Biography
Robert J. Naudin, Jr. is a Principal in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Rob is a trial attorney with over 20 years of litigation experience who focuses his practice on construction litigation matters. For most of this time, Rob has been representing corporations, partnerships, businesses and individuals in a diverse range of complex commercial matters in both federal and state courts, and in arbitration proceedings across the country. Rob has extensive trial experience as lead counsel and has been successful in achieving positive results for his clients. He has handled hundreds of millions of dollars in claims. Rob’s clients include publicly traded energy services and construction firms, national general contractors, commercial and retail development companies, as well as individual businessmen and women. In addition to providing litigation services, Rob regularly provides guidance to his clients to best serve their long-term goals; often resolving claims well before the initiation of suit. Prior to his civil practice, Rob served in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. During his Naval service, Rob honed his trial skills while prosecuting and defending felony cases across the globe. He was deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf in 2003 with the USS TARAWA AMPHIBIOUS GROUP as the admiral’s sole legal counsel, or Staff Judge Advocate. There, he advised wartime admirals and commanders concerning all legal matters, including rules of engagement, law of armed conflict and detainee/prisoner of war issues and policies. Rob has received numerous personal and unit decorations including multiple Navy Commendation Medals, multiple Navy Achievement Medals, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal.
Education
- University of Houston Law Center – J.D., 1999
– Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Society - Texas A&M University – B.S., 1996
Recognitions & Distinctions
- Named a Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation by Thomson Reuters (2019 – 2023)
- Lecturer, Construction Contracts & Claims, Collaborative Global Construction Engineering Advanced Training Program, Texas A&M University with Chungbuk National University (Republic of Korea), College Station, Texas (2018)
- Awarded the American Trial Lawyers Association Outstanding Advocacy Award
Representative Experience
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Successfully defended in two-week trial publicly traded energy company against general contractor’s claims breach of contract, fraud and quantum merit concerning alleged multi-million-dollar change orders associated with construction of natural gas pipeline, ultimately recovering on multi-million-dollar counterclaims.
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Successfully obtained multi-million-dollar settlement for major league sports team in dispute concerning replacement of defective stadium seating and fire safety system.
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Regularly represents industrial, civil, and commercial general contractors with respect to collection of unpaid change orders, delay claims, loss of productivity claims and inevitable defense against counterclaims.
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Successfully represented industrial piping contractor to collect unpaid change order work resulting in multi-million-dollar settlement during three-week arbitration proceeding.
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Obtained favorable jury verdict after three-week jury trial for industrial mechanical and civil contractor against publicly traded chemical manufacturer against various claims including breach of contract.
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Successfully obtained settlement of 10x more than original demand for general contractor claims against publicly traded energy company to collect for unpaid change orders and sting-along fraud claims associated with construction of large diameter oil pipeline.
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Successfully represented general contractor against owner’s claims of defective performance relating to foundation damage for specialized waste warehouse arising out of differential movement.
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Successfully represented electrical subcontractor to collect unpaid change orders against national general contractor relating to remodeling of five bonded public schools resulting in multi-million-dollar settlement.
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Obtained favorable verdict in two-week jury trial tire distributor against multi-million-dollar warranty claims brought by international phosphate producer.
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Successfully defended national contractor against breach of contract claims related to construction of natural gas facility.
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Obtained favorable settlement during one-week jury trial for managing general insurance agency to enforce covenants not to compete against former employees and competing company and defend against counterclaims.
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Successfully defended electrical services construction company against prominent homeowner’s claims of property damage in Rio Grande Valley.
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Regularly advises industrial general contractor clients with respect to work-place injuries, fatalities and accident investigations.
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Successfully tried to jury verdict claims for custom homebuilder and against owner’s claims of breach of contract.
Memberships & Affiliations
- Texas Bar Association
– Construction Law Section
– Litigation Section - Associated General Contractors (AGC)
– Governmental Affairs Committee Member - Houston Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas (2006)
- State Bar of California (2000)
- United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary
- United States District Courts: Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas