Fred

Wahrlich

Shareholder
700 Milam Street, Suite 800
Houston, TX 77002-2806

Overview

Fred has represented individuals and businesses for more than 30 years in a wide variety of business and commercial litigation matters, including complex contract disputes, health care, business torts, energy/environmental litigation, business divorces, real estate disputes, Uniform Commercial Code violations, banking and financial service litigation, as well as multi-district litigation. Fred has served as Assistant/Acting General Counsel for an independent oil and gas company and currently serves as General Counsel to Firm clients serving health care, real estate development, logistics and transportation industries, as well as a children’s charity.

Although his business litigation practice is varied, many of Fred’s recent cases involve disputes between landowners and operators, fiduciary duty disputes, complex contract/business tort disputes, real estate, mineral interests and environmental responsibilities.

While Fred maintains an active litigation practice, he understands his clients need more than a good litigator. They need an attorney who is both capable of going to trial as well as resolving disputes efficiently and cost-effectively. Fred is dedicated to client service, and makes an effort to learn his clients’ businesses, which in turn enables him to provide better, more customized legal advice to protect critical business interests. In 2020, a result Fred achieved in trial for his client was recognized by Best of the BarTM in their "Top 100 Verdicts in Texas" list.

Fred’s wife, Janet, is also an attorney as well as a real estate developer. Their son, John David, is an Eagle Scout and graduate of Texas A&M University.

Education

Admissions

Achievements

  • Best of the BarTM – Top 100 Verdicts in Texas (2020)
  • Houston Bar Foundation – Sustaining Life Fellow
  • H Texas Magazine – Lawyers for People (2009); Top Lawyers (2009-2014)
  • Madison Who’s Who (2006-2016)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®, Peer Review RatedTM; Judicial Review RatedTM (Highest possible rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards, reflecting the conditional opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary)
  • Thomson Reuters – Texas Super Lawyers (2006-2007, 2013-2020, 2022-2024); Texas Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition (2008)
  • Memberships

    • Alliance for Children & Families (Former Director)
    • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
    • Boys & Girls Harbor (Director; Former Chairman of the Board)
    • Houston Bar Association, Litigation Section
    • Joyful Toyful Fiesta, Inc. (Chairman of the Board and President)
    • State Bar of Texas, Bankruptcy, Business Law, Health Law, Litigation and Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Sections
    • Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts
    • Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow)
    • The College of the State Bar of Texas
    • Theater Under the Stars (Former Director)
  • Clerkship

    • Justice Sam Bass, First Court of Appeals, Houston (Briefing Attorney, 1984-1985)
    • US Army, JAGC Specialist Five Lawyer’s Assistant (Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, 1977-1981)

Overview

Fred has represented individuals and businesses for more than 30 years in a wide variety of business and commercial litigation matters, including complex contract disputes, health care, business torts, energy/environmental litigation, business divorces, real estate disputes, Uniform Commercial Code violations, banking and financial service litigation, as well as multi-district litigation. Fred has served as Assistant/Acting General Counsel for an independent oil and gas company and currently serves as General Counsel to Firm clients serving health care, real estate development, logistics and transportation industries, as well as a children’s charity.

Although his business litigation practice is varied, many of Fred’s recent cases involve disputes between landowners and operators, fiduciary duty disputes, complex contract/business tort disputes, real estate, mineral interests and environmental responsibilities.

While Fred maintains an active litigation practice, he understands his clients need more than a good litigator. They need an attorney who is both capable of going to trial as well as resolving disputes efficiently and cost-effectively. Fred is dedicated to client service, and makes an effort to learn his clients’ businesses, which in turn enables him to provide better, more customized legal advice to protect critical business interests. In 2020, a result Fred achieved in trial for his client was recognized by Best of the BarTM in their "Top 100 Verdicts in Texas" list.

Fred’s wife, Janet, is also an attorney as well as a real estate developer. Their son, John David, is an Eagle Scout and graduate of Texas A&M University.

Experience

  • Health Care Litigation

    Successfully represented a health care company in the defense of claims for nonpayment of services in excess of $2.5 MM.

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  • Energy Litigation

    Represented a working interest owner and obtained a $2.7 MM judgment against the operator regarding ownership of mineral and working interest,

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  • Manufacturing Dispute Resolution

    Successfully represented a major manufacturing company specializing in combustion equipment for the oil and gas industry

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