J. David Rowe is a partner practicing in MWM’s commercial litigation section. David brings over 28 years of trial experience representing clients in complex business litigation matters and class actions. His practice is primarily devoted to prosecuting and defending complex commercial cases involving contract and statutory claims as well as allegations of fraud, business break-ups, partnership disputes, fiduciary duty, and other business torts.

Known for winning favorable verdicts, judgments, and appeals, David is a highly skilled trial lawyer representing clients that range from land and business owners to health care providers, technology companies, oil and gas companies, and auto parts manufacturers. His list of impressive litigation victories includes complex, multi-week jury and bench trials, arbitration, and contested evidentiary hearings.

Known for winning favorable verdicts, judgments, and appeals, David is a highly skilled trial lawyer representing clients that range from land and business owners to health care providers, technology companies, oil and gas companies, and auto parts manufacturers. His list of impressive litigation victories includes complex, multi-week jury and bench trials, arbitration, and contested evidentiary hearings.

David’s experience includes partnership and shareholder disputes, construction defect and payment disputes, copyright and trademark infringement, antitrust, civil RICO, landlord-tenant, trade secrets, and unfair competition, covenants not to compete, breach of warranty, and securities fraud cases. This wealth of experience encompasses a wide variety of industries including real estate, automotive parts, truck leasing, retail, video gaming, software development, telecommunications, mining, insurance, water treatment, oil and gas, after-market warranties, financial institutions, and health care.

David began his career as an associate in an international law firm, where he trained for more than a decade, gaining invaluable experience. In 2006, David joined an Austin-based law firm, where he honed his trial skills before joining MWM in 2021.

David also serves as an adjunct professor, teaching trial advocacy at the University of Texas School of Law where he graduated with honors and served on the editorial board of the Texas Law Review and as director of the Legal Research Board. Listed as a Texas Super Lawyer in business litigation, David brings considerable trial experience to MWM’s award-winning litigation section. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Austin Bar Association and is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

  • Co-lead counsel defending an auto maker in a putative class action alleging fraud
  • Co-lead counsel for class in Matson v. NIBCO, resulting in settlement fund valued at $8.1 million
  • Lead counsel for publicly-traded water treatment equipment manufacturer. Obtained a take-nothing judgment after a 3 1/2-week jury trial. Plaintiff sought $60 million+ on claims of fraud, product defect, and breach of warranty
  • Lead counsel for owner of an office building seeking to enforce an agreement to provide parking space access in a nearby parking garage. A subsequent owner of the garage argued the agreement was not enforceable because it had not been recorded and the owner did not otherwise have notice of it. After a two-week bench trial, the Court ruled that the parking agreement is enforceable
  • Lead counsel for purchaser of real estate, asserting claims of fraud. Obtained judgment on all claims after a week long jury trial
  • Co-lead counsel representing subcontractor against general contractor on a project involving construction of a solar power plant. Three-week arbitration hearing resulted in a multi-million dollar award for client
  • Lead counsel representing investor in a technology company. Company and investor were sued by a former contract marketer alleging the investor caused the Company to improperly terminate the marketing contract, resulting in the loss of $50 million+ in sales commissions. Plaintiff eventually gave up, voluntarily filing a dismissal that taxed Defendant’s costs against the Plaintiff
  • Lead counsel representing closely held corporation in action to enforce non-compete agreements against a group of former employees who left to form their own competing business. Obtained temporary injunction enforcing the non-compete agreements after week-long bench trial
  • Lead counsel representing auto parts supplier in one of the nation’s largest, multi-district, antitrust class action cases. Negotiated favorable settlement after aggressively defending claims
  • Lead counsel representing group of investors who had been defrauded. Obtained judgment for clients on all claims
  • Lead counsel representing closely-held corporation in action against former employee who was also a minority shareholder and officer. Plaintiff alleged that Defendant embezzled cash, then took trade secrets to form a new competitor. Defendant counterclaimed, alleging minority shareholder oppression. Obtained settlement for client that included return of stolen business and a five-year non-compete agreement

Press Releases

Munck Wilson Mandala Litigation Team Secures $10 Million Settlement for Homeowners from Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

The case was brought on behalf of homeowners in the San Antonio metropolitan area and the Birmingham Alabama metropolitan area who owned homes built by D.R. Horton. The homes contained NIBCO PEX Pipe, a product reported to have manufacturing defects that led to massive leaks. Pursuant to the approved settlement, class members who previously have

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Press Releases

Munck Wilson Mandala Welcomes Litigation Partner David Rowe

“David has a very impressive background and enhances our litigation strength in the Central Texas region,” said Michael Rodriguez, MWM’s managing partner of the South Austin office.  “He is highly regarded in Austin legal circles and has an excellent track record handling all manner of disputes, including contract and statutory claims as well as business

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Press Releases

18 Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Named Texas Super Lawyers 2023

Munck Wilson Mandala congratulates 18 attorneys who have been recognized as Texas Super Lawyers for 2023. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Produced and managed by Thomson Reuters, the selection process involves independent research,

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University of Texas School of Law, JD, 1995

with honors

Book Review Editor, Texas Law Review
Legal Research Board Director

University of Oklahoma, BA, 1988

  • Adjunct Professor, University of Texas at Austin, School of Law, Trial Advocacy (2008-Present)
  • Director, Civil Litigation Section, Austin Bar Association (2005-2010)
  • Chair, Bench Bar Section, Austin Bar Association (2003-2005)

 

  • Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters
    2020 – 2023

Texas

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan