Personal Background
Robert Arthur represents clients in a wide variety of business and commercial disputes. He is known for a practical, results-driven approach and for giving clients an honest assessment of a matter, telling them plainly when a fight is worth having and when a different path better serves their interests. He makes effective use of technology throughout his practice, from managing discovery in complex commercial cases to other aspects of case preparation and strategy, helping control cost and avoid delay for clients. His docket includes complex, high stakes matters such as representing the State of Texas in antitrust litigation against Google and Medicaid fraud litigation against major pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Robert graduated cum laude from South Texas College of Law and competed on the nationally recognized South Texas College of Law advocacy team as both a brief writer and oral advocate. Robert received the Dean’s Student Advocacy Service Award for his achievements as an advocate, the Justice Bud Warren Memorial Award for excellence in brief writing, and was elected to the National Order of the Barristers (recognition nationwide as a top oral advocate) and National Order of the Scribes (recognition nationwide as a top legal writer). He competed in moot court competitions across the United States including the National Appellate Advocacy Competition, one of the most prestigious in the country. He also clerked for the Honorable Judge William C. Sowder in the 99th District Court of Texas and served as an Articles Editor on the Texas Journal of Business Law.
He is heavily involved in his community and works with the Friendswood Education Foundation, an organization that provides grants to support the Friendswood ISD school system. Robert prides himself on being an attorney that is always available to address his firm’s clients’ concerns. His relentless dedication to service sets him apart in the industry. Robert has the results to back it up, with multiple successful trials and summary judgment motions in the past few years.
Areas of Focus
- Business litigation
- Commercial litigation
- Qui tam
- Texas Medicaid fraud and anti-kickback actions
Representative Matters
- Serves on the firm’s team in a series of Texas Medicaid fraud and anti-kickback actions against pharmaceutical manufacturers, with most matters currently in pretrial litigation. One recent matter settled for $30 million.
- Pursued claims on behalf of the State of Texas, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Carolina, and South Dakota in a multidistrict litigation antitrust case against Google Robert’s responsibilities included discovery, expert and lay witness preparation, depositions, and trial preparation.
- Defended an LTE cellular network provider in a lawsuit by a California-based wireless broadband network component provider in an action for breach of a contract to purchase component parts necessary to build an LTE network in West Texas.
- Pursued claims on behalf of an Oklahoma-based company that sells and rents frac water transfer equipment. Two former employees solicited the company’s customers and used their resources to start a competing business while still employed by the company.
- Pursued and defended indemnity claims on behalf of a large motor vehicle manufacturer.
- Pursued claims on behalf of a steel supplier against a former employee related to the theft of highly confidential information including the company’s employees’ social security numbers and banking information.
- Pursued claims on behalf of a product manufacturer against former employees related to the theft of company information, including pricing and vendor information, in violation of their employment agreements and Texas state law.
- Defended a Texas-based drilling rig manufacturer in a lawsuit by a drilling rig purchaser. The purchaser claims the manufacturer breached a rig construction contract and tortiously interfered with its contract with a drilling operator. The purchaser is seeking approximately $25 million for the cost of repairing the rig and lost profits.
- Led the defense of a major medical device manufacturer against a patent infringement claim, resolving the matter through early mediation for a small fraction of the amount claimed and saving the client a substantial sum.
Affiliations & Community
- Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Houston Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas Litigation and Appellate Section member
- Friendswood Education Foundation
- Friendswood Education Foundation (helps organize the foundation’s charity clay shoot, which raised nearly $200,000 for Friendswood ISD over the past year)
- Board of Directors, West Ranch Community Association (Treasurer)
- Houston Bar Association – Lawyers for Literacy Committee (2023-2024)