Robert L. Soza

Representative International Trade and National Security Practice Matters

• Representation of a manufacturer of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which business has become increasingly regulated as a result of export controls the Biden administration placed semiconductor-related equipment and integrated circuits in October 2022. Robert Soza counsels on establishing policies and procedures for complying with these new restrictions. Robert also counsels them on U.S. Customs issues.
• Represented both buyers and sellers in obtaining clearance of foreign investment transactions with CFIUS. The transactions involved the following industries: quantum computing, semiconductors, water systems, and large data sets containing personal identification information of millions of U.S. citizens.
• Handling an appeal of a temporary denial order issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement. That order suspended the export privileges of three U.S.-based companies and involved allegations of unauthorized exports to China of technical drawings and blueprints used to manufacture items allegedly controlled under the regulations of the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
• Represented a Panamanian company in an International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration in Mexico City, Mexico. The dispute involved a complicated commodity transaction involving Brazil, Panama, and the United States.
• Represented numerous U.S. companies investigating their Mexican subsidies and Mexican business partners for issues relating to allegations of embezzlement, fraud, violations of environmental laws, and violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
• From 2002 to 2003, Robert led a team that liquidated a Mexican subsidiary of a U.S. company. This project included:
  • Terminating hundreds of employees;
  • Supervising environmental remediation at two production chemical plants and obtaining certificates of completion for the remediation;
  • Selling all assets, including two chemical plants;
  • Supervising the collection of accounts receivable and selling trademarks and trade names of products; and
  • Winding down the tax presence of the subsidiary.

Representative Litigation and Appellate Matters

• Supreme Court of Texas — Helena Chem. Co. v. Cox, 664 S.W. 3d 66 (Tex. 2023). Robert was lead trial attorney at the District Court where he obtained summary judgment, argued the case to the Court of Appeals of Texas, Eleventh District, Eastland and ultimately argued before the Texas Supreme Court. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of Helena Chemical Company in a lawsuit alleging that an aerial application of herbicide damaged cotton fields in Mitchell County, Texas. The court of appeals’ judgment was affirmed in part and reversed in part, and a take-nothing judgment on all claims was rendered. This case is the most recent case from the Texas Supreme Court discussing the complex issues related to the level of causation proof plaintiffs need to present to avoid a summary judgement.
• Cause No. CV-2008-3038; Helena Chemical Company v. Arturo Uribe, Pamela Uribe, Linda Thomas, Individually and as Representative of Thomas & Wan, L.L.P., and Thomas & Wan, L.L.P. (In the Third Judicial District Court, Doña Ana County, New Mexico). Represented an agricultural fertilizer distributor in an action against Arturo Uribe for defamation stemming from allegations that the company’s products were causing birth defects, respiratory problems, and other illnesses. Obtained favorable jury verdict, including an award of punitive damages against the defendant.
• Thirteenth Court of Appeals District of Texas, Corpus Christi – – In re Helena Chemical Company, 286 S.W.3d 492 (Tex. App.- Corpus Christi 2009, orig. proceeding). Obtained mandamus relief where trial court denied a motion to strike intervention filed by additional defendants alleging personal injuries stemming from exposure to pesticides and pesticide wastes.
• Eighth Court of Appeals District of Texas, El Paso – – Jud Walton v. Arcadis Geraghty & Miller, Inc., et. al., 24 S.W. 3d. 853 (Tex. Civ. App.—El Paso 2000, no pet). Successfully defended the trial court’s granting of Motion for Summary Judgment in a property contamination case.
• Fourth Court of Appeals District of Texas, San Antonio – – Potter v. Kaufman & Broad Home Systems of Texas, Inc., 2004 WL 892109 (Tex.App. – San Antonio, May 12, 2004). Successfully defended the trial court’s granting of Motion for Summary Judgment.
• U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals – – Bremer-Gutierrez v. 3Com Corp.; 89 Fed. Appx. 459, 2004 WL 439871 (5th Cir. (Tex.), March 10, 2004). Mr. Soza was lead trial counsel on an international dispute in the Laredo Division of the Southern District of Texas where he obtained summary judgment through the application of Mexican law. He later successfully defended this judgment on appeal to the Fifth Circuit of Appeals after oral argument in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Geraghty & Miller, Inc. v. Conoco Inc.; 27 F. Supp. 2d 918 (S.D. Tex. 1998). Mr. Soza obtained a summary judgment after opening arguments in a case involving environmental damage to groundwater located under the City of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The case involved CERCLA and state law environmental claims.
• Clear Lake Properties v. Pace, Inc., et. al.; 959 F. Supp. 763 (S.D. Tex. 1997). Mr. Soza obtained a partial summary judgment in Plaintiff’s CERCLA claims which led to a settlement.
• Abel Siller and Enriquetta Siller, et al. v. LPP Mortgage, Ltd.; Cause No. 02-04-00020-CVL (In the 218th Judicial District Court, La Salle, County, Texas). Lead attorney defending LPP Mortgage Ltd. in a jury trial related to a 520-acre tract of property located in Cotulla, Texas. The plaintiffs sued LPP Mortgage for wrongful foreclosure. The matter became significant because the property is located in the Eagle Ford Shale development area of South Texas and had dramatically increased in value. On February of 2011, the jury found for LPP Mortgage with respect to claims made by two brothers and their wives, and against LPP with respect to the third brother and his wife. Despite the jury’s negative finding as to one brother, LPP believed the jury had ignored conclusive evidence presented at trial. The court agreed, and on June 14, 2011, granted LPP Mortgage’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and entered a final judgment that overturned the jury’s verdict as to the one brother and his wife. This judgment was upheld on appeal.

Corporate Compliance Policy Formation and Training Conducted

An expert in corporate compliance and Anti-Corruption issues, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, and the Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, has conducted extensive policy development and training for chemical, oil and gas, engineering, retail, financial services and computer companies with operations all over the world. Further details regarding training sessions Mr. Soza has conducted for clients and organizations are available upon request.

• The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2021-2024
  • Commercial Litigation, 2021-2024
  • Litigation – Environmental, 2023-2024
• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Litigation: General Commercial – San Antonio & Surrounds, 2020-2023
• President’s Award, San Antonio Bar Association, 2019
• Fellow, San Antonio Bar Foundation, 2019
• “Best S.A. Lawyers” List, San Antonio Scene, 2017-2023
  • International
  • Business Litigation
  • Environmental Litigation
• Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2013, 2021-2023
  • International Law
  • Litigation
• Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2023-2024
• “Leading Law Firm Rainmaker,” Minority Corporate Counsel Association, 2010

Representative Speaking Engagements

• “Protecting Our Foreign Clients in the Wake of SB 147 – A Panel Discussion,” Jackson Walker Internal CLE, May 24, 2023
• “National Security Controls on Investments and the Sale of Goods and Services: Sanctions, CFIUS, and Infrastructure Protection Measures,” Globalaw Americas Regional Meeting, March 29, 2022.
• “Recent Changes to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.’ Jurisdiction and Its Impact on Direct Foreign Investment in the U.S.,” San Antonio Bar Association International Section, May 7, 2020.
• “Defending Claims of Off-Target Drift Pesticides,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, September 20, 2019.
• “CFIUS’ Expanded Jurisdiction and its Impact on Foreign Investment in the United States,” Globalaw, America’s Meeting, Los Angeles, California, June 26, 2019.
• “Recent Changes to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’ Jurisdiction and their Impact on Direct Investment in the United States,” Dallas Bar Association, International Section, January 15, 2019.
• “The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: When Your Client Has Offices Abroad,” The Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Inc., Santa Fe, New Mexico, April 25-29, 2012.
• “Export Control Compliance, and Counseling,” International Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association, February 19, 2008.
• “U.S. Customs Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights,” Cross-Border Business Transactions: Intellectual Property and Related Issues, American Bar Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, October 18-19, 2007.
• “Mexico’s Newest Environmental Law: New Requirements and Liabilities,” Air and Waste Management Conference on Mexican and U.S. Environmental Law, October 12-13, 2005.
• “What’s the Worst That Could Happen: Litigation Look at Partnership Boilerplate,” 2005 Partnerships, Limited Partnerships and LLCs, University of Texas School of Law Continuing Legal Education, Austin, Texas, July 21-22, 2005.
• “Class Action Litigation and Environmental Law,” The Environmental Law Update for Corporate Counsel, NorthStar Conferences, L.L.C., January 23-24, 2003.
• “Collecting Your Money From Mexican Entities,” Lorman Education Services, Phoenix, AZ, February 15, 2002.
• “Life After NAFTA,” The 24th Annual Conference, Hispanic National Bar Association, Dallas, Texas, October 21-23, 1999.
• “Distributing Goods in the U.S. Market,” The Fifth Annual Conference, The Texas-Mexico Bar Association, Mexico City, Mexico, October 22-24, 1998.
• “1997 Update on Federal and State Superfund Law,” The Ninth Annual Texas Environmental Superconference, July 31, 1997. (Speaker and author.)
• “Implementation of International Health Standards For A Multinational Company,” Sematech International Occupational Health Symposium, San Antonio, Texas, May 1996.
• “An Introduction to Mexican Environmental Law,” Texas Environmental Workshop, Corpus Christi, Texas, April 18, 1996.
• “El Tratado de Libre Commercio y Su Impacto Juridico,” National Federation of Attorney Bars and Associations, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, June 25, 1993.

Representative Publications

• “Texas and Federal Government Seek to Protect U.S. Infrastructure From Disruption by Foreign Adversaries,” Jackson Walker Insights (January 2022)
• CFIUS Series, Jackson Walker Insights (February 2020)
  • “New Rules Expand CFIUS Jurisdiction Over Foreign Investment in U.S. Businesses and Real Estate“
  • “CFIUS Begins Review Process for Real Estate Transactions by a Foreign Investor“
  • “Exceptions to Coverage for “Excluded” Foreign Investors and States and Investment Funds From the Expanded CFIUS Jurisdiction“
• “Establish an Effective Export-Compliance Program,” Texas Lawyer, In-House Texas (March 2011)
• “Mexico’s Federal Waste Regulations An Overview,” EM Magazine, a publication of the Air and Waste Management Association (January 2007)
• “Mexico’s Newest Environmental Law Raises Uncertainty for Property Owners,” EM Magazine, a publication of the Air and Waste Management Association (September 2005)
• “Conflict in Laws Presents Snag for Firms Hiring Foreign Nationals,” San Antonio Business Journal (May 2003)
• “Hiring of Foreign Nationals; The Conflict Between U.S. Anti-Discrimination Laws and Export Control Laws,” J&G Global Village, Volume 3, Issue 1 (2002)
• “Collection Litigation in Mexico and Mexico’s New Bankruptcy Law,” Latin American Law and Business Report, Volume 10, Number 7, July 31, 2002; Mexican Forecast, Volume XI, Number 5, May 2002; North American Free Trade & Investment Report, Volume 12, Number 11 (June 15, 2002)
• “Environmental Aspects of the North American Free Trade Agreement and Free Trade with Mexico,” Mexican American Association of Los Angeles County Newsletter (February 1993)
• “The North American Free Trade Agreement: Environmental Issues Raised by Free Trade With Mexico,” California Environmental Reporter, Volume 2, Number 12 (February 1993)
• “Defusing a Silent Time Bomb: Proposed Regulations for Contaminated Sediment,” Shepard’s California Environmental Law and Regulation Reporter (August 1992)
• “Conflict of Interest,” Beverly Hills Bar Association Law Journal (Winter 1990)

• President of the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Legal Services Association, dedicated to providing pro-bono legal services to the Bexar County Community and surrounding areas.
• Member of the Board of Directors, ABODE Contemplative Care for the Dying, dedicated to providing a caring, loving home for those facing the last months of their lives alone.
• Nominating Chair (2022-23) of the Texas Bar Foundation for District 10