Biography
Laura Napoli-Janitens is a principal in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Her practice focuses on counseling clients through all phases of dispute resolution involving complex commercial and construction disputes. She has experience representing businesses in a diverse range of commercial matters in state, federal, and appellate courts, including litigation involving real estate disputes, industrial construction, pipelines, water supply distribution systems, municipal utility districts, developer disputes, and tort defense.
Education
- University of Houston Law Center – J.D., 2015
- Florence Design Academy – Master of Interior Design, 2007
- Loyola University – B.A. English, magna cum laude, 2005
Recognitions & Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2024- Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Construction
Representative Experience
- Obtained a favorable settlement for an owner and urgent care operator for construction and design defect claims against the architect, general contractor, and subcontractors related to the construction of a multi-million dollar medical facility.
- Obtained a favorable judgement for a municipal utility district against a developer related to developer’s claims for reimbursement for a pump station project and developer interest.
- Obtained a Fifth Circuit judgement for an oil field services company that revived breach of contract and indemnity claims against company’s staffing agency, leading to a favorable settlement.
- Obtained a favorable jury verdict for landlord against tenant and guarantor for breach of contract related to the multi-million dollar build out of a commercial space.
- Successfully defended favorable jury verdict before the First Court of Appeals cementing commercial landlord’s trial victory and award of damages and attorneys’ fees.
- Obtained a favorable jury verdict for industrial contractor after a three-week trial over multiple competing claims for breach of contract (including owner’s allegations of termination for default, defective work, and delay) related to the construction of a chemical facility in Geismar, Louisiana.
- Successfully negotiated the dissolution of a complex family partnership with extensive landholdings resulting in the sale of over $100 million of properties over the course of two years.
- Successfully defended commercial real estate owner against frivolous ADA claims.
Publications
- Borrower Beware: The Ramifications of the Court’s Re-Characterization of a Loan Transaction, 15 Hous. Bus. & Tax L. J. 329 (2015).
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas (2015)
- United States District Court: Southern District of Texas