions

By Chris Bankler

Only six months into a complicated partnership dispute, the Business Court of Texas, 1st Division, issued a thorough summary judgment opinion and order in the case of Primexx Energy Opportunity Fund, LP v. Primexx Energy Corporation, et al.

February 27, 2025
Insights

Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Limits on Business Fiduciary Duties

By Chris Bankler

On February 21, 2025, the Supreme Court of Texas delivered a significant ruling in the case of Pitts v. Rivas, addressing the issue of fiduciary duties within professional relationships. The Court concluded that no fiduciary duty existed between the parties involved, emphasizing the absence of such duties in the accountant-client context under the specific facts of the case.

January 9, 2025
Insights

The Business Court of Texas Issues Key Opinions on Jurisdiction

By Chris Bankler

The Business Court of Texas, established on September 1, 2024, has issued its first round of major opinions. These rulings, authored by judges across its divisions, largely address jurisdictional questions stemming from the Business Court’s enabling legislation.

More Attorney News

Recent Officer, Director, and Shareholder Lawsuits

• Barricade Therapeutics v. Perabo, Dallas County, Texas (2018)
• Live Oak Rail Road v. Howard Midstream Energy Partners, Bexar County, Texas (2018)
• Lenois v. Camac Energy et al, Delaware Chancery Court (2017)
• Balfe v. Glenn Beck; Mercury Radio Arts v. Balfe, Dallas County, Texas (2017)
• Vianet Group v. Tap Acquisition, Northern District of Texas (2016)

Recent Energy Representation

• Erin Energy Corporation v. Public Investment Corporation Ltd, New York (2018)
• WFW Family LP v. Dinero Energy Corporation (2018)
• Trinity Royalty Partners v. Bold Energy et al, Midland County, Texas (2017)
• FLST, Ltd et al v. Explorer Pipeline Company, Eastern District of Texas (2017)

Recent Breach of Contract Claims

• Stannard et al v. National Indoor RV Centers, LLC, Eastern District of Texas (2018)
• Triple Helix Healthcare v. Texas State Clinical, Dallas County, Texas (2018)
• Diversified Pure Chem v. Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Northern District of Texas (2015)