David E. Finck

David is a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the litigation group.  His practice is focused on litigation in the construction, oilfield services, utilities, real estate and transportation industries.  He has experience handling a variety of disputes in the following areas: construction, non-compete/confidential information, real estate, vendor/subcontractor disputes, acquisitions and various other business disputes.

Career highlights include:

• Successfully defended a client in a $43 million arbitration in California involving numerous issues including employee fraud, disputes over contingent payments for the acquisition of an electrical contracting business, complicated financial transactions, and the economics of several proposed power plants in the Midwest
• Successfully defended a power line contractor in state court in California defending a series of wildfire lawsuits where the combined damages exceeded $1.2 billion
• Successfully represented an EPC contractor in a high-stakes arbitration arising from a complex industrial construction project.  The dispute involved more than $93 million in claims and counterclaims related to contract balance, disputed change orders, liquidated damages and alleged construction defects.  Following a three-week final hearing, the arbitration panel issued a final award, granting the client a substantial net recovery—including the full amount of attorneys’ fees sought
• Successfully defended a corporation and a large group of employees against claims of employee raiding, theft of confidential information, tortious interference and related claims
• Successfully represented a client in a $33 million arbitration in California involving a contractual right of first refusal involving several landfill-gas-to-energy power plants, along with winning an arbitration that included an award of attorneys' fees
• Successfully defended an oilfield service company in a Texas case, in which the plaintiff claimed the company had improperly dumped oilfield waste on its property, and secured dismissal on summary judgement
• Multiple matters representing general contractors and subcontractors in arbitrations and litigation successfully recovering millions of dollars in base contract and change order claims
• Successfully represented owner against general contractor and subcontractor seeking over $40 million in additional payments on a transmission line construction project
• Successfully defended a subcontractor in an $18 million pipeline construction defect case in Williamson County, Texas
• Represented an industrial contractor in federal court in Los Angeles in a dispute over more than $5 million in unpaid invoices and the owner’s claim for alleged defects.  After strategic depositions of the owner’s CFO, operations manager, project manager and other key witnesses, secured a favorable settlement for the client prior to trial, avoiding further litigation costs
• Multiple cases collecting unpaid rent on commercial real estate leases
• Successfully defended a client in a $40 million RICO and fraud lawsuit involving the construction of cable television infrastructure in Atlanta, Georgia
• Successfully represented an employer in an employee fraud case in Colorado in which several employees left the company, took confidential information and started a competing business
• Secured summary judgement for his client, confirmed on appeal on a UCG / distributor dispute
• Secured pre-judgment recovery of valuable equipment in case where ownership was disputed via Texas writ of sequestration process

In 2006, David was recognized as one of Texas' Rising Stars.  He is also a Fellow of the Texas and Houston Bar Foundations.

David completed a practical drilling technology course in September 2015, with Murchison Drilling Schools, Inc.

David received his J.D. summa cum laude from the South Texas College of Law, where he was an articles editor of the South Texas Law Review and a member of the Order of Lytae.  He received his B.S. from Texas A&M University.

Professional & Community Activities

Grace Presbyterian Church, Elder & Clerk of Session, 2013 to present

Star of Hope Mission, Board of Directors, 2014 - 2023

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, Board of Directors, 1997 - 1999

Cho-Yeh Camp & Conference Center, Inc., Board of Directors, 2009 - 2010

Chapelwood Methodist School for Young Children, Board of Directors, 2002 - 2008