Commercial Litigation

About Justice David M. Medina

David M. Medina is a Partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Houston, Texas, where his practice encompasses commercial litigation, appellate law, environmental law, tax controversy litigation, energy litigation, maritime law, arbitration, and mediation. Justice Medina's career spans both the private and public sectors. He began his legal career as Litigation Counsel at Cooper Industries, Inc., managing a broad docket that included environmental, product liability, toxic tort, real estate, insurance coverage, and commercial matters. In 1996, Governor George W. Bush appointed him to the 157th State District Court in Harris County, where he was subsequently elected to a full term. He later returned to Cooper Industries as Associate General Counsel before being appointed General Counsel to Governor Rick Perry in 2004. That same year, Governor Perry appointed him to the Texas Supreme Court, where he served through December 2012 and authored more than 90 opinions. Since returning to private practice in January 2013, Justice Medina has represented clients in state and federal courts throughout Texas, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Federal Circuits. He has also served as an adjunct professor, teaching Advanced Civil Trial Advocacy at South Texas College of Law-Houston and Appellate Advocacy at the University of Houston Law Center. Justice Medina has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation (2021–2026) and received the National Justice of the Year award from the Hispanic National Bar Association in 2010.

Bar Admissions & Credentials

• Texas State Bar — State Bar of Texas
• Admission – Supreme Court of the United States — Supreme Court of the United States
• Admission – U.S. Tax Court — U.S. Tax Court
• Admission – U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Admission – U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Admission – U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas — U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• Admission – U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas — U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
• Admission – U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas — U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
• Admission – U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas — U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• The Best Lawyers in America® – Appellate Practice & Commercial Litigation — Best Lawyers (2021)
• National Justice of the Year — Hispanic National Bar Association (2010)
• Top Lawyer — Houstonia Magazine (2019)

Education

• LLM, Global Energy, International Arbitration and Environmental Law
  University of Texas · 2017
• JD
  South Texas College of Law Houston · 1989
• BS
  Texas State University · 1980

Judicial Opinions & Publications

• More than 90 Supreme Court of Texas Opinions, Supreme Court of Texas

Contact Justice David M. Medina