Matt Henneman - Managing Partner
A former chief prosecutor with more than 20 years of experience trying civil jury trials and arbitrations, Mr. Henneman brings a trial lawyer’s perspective to every case. Over the past two decades, Mr. Henneman has handled a broad range of litigation in some of the most complex areas of the law, including fiduciary litigation, non-competition and trade secret disputes, injunctive actions, product liability suits, first amendment claims, employment matters, whistleblower suits and securities arbitrations.
Mr. Henneman has served as regional and national litigation counsel for several large securities firms, and has represented clients in courts and before arbitration panels in over 30 states. His litigation and arbitration practice focuses on complex securities and business disputes of all types.
Mr. Henneman is one of the most sought-after counselors by members of the banking and securities industry for issues related to business transition, regulatory compliance and customer disputes, and routinely prosecutes and defends claims of unfair competition and business “raiding” throughout the United States, Texas Board of Securities, SEC, and numerous other forums. He uses his years of experience to recognize when litigation can and should be avoided, and to provide the best defense for when trial or arbitration is required.
Mr. Henneman is also an experienced employment law practitioner, providing practical, no-nonsense representation to companies and individuals involved in wrongful termination, discrimination, FLSA, FCRA and other issues.
Mr. Henneman is admitted to practice in the following courts:
- Texas State Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Northwestern University, B.A. English Literature, 1990
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1994
- Represented the Global Head of Energy Trading for a major investment bank in the transition of himself and eight senior investment bankers to a competing investment bank, and in the subsequent arbitration arising from the transition
- Represented a major securities firm in litigation arising from the unlawful raid of their Puerto Rico offices by a competitor immediately prior to a contemplated sale to a third party
- Represented over 500 individual bankers and financial advisors in their respective transitions to new firms, responses to regulatory inquiries, U4 issues, FINRA investigations, and arbitrations before FINRA, AAA, NYSE, the CFP Board, and other supervisory entities
- Representation of Receiver in significant energy industry receivership involving liquidation of oil and gas operator and subsequent distribution of various interests
- National and Regional counsel for multiple national securities firms
- Texas counsel for several major national and regional banks
- Represented CEO of major regional bank in resignation from a major national bank and transition to new bank
- Representation of numerous individual investors in claims against major securities and investment firms in auction rate and suitability related claims
- Defended major engine manufacture in multi-million dollar litigation involving claims that its components allegedly caused damage to various marine vessels in which they were installed
- Representation of regional newspaper group in defense of defamation and copyright claims made by former advertising customer of group
- Representation of national direct marketing firm in Lanham Act litigation in multiple Texas federal district courts
- Representation of major energy executive in negotiation of terms of his resignation from one major energy company and terms of employment with another similarly situated company
- Representation of large Houston environmental business owner in litigation with the City of Houston and the TCEQ regarding alleged violations of state and local environmental codes
- Representation of international chemical company in litigation arising from alleged dumping of hazardous waste materials in retention ponds in South Texas, allegedly caused significant health problems in workers in and around their facility
- Representation of group of investors in litigation involving an SEC imposed receivership of local business radio network and associated financial advisory firm
- Represented national advisory firm in major litigation involving claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition and breach of contract claims in both federal district court and FINRA arbitration
- Represented Health Care Group in negotiation of separation from Practice Group, avoidance of non-compete litigation and subsequent employment with major medical facility in Houston
- Represented major securities firm in nationwide litigation against several firms for “raiding” and unfair competition following announcement of prospective merger with another firm
- Defense of products liability claims involving damage to several frac trucks allegedly caused by a major component fire
- Defended whistle-blowers in Stanford Financial litigation in claims that ultimately caused the SEC to initiate the investigation of Stanford Financial, leading to its seizure by the SEC
- Representation of individual in litigation against a “life-settlement” company for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty
- Representation of a Receiver in claw-back litigation related to alleged Ponzi scheme perpetrated by former investment advisory firm
- Representation of American citizen and business executive of Saudi-Arabian descent in discrimination claim after he was illegally removed from an airplane, handcuffed and placed in custody by Houston Police based on mistaken identity on purported “no-fly” list
- Represented female executive in sexual harassment and assault claims against a nationally known financial advisory firm
- Representation of numerous doctors in litigation arising from a reduction in force by a major Texas medical institution
- Represented newspaper reported in asserting a reporter’s privilege in Texas state court after being subpoenaed by District Attorney to turn over her privileged notes during a criminal trial
- Represented regional oil and gas exploration company in litigation over breach of operating agreement and repayment of damage to offshore equipment
- Represent up and coming solar technology company in litigation in breach of contract action involving multiple distributors of its product
Retained as counsel to advise major Latin American securities firm in efforts to establish a U.S. brokerage presence.
- Public Interest v. Private Justice, American Journal of Criminal Law, 1994
- The Avian Flu – Legal Issues Presented by the Potential Pandemic, The Executive Legal Advisor, 2006
- Arbitration – Drafting, Enforcement and Breaches, Texas Advanced Civil Litigation Conference, 2007
- Panelist – Raiding Claims in the Securities Industry, Conference on Broker Recruiting, 2008
- Texas Rising Star, 2004 and 2005 (recognized by Thomson Reuters, published in Texas Monthly)
- Top Houston Lawyers, 2013 – Business Law, Houstonia Magazine
- Top Houston Lawyers, 2014 – Business Law, Houstonia Magazine
- Top Houston Lawyers, 2015 – Employment Law, Houstonia Magazine
- Top Houston Lawyers, 2016 – Securities Law, Houstonia Magazine
- Texas Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Houston Bar Association
- Securities and Arbitration Section
– Board Member - Labor and Employment Section
- Securities and Arbitration Section
- Houston Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Inprint, Inc. – President (2010-2012)
- The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts – Chairman (2012-2016)
- Alley Theatre’s First Act Young Professional’s Association – Founding Chairperson
- Alley Theatre – Advisory Board (2001-2009)
- Houston Grand Opera Ovation Award – Recipient 2007
- Brazos Bookstore – Owner and Managing Board Member
