• Profile
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About Allen H. Rustay

Allen H. Rustay is a partner at Hicks Thomas LLP and has over 20 years of experience in litigation in Texas State and Federal courts. He has extensive experience in commercial litigation including matters involving commercial disputes, energy, oil and gas, and maritime disputes on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. He has also litigated theft of trade secrets, breaches of fiduciary duty, and business torts. Formerly affiliated with a large international law firm, Mr. Rustay has been with Hicks Thomas LLP since 2006.

Practice Emphasis

Education

  • Washington & Lee University (B.A. 1993)
  • Baylor University (J.D. 1997)
    • Notes and Comments editor for the Baylor Law Review
    • Member of the Barristers
    • Vice President of the Moot Court Society

Court Admissions

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

Honors & Distinctions

  • Fellow of Texas Bar Foundation
  • Texas Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Selected for inclusion in the Texas Super Lawyers list every year from 2012 to present
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America (2020-2025)
  • Recognized in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America (2023-2025)
  • Recognized in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Energy Lawyers (2024)
  • Named to the Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars listing in Texas Monthly magazine and Texas Rising Stars magazine (2004-2011)

Professional Memberships

Attorney Rustay is proud to be a member of various bar associations, including:

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Fellow of Texas Bar Foundation
  • Texas Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association

Representative Matters

Offshore Oil and Gas Litigation

  • Local and international oilfield service companies
  • Drilling and E&P clients in commercial litigation matters involving marine drilling contracts
  • Charter Party contracts
  • Master Service Agreements
  • Force majeure claims
  • Day rate disputes
  • Hurricane-related claims

Energy, Oil and Gas Litigation

  • Extensive experience representing energy, geophysical and natural gas pipeline companies and Individuals
  • Qui tam claims
  • Operating agreements
  • Transportation agreements
  • Seismic data contracts
  • Royalty litigation
  • Lease litigation
  • Surface Use Agreements
  • Cyber Theft

Commercial Cases

  • Breach of fiduciary duties
  • Shareholder oppression
  • Theft of trade secrets
  • Covenants not to compete
  • Breach of contract
  • Licensing disputes
  • Partnership business dissolutions
  • Insurance coverage disputes

Shareholder Litigation

  • Breach of fiduciary duty claims
  • Usurpation of corporate opportunity claims
  • Breach of contracts
  • Fraud
  • Fraudulent Inducement

Personal Injury/OSHA Investigations

  • Product liability
  • Wrongful death cases
  • OSHA investigations