Mike Bennett’s practice focuses on complex business disputes, primarily for clients in the oil and gas, oil and gas services, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. He has significant experience in a broad range of disputes and investigations faced by companies in these industries, including disputes under joint operating agreements, joint venture agreements, service and supply agreements, and foreign agency agreements, as well as disputes involving employee retirement and welfare benefit plans, including ERISA-governed and non-ERISA-governed international plans. Mr. Bennett has handled several disputes involving investments by private equity firms and overseas investors in the oil and gas industry.

In addition, Mr. Bennett has experience in internal and governmental agency investigations of energy sector clients concerning alleged accounting fraud, embezzlement and FCPA violations, ERISA violations and related civil litigation. Mr. Bennett has also defended energy, chemical and pharmaceutical companies in environmental mass tort and products liability cases.

Mr. Bennett has substantial experience in the area of complex ERISA and employee benefits litigation, including the defense of termination of employer-sponsored benefit plans and defense of self-funded employer plans against claims by medical providers.

Mr. Bennett participated actively in the successful defense in discovery, trial, and appeal of two presidential election contests, Harry Jacobs, et al. v. Seminole County Canvassing Board, et al. and Ronald Taylor, et al. v. Martin County Canvassing Board, et al., as counsel for President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney.

Mr. Bennett has tried numerous cases to jury verdicts and has represented clients before state and federal courts and various arbitration tribunals.

Following graduation from law school, Mr. Bennett served as a law clerk to the Honorable Sidney A. Fitzwater of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.