PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Admitted to bar, Texas, 1982; U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. Served as Legal Advisor to the Chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas; Hearings Examiner for the Railroad Commission.

Education: The University of Texas, B.A. with high honors, 1978 (Phi Beta Kappa); The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1981. Engaged in post-graduate study in business and energy law, 1981-1982.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Obtained a reversal of a ten-year old NGPA pricing determination, saving the purchaser in excess of $60 million
• In 1992, became the first attorney to acquire regulatory approval, including condemnation authority, for an underground gas storage operation
• Successfully represented an interstate pipeline in a dispute over producing rights to $27 billion worth of natural gas
• Represented a major office equipment manufacturer in persuading the Texas Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities’ to reverse its decision on a potentially devastating state purchasing procurement "set-aside" (exemption from compliance with state purchasing guidelines)
• Obtained a temporary restraining order, a temporary injunction and permanent injunctive relief for a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer against the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, preventing a rule harmful to the client’s business from ever going into effect
• In a Medicaid Disproportionate Share Funds case, sued the Texas Department of Health, persuading it to abandon an erroneous method of calculating fund allocation that was detrimental to the hospital client and obtained a recalculation of the client’s share of the DSH funds, resulting in compensation to the client in excess of $1 million
• Represented a major bus manufacturer in negotiations with the VIA Metropolitan Transit of San Antonio regarding sale and delivery of buses, and provided advice regarding Texas law governing motor vehicle sales
• Assisted numerous pipelines with regulatory compliance during the sale of assets
• Provided briefing to the Texas Attorney General on behalf of a variety of entities, including HMOs and utilities, concerning the trade secret exemption for information provided to the state and requested to be released under the Texas Public Information (Open Records) Act
• Represented a major property and casualty insurer in annual insurance rate-setting hearings
• Counseled a major university’s investment manager on responding to open records requests
• Advised various internet retailers concerning regulatory compliance issues related to delivery of alcoholic beverages through e-commerce
• Represented various professionals before respective licensure boards, in actions ranging from malpractice to enforcement action to rulemakings
• Defended and brought actions against the Public Utility Commission, the General Land Office, the Texas Education Agency, the Department of Transportation, and the Railroad Commission
• Won suits restricting the authority of the Texas General Land Office and limiting the enforcement powers of the agency which regulates motor vehicle distribution and sales in Texas

Mr. Thompson's clients have included major and independent oil companies, natural gas pipelines, insurance companies, automobile manufacturers and distribution companies, banks, software companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, wineries and a major brewer, hospitals, healthcare providers, and managed care organizations, internet retailers, and shipping companies.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member: Austin Bar Association (Administrative Law Section; Oil and Gas and Mineral Law Section); State Bar of Texas (Administrative and Public Law Section; Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section).