Heather Summerfield

Heather Summerfield is a commercial litigator and former general counsel for a publicly traded oil and gas company.  As a result of her unique experience as both a private practice litigator and former in-house lawyer, Heather is able to serve her clients in an effective, efficient, and pragmatic manner.  Her clients rely on her to interface with legal departments, senior management, and directors in order to understand and achieve her clients’ commercial objectives.  Heather is highly experienced in all phases of litigation in state and federal courts and state agencies, including trials, appeals, and alternative dispute resolution. 

Heather has extensive experience with energy disputes and regulation in Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and West Virginia.  She regularly advises clients on a variety of litigation matters, including multi-million-dollar lawsuits with working interest partners, oil and gas majors, and midstream providers.  She also has handled disputes involving landowners, royalty owners, employment and compensation matters, D&O breach of fiduciary duties, defense and indemnity matters, shareholder claims, environmental and regulatory matters, and bankruptcy claims.  As general counsel, she directed her client’s legal strategy in a complex and multi-faceted bankruptcy to restructure $1.4 billion of secured and unsecured debt.

Heather also has significant experience drafting, negotiating and handling disputes under leases, surface use agreements, JOAs, AMIs, participation and farmout agreements, gas gathering and transportation agreements, and gas sales agreements.

Prior to her in-house role, Heather practiced in the energy litigation group of a large global law firm, where she represented clients in lessor and royalty disputes, environmental claims, eminent domain, and land use & zoning matters.     

Heather also regularly serves as a director to companies undergoing liability management and restructurings. Currently, Heather is a director for an international company which provides engineering and construction services to the energy industry, an international travel technology company, and a publicly traded retail company. She is also involved in a number of outside organizations in the energy industry, including previously serving as an executive board member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

Education

• Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., Magna Cum Laude, 2005
• Bob Jones University, B.S., Speech Education, 1994

Ann Marie Arcadi

Ann Marie Arcadi is a first-chair trial lawyer with more than 25 years of experience.  Her clients include Fortune 500 and middle market companies, as well as entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. She has successfully tried commercial disputes and labor & employment cases in state court, federal court, and arbitration proceedings.  She also regularly obtains favorable settlements and dismissals for her clients.

Ann Marie represents clients in a variety of business sectors, including telecommunications, technology, real estate, oil and gas, renewable energy, manufacturing, retail, restaurant/hospitality, banking, financial services, outsourcing, and healthcare.

Clients rely on Ann Marie to litigate and try a broad range of cases, including those involving claims of unfair competition, breach of restrictive covenants, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, fraud, and negligence. She also has experience litigating and trying cases involving employment claims, including those under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Ann Marie regularly advises clients on compliance with state and federal labor & employment laws, assists with internal investigations, provides legal compliance and HR training, and represents clients before state and federal agencies with employment-related jurisdiction.

Prior to founding Arcadi Jackson, Ann Marie was a partner at two of the largest global law firms in their commercial litigation and labor & employment practices.

Ann Marie is involved in community activities throughout Dallas. She has served on a variety of committees for Autism Speaks and Cure Autism Now, including as chair of various fundraisers for those organizations. She has also served as co-chair for multiple committees with the American Bar Association and the Dallas Bar Association.

Education

• Columbia Law School, J.D., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, 1993
• Boston University, B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1990

Accolades

• Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2017)
• Recommended, The Legal 500 US (2016)
• Recognized, Commercial Litigation, The Best Lawyers in America (2012–2018)
• Top Woman Lawyer, The Best Lawyers in America (2016–2017)
• Recognized, “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” Labor & Employment, D Magazine (2015–2019)
• Recognized, Texas Super Lawyers (2010–2017)
• Recognized, “Rising Star,” Texas Monthly (2005–2008)
• Barrister, Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court (2001–2003)
• Recognized, “Best Lawyers Under 40,” D Magazine (2002)
• Recognized, BTI Client Service All-Star (2001)

John M. Farrell

John M. Farrell is a board certified Labor & Employment attorney focused on assisting clients with navigating matters of all size and complexity both in the employment and traditional labor areas.  He has extensive experience litigating matters in federal and state court, defending clients in front of federal and state agencies (EEOC, DOL, NLRB, FINRA, TWC), and conducting private arbitrations.  In addition, he regularly conducts internal investigations, offers HR training, and provides counseling regarding day-to-day issues such as employee discipline and termination, pay structures, contract drafting and negotiation, and compliance with labor and employment laws.

John has defended and advised clients in matters involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Section 1981, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and the National Labor Relations Act.

John has developed a specialty advising clients regarding executing effective reductions-in-force, minimizing litigation risks inherent in reductions-in-force, drafting enforceable release agreements, and complying with the WARN Act.  John also has extensive experience advising employers regarding FLSA compliance, including minimum wage and overtime obligations, determining hours worked, available exemptions, and obligations under various compensation structures.

Over the course of his career, John has represented clients in a variety of business sectors including oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, mining, shipping and transportation, banking and financial services, telecommunications, retail, education, performing arts, and restaurant/hospitality.

John is certified as a Labor and Employment expert by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and, prior to joining Arcadi Jackson, worked for two large global law firms in their labor and employment sections.

Education

• J.D., University of Texas School of Law, 2007 (with honors)
• B.A., Economics and Government, University of Texas at Austin, 2002 (with honors)

Admissions

• Bar of Texas
• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

Aaron Christian

Aaron Christian is a trial lawyer with nearly a decade of experience litigating complex commercial and transactional disputes across a variety of industries for Fortune 500 and middle market companies, as well as institutional and entrepreneur clients.  Aaron regularly appears in federal and state courts in Texas and other states at the trial and appellate level, before international arbitration panels, and administrative agencies.  Disputes he litigates often involve multiple parties, complex legal issues, or competing proceedings across multiple jurisdictions.  Aaron’s results include early dismissals from lawsuits, effective settlements, and vindication at trial.

Aaron has litigated in numerous industries but has extensive experience working on behalf of energy clients, including renewable energy, oil and gas exploration and development, and oilfield services; commercial banking clients; real estate, including title insurance, companies; technology clients; and manufacturing clients.  Clients rely on Aaron’s expertise to handle a broad range of issues, including breach of fiduciary duties, tortious interference with contracts or business relationships, breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, fraud, and negligence.

Prior to joining Arcadi Jackson, Aaron worked in the Dallas and Houston offices of one of the largest global law firms in its litigation practice group.  After law school and before entering private practice, Aaron clerked for the Honorable Reed O’Connor, U.S. District Judge, in the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas.  Before law school, Aaron served on the staff of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and as an aide to U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas.

Education

• Baylor Law School, J.D., 2010
• Texas Christian University, B.A., 2003

Accolades

• 2017, 2018 Texas Rising Stars

Seema Tendolkar

Seema Tendolkar is a litigator with over fifteen years of experience representing clients in complex commercial and employment disputes. She represents public and private companies, small businesses, and high-net-worth individuals in matters pending in state and federal court and arbitration, as well as during government and internal investigations. Seema regularly obtains favorable settlements, dismissals, and outcomes for her clients.

Seema represents clients in a wide variety of matters, including disputes involving labor & employment issues, business “divorces,” non-competition agreements, and other restrictive covenants, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, unfair competition, and other commercial matters, as well as internal and government investigations. Seema also provides corporate counseling on a broad range of matters and projects. Seema is practical and judicious in her approach to preventing, managing, litigating, and resolving disputes.

Prior to joining Arcadi Jackson, Seema was the General Counsel of a legal technology start-up, a partner at a Dallas-based litigation boutique, and an associate at two global law firms.

Education

• Columbia Law School, J.D., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, 2002
• Cornell University, B.S., 1999

Accolades

• Recognized, “Rising Star,” Texas Monthly (2012-2016)
• Former Secretary and Member of the Board of Directors of Captain Hope’s Kids, Inc. (now known as Hope Supply Co.)
• Former Secretary and Member of the Board of Directors of Rae’s Hope.

Lee Budner

Lee Budner is trial lawyer who practices complex commercial litigation in both state and federal court, at the trial level and on appeal. He represents clients on a broad range of issues, including contract disputes, business torts, employment litigation, construction litigation, and whistleblower litigation.

Lee represents clients across a variety of industries on both sides of the docket, including investment managers, private equity firms, advertising companies, construction companies, technology service providers, healthcare providers, and high-net-worth individuals.

Prior to joining Arcadi Jackson, Lee was an associate at a Dallas-based complex commercial litigation boutique and an associate in the Dallas office of a large, national law firm.

Education

• Boston College Law School, J.D., 2013
• Occidental College, B.A., 2010

Accolades

• Lawrence L. Budner, Is a Logging Road’s Collected Runoff Exempt from NPDES Permitting?—Rethinking the EPA’s “Silvicultural Rule”, 40 B.C. Envtl. Aff. L. Rev. 197 (2013)
• Lawrence L. Budner, Preserving Flexibility: Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell and the Preliminary Injunction Standard, 39 B.C. Envtl. Aff. L. Rev. E. Supp. 15 (2012)

Greg Jackson

Greg Jackson is a trial lawyer whose clients call him when the matter is complicated and contentious, and often bet-the-company.  He has successfully tried multiple complex commercial cases in state and federal court and obtained numerous favorable settlements and dismissals for his clients.  His clients include large and middle market companies, private equity firms, family offices, and entrepreneurs.  He has litigated disputes with sensitive business and reputational concerns and hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, and often uses his experience to help clients avoid litigation.

Greg litigates in most industries and frequently represents clients in disputes involving energy, real estate, construction, and transactional matters.

Companies in the energy industry rely on Greg to handle disputes involving joint operating and other agreements, RICO and securities fraud claims, potential transactions, technology, and matters before the Railroad Commission.  In the real estate industry, Greg litigates disputes involving contracts for sale, management and development agreements, and real estate fraud claims.  In the construction industry, he handles EPC contract and engineering disputes.

Greg litigates all types of partnership and shareholder disputes including claims for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.  He litigates disputes involving asset and share purchase agreements, including indemnification and earn-out provisions, and mergers.  He also litigates claims involving misappropriation and noncompete disputes.  Private equity firms and their portfolio companies rely on Greg for complex litigation, and he has successfully resolved several high-stakes lawsuits in order to close transactions.

Prior to founding Arcadi Jackson, Greg was a partner at two of the largest global law firms in their commercial litigation practice.

Greg is highly visible and active in the Dallas community.  He is a member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and several other charitable and professional organizations.

Education

• Baylor University Law School, J.D., 1998
• Baylor University, B.A., 1995

Clerkship

• Clerkship to Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Mathy of the US District Court for the Western District of Texas

Accolades

• Listed, Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas, D Magazine (2006)
• Listed, Best Business Lawyers in Dallas in Business Litigation, D Magazine (2009)
• AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Member, Dallas Bar Association
• Member, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers 2001 Leadership Class
• Volunteer, Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program pro bono clinic
• Barrister, Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court (2009–2012)
• Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation
• Member, Salesmanship Club of Dallas
• Member, Steering Committee for the Fore! the Kids Golf Classic Benefiting the Patients of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (2012)
• Member, The Children’s Trust benefitting Children’s Medical Center of Dallas (2010–2011)

Amy Castle Gray

Amy Castle Gray is a seasoned trial lawyer with over twenty-five years of experience litigating complex commercial disputes.  Amy regularly appears in federal and state courts in Texas, as well as other states. During her career she has tried numerous jury and bench trials involving a broad range of disputes including shareholder and partnership agreements, corporate governance, real estate transactions, ERISA, copyright infringement, breach of purchase agreements and contract disputes.

Prior to joining Arcadi Jackson, Amy worked in the Dallas offices of two of the largest global law firms in their litigation practice groups.

In addition to her prolific litigation experience, Amy has completed Basic Mediation Training and serves as an Associate Municipal Judge for the City of Dallas.

Education

• Southern Methodist University, J.D., 1993
• Vanderbilt University, B.A., Spanish, 1989