Ryan Logan Valdez is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer representing Fortune 500 companies, locally-owned and regional businesses, and individuals in complex commercial disputes. Ryan’s practice focuses on matters involving insurance coverage and bad faith, fraud, breach of contract, restrictive covenant enforcement, homeowners associations, employment practices and discrimination, products liability, and negligence.

Appellate
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Defense
Labor & Employment
Tulane University School of Law (J.D., 2002)
The University of Texas at Austin (B.S. Advertising, 1999)
rvaldez@canteyhanger.com
(817) 877-2847
(817) 877-2807
600 W. 6th St., Suite 300
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Represented major electric delivery company in easement dispute involving the placement of a private airstrip beneath a transmission line. Obtained permanent injunction following week-long jury trial and successfully upheld judgment on appeal. Fuqua v. Oncor Elec. Delivery Co., 315 S.W.3d 552 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2010, pet. denied).
Defended Fortune 500 energy company in pipeline easement dispute. After hung jury was announced, obtained a take nothing directed verdict. Plaintiff chose not to appeal.
Defended one of the three largest metal building insulation fabricators and distributors in the United States in breach of warranty and products liability lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Texas. Obtained partial summary judgment one month before trial leading to settlement.
Represented Fortune 500 insurance company in coverage dispute involving claims of bad faith and violations of the Texas Insurance Code. Obtained take nothing summary judgment in favor of client which led to settlement.
Defended corporation providing cold pasteurization services to the food and agricultural industries in fraud and breach of contract lawsuit brought by former officers and directors of corporation. Obtained a take nothing jury verdict.
Defended former president of hospitalist company in violation of covenant not to compete, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secret lawsuit. Settled lawsuit with favorable payment to client following temporary injunction hearing.
Defended leading global pipeline equipment dealer in lawsuit seeking to overturn the purchase and subsequent sell of multimillion dollar pipeline equipment. Obtained take nothing summary judgment and successfully upheld judgment on appeal. Empire Equip. Intern v. Pipeline Machinery Intern., L.P., 2011 WL 754340 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet. denied).
Represented former owner of wholesale and retail tire business when purchaser of business breached purchase agreement. Obtained summary judgment for $1.9 million on the eve of trial and successfully upheld judgment on appeal. Shin v. Sharif, 2009 WL 1565028 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009).
Represented certified public accountant in violation of covenant not to compete or solicit lawsuit brought by former business partner. Upheld summary judgment on appeal in favor of client. Pickle v. Johnson, 2011 WL 4345233 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011).
Serves as outside general counsel to mud company servicing over 14,000 wells throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico.
Licensed to practice law in Texas in 2002.
Admitted to practice before the United States District Court, Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas.
American Bar Association
Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court – Associate, Barrister, and Master
State Bar of Texas
Tarrant County Bar Association
2014 Fort Worth Business Press “40 Under 40” Honoree
Leadership Fort Worth Class of 2013-14
Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine, a Thomson Reuters service, 2007-2016
2013 Dallas Business Journal “40 Under 40” Honoree
2013 Inaugural Lawyers of Color “Hot List” Honoree
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, Officer/Director
El Scorcho 25km/50km Endurance Run, Founder and Co-Race Director
Camp Fire USA – First Texas Council, Former Director and Chair of Outdoor Task Force
Fellow, Tarrant County Bar Foundation, 2018
Junior Achievement, Volunteer Teacher
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Volunteer Fund Raiser
Accepted as a member of the international Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, May, 2020
“Eight-Corners and Extrinsic Evidence: Never… Sometimes… Maybe?”, published on law.com, an ALM publication, April 21, 2020.
“Fun with Insurance Coverage Disputes. Really.” 21st Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program, Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, November 6-8, 2013.
“Intellectual Property, Copyright and Trademark Law – the Black, White, and Gray Areas of Intellectual Property Law and How it Protects and Impacts Your Business.” The American Institute of Graphic Arts – DFW Business Talk Series: Getting Down to Business, October 20 and 27, 2005.

Philip Vickers represents clients in complex commercial litigation and arbitration. His litigation experience includes energy, trademarks, fiduciary duties, insurance coverage, real estate, probate, and civil rights/First Amendment issues. He also assists clients with reviewing and negotiating proposed commercial contracts and often provides guidance in pre-litigation dispute resolution. Appointed by the Texas Supreme Court, Philip serves on the Professional Ethics Committee. Philip is also dedicated to pro bono work, actively participating in and promoting these programs both within the firm and throughout the Fort Worth legal community. Before joining Cantey Hanger, Philip was privileged to serve as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Michael H. Schneider, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.

Commercial Litigation
Appellate
Intellectual Property
Energy Litigation
The University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2005)
Texas Review of Law & Politics (Editor-in-Chief)
Hillsdale College (B.S., 2002)
pvickers@canteyhanger.com
(817) 877-2849
(817) 877-2807
600 W. 6th St., Suite 300
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Select Commercial Engagements:

Represented trustee of investment trusts in litigation seeking declarations that certain investor-owned life insurance policies having death benefits over $40 million were valid and enforceable. Obtained favorable summary judgments and recovered millions in attorneys’ fees in a jury trial.
Represented national chain of healthcare clinics in suit over health insurer’s attempt to claw-back millions authorized and paid for healthcare services. Obtained verdict for client after a bench trial.
Defended global distribution system in billion-dollar breach of contract and anti-trust actions brought against it by American Airlines. Case settled favorably during jury trial.
Defended video game manufacturer in breach of contract and fraud claims where plaintiff sought millions in damages. Obtained summary judgment dismissing all claims before trial.
Representation of commercial real estate developer in dispute with former partner in connection with $60+ million development. Matter resolved favorably after defeating opponent’s Anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss.
Representation of urban multi-modal mass transit operator in various contract negotiations and related disputes.
Representation of trustees, beneficiaries, and executors in prosecution and defense of fiduciary claims.
Representation of business owners in disputes with partners, shareholders, and managers over breaches of fiduciary and contractual duties.
Representation of borrowers in disputes with lenders.
Representation of franchisors in disputes with franchisees.
Representation of employers or other business owners in disputes over enforcement of non-competition and other restrictive covenants.

Select Intellectual Property Engagements:

Representation of trademark owners in registration and prosecution of trademarks.
Representation of trademark owners in actions to enforce trademark rights in state and federal courts and before the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Representation of auto parts manufacturer in claims for trademark infringement and unfair competition. Obtained verdict after trial affirming validity of registered trademarks and finding willful unfair competition.
Representation of packaged food manufacturer in dispute over alleged violations of Uniform Trade Secret Act and employee non-competition agreement. Case settled after defeating opponent’s motion for temporary injunction.
Representation of software company in breach of contract suit against Dell Computer and in defense of claims for indemnity related to patent infringement. Case settled favorably after obtaining a ruling in client’s favor on Dell’s motion to dismiss.

Select Oil and Gas Engagements:

Representation of payees in royalty disputes, including underpayment, nonparticipating royalty rights, post-production deductions, and suspension issues against lessees/operators.
Representation of owners of mineral and water rights in title disputes and water and surface use agreements.
Represented the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Independent School District in suits filed in state court against Chesapeake Exploration and Total E&P for underpayment of royalties in connection with hundreds of oil and gas leases. Both cases settled favorably returning millions of dollars to taxpayers in past and future underpayments.
Represented working interest owners in claims against Chesapeake and Total E&P to recover for breaches of rights under joint operating and exploration and development agreements. Case resolved after obtaining summary judgments for clients confirming questions of liability.

Other Representative Engagements:

Advise and represent lawyers and law firms on matters concerning professional ethics and responsibility.
Representation of ExxonMobil in actions against attorneys general of New York, Massachusetts, and the US Virgin Islands challenging alleged violations of First Amendment rights about speech over climate change.
Represented church in First Amendment/Religious Freedom Restoration Act case seeking to require public school to let church hold on-campus after school Bible club. Case resolved favorably after hearing on request for temporary injunction.
Participate in independent investigations and analyses of abuse prevention policies and procedures on behalf of civic and religious institutions.
Texas, 2005
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas

Professional

Appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to the State Bar’s Professional Ethics Committee, 2024
Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Director and Sustaining Life Fellow
Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Volunteer Attorney Services (Pro Bono) Committee, Member and past Co-Chair
Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Tarrant County Bar Association, Energy Law Section
Tarrant County Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section, past Chair
Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, former Barrister
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, past Director

Civic

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Volunteer Attorney
Appointed by Governor Perry to the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, 2013-2020
Austin Graduate School of Theology, Trustee, 2017-2020
Texas Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners, Member, 2015-2020
Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County Grants Review Panel, 2013-2015

Honors

Martindale Hubbell “AV” Preeminent Rating
“Super Lawyer” in Business Litigation, 2020-2024; “Rising Star” from 2013-2019, Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters
“Top Attorney”, Fort Worth, Texas magazine, 2011-2021, 2024
Tarrant County Bar Foundation-TVAS Attorney Volunteer Award, 2023
Leadership Fort Worth, Leadership Class 2022, Leading Edge 2013
Fort Worth Business Press, “40 Under 40”, 2016
Speaker, “Removal and Remand”, Tarrant County Bar Assoc. CLE on Federal Procedure, Feb. 26, 2021
Speaker, “Recent Significant U.S. Supreme Court Opinions for Litigators”, Meritas Litigation Section Annual Meeting, Oct. 2018.
Panelist, Fort Worth Business Press “Business for Breakfast: Law Panel”, July 18, 2018.
Panelist, “Words, Phrases & Rhetorical Ploys That Will Make Some Judge’s Skin Crawl. Are You Playing Russian Roulette With Your Briefing?”, Eastern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference, Oct. 4, 2017.
Co-Author, For the Good of Your City: How Law Firm Pro Bono Can Impact Clients and the Community, 79 Tex. B.J. 364, May 2016.
Speaker, “Texas E-Filing Basics”, Texas Forum, State Bar of Texas—Standing Committee on Paralegals, Feb. 28, 2014.
Speaker, “Pro Bono Family Law Basics”, Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services volunteer CLE presentations, 2013-2018.