Houston, TX Admiralty and Maritime Lawyers Kean Miller LLP Home
David L. Pybus
PartnerDavid Pybus is a partner in the Houston office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2023 and practices in the casualty and mass tort, commercial litigation, and offshore energy and marine litigation groups.
David has successfully represented clients in all types of lawsuits for more than 30 years. He has tried cases to verdict or decision, both before judges and juries and in arbitration. David has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation and regularly represents companies in contractual disputes. His experience includes defense in the energy arena, including well blow-outs, oilfield accidents, and chemical plant fires or explosions. David has also handled matters involving structured settlement and interpleader litigation on behalf of annuity companies.
David is AV Preeminent-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He has also been recognized as a Top Lawyer by H Texas Magazine.
- Obtained a $5.4 million jury verdict for a drilling contractor after a blowout during the drilling of a saltwater disposal well.
- Obtained summary judgments dismissing all claims against three annuity companies in a $10 million case brought by structured settlement annuity factoring companies and obtained a judgment for over $400,000 in attorneys' fees after a jury trial.
- Obtained an award for $3.7 million in a multi-party arbitration resulting from a dispute over estimated costs for plugging and abandonment of an offshore well.
- Obtained $1.5 million in a multi-defendant subrogation case involving an oil well blowout, representing approximately 90% of the deductible and amounts.
- Representation of two annuity companies in separate cases awarding attorneys' fees under the Texas Structured Settlement Protection Act, in the first two reported Texas cases permitting such awards.
- Obtained favorable settlements in two subrogation cases in connection with a fire at a gas processing plant which caused $15 million in damages.
- Representation of an individual investor in a case involving a claim for a substantial real estate commission, obtaining a transfer of venue and a unanimous decision from the Texas Supreme Court.
- Successful defense of shareholder derivative case seeking $3.8 million.
- Successfully prevented arbitration demand by a hospital against a third-party administrator on a $3 million claim.
David earned his J.D., cum laude, from University of Texas at Austin in 1986. He earned his B.B.A., magna cum laude, from University of Texas at Austin in 1982 and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.
- Admitted, Texas, 1986
- Supreme Court of Texas
- 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
- All Texas State Courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Houston Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
- Fraud on the Court, Unclean Hands, and Spoliation: Getting the Case Dismissed for Dishonest Conduct, Houston Bar Association, 2005
- Interference with Contract and Prospective Contract, Corporate Counsel Review, November 1996
- Bering Drive Church of Christ Pastoral Team
