Litigation & Trial

Crowe & Dunlevy’s historically strong litigation practice comprises approximately one-half of our attorneys and almost all types of litigation―including large-scale, bet-the-company cases. The firm’s litigation practice is consistently recognized for its ability to represent clients on their most critical litigation issues.* The firm can quickly assemble efficient teams to address the client’s needs and handle numerous cases in multiple jurisdictions and forums. The firm prides itself on its intellectual acumen, ethical approach, credibility with the court and refusal to cut corners. We hire, mentor and develop skilled, intellectual, conscientiousness and client-focused attorneys who can quickly learn subject matters and apply their reasoning and advocacy to bring a disputed matter to conclusion in the way that is most effective for clients across all industries.  Our trusted commercial litigation team has a strong presence in matters involving all types of industries and areas of law, including: aviation, banking, cannabis, consumer protection, cyber (including class actions), debtor/creditor and receivership, direct selling, energy and environment, ERISA, healthcare, Indian law and gaming, initiative petitions, insurance, intellectual property, products liability, professional liability, securities, unfair debt collection, and utilities.

More than a Century of Exceptional Trial Lawyers

Crowe & Dunlevy attorneys have tried some of the most significant cases in Oklahoma history, with several having been memorialized in books or made into feature films.  The knowledge and skill sets required to litigate, take to trial and win these types of cases have been and continue to be passed down through generations during the firm’s 120 plus years of existence.  Among the trial lawyers who have practiced with the firm are two former presidents of  the American Bar Association, several members of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and members of the American Board of Trial Advocates.  The firm’s roster of trial lawyers continues to have a presence in these organizations today and also includes members of the Litigation Counsel of America.  These lawyers are consistently ranked at the highest levels of multiple ratings services and their skills as trial lawyers are well recognized both in and outside of Oklahoma.

Representative Experience**

• Obtained a defense verdict for an Oklahoma hospital at the end of a weeklong jury trial involving a $20 million claim for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Served as trial counsel for a 10-day jury trial stemming from a blowout of an oil and gas well in Southeast Oklahoma that killed five men.  Plaintiffs sought approximately $200,000,000 in damages but were awarded only 1% of that amount.
• Obtained an arbitration award of approximately $9.9 million for the firm’s client in an action to recover for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and professional negligence.
• Successful defense of the existing owner of an upscale housing development and executive golf and country club in a two-week bench trial in which the plaintiff sought to acquire the ownership of the club or alternatively to recover more than $30,000,000 against the existing owner.
• Obtained summary judgment for the defendants in a wrongful death case in which the plaintiffs sought more than $10,000,000 for the deaths of two teenage drivers who had crashed into a semi-tractor trailer parked on the side of the highway.
• Successfully defeated or otherwise resolved claims seeking over $6,000,000 from the firm’s client in a dispute over ownership of oil and gas field and liability of partners for debts of contract operator for development and maintenance of the field.
• Obtained summary judgment for the owner of a paper mill in defense of a subcontractor’s mechanic’s lien and commercial tort claims that sought more than $9,000,000.
• Obtained summary judgment on a product liability claim alleging a design defect for the manufacturer of an industrial grinder used in oil well drilling operations.  The ruling led to a successful resolution of a catastrophic injury claim in which the plaintiff sought more than $10,000,000.
• Successful defense of an oil-well operator via a settlement reached at the close of the evidence in a 4-day wrongful death jury trial in which the plaintiff sought more than $5,000,000.

Highly-Ranked*

Crowe & Dunlevy was named the 2024 Oklahoma Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation. This is the firm’s tenth Oklahoma Firm of the Year award in the last 12 years and sixth consecutive year to be honored. In 2023, the Benchmark Litigation guide named six attorneys as Local Litigation Stars, named three attorneys as Future Stars and named six attorneys as Labor & Employment Stars – South. The publication also named two attorneys to the Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under Hot List.

Contact us for more information on litigation and trial practice.

*Crowe & Dunlevy has no input in the rating methodologies used by Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA or Best Lawyers publication.

**Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its merits.