David Ammons

David Ammons, a Diamond McCarthy partner, is a Dallas-based litigator whose practice focus includes oil and gas disputes, financial litigation, and director and officer liability suits. David is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

David’s experience in complex commercial litigation includes a number of noted cases, including representation of a publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company in the defense of antitrust claims related to bonus and royalty payments, defending a former director and officer of a leading independent energy company against claims of fraud and negligent misrepresentation, and representation of the Joint Official Liquidators for companies in the Cayman Islands in the pursuit of claims related to the multibillion dollar financial collapse of Parmalat, an Italian-based dairy conglomerate.

David also has considerable experience representing clients based in the Asia-Pacific region in U.S. litigation and administrative proceedings. He is part of the Diamond McCarthy team representing the Philippine island Province of Marinduque in its environmental tort suit against a large multinational mining company.

In 2010, Texas Monthly named David a "Rising Star," a distinction reserved for the top 2.5% of Texas attorneys who are under 40 years of age or who have been practicing law for less than 10 years.

David is licensed to practice in Texas. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

Board Certified

• Oil, Gas and Mineral Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Representative Cases

• Representation of a publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company in the defense of antitrust claims related to bonus and royalty payments.
• Representation of an independent energy company in a dispute concerning the interpretation and enforcement of gas gathering contracts and the assessment of gathering fees.
• Representation of a former director and officer of a leading independent energy company in the defense of fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims.
• Representation of a publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company in litigation concerning the enforceability of a lease option agreement and other related agreements.
• Representation of a large natural gas production company in the defense of a number of proposed class action cases involving the propriety of royalty payments for gas and natural gas liquids production.
• Representation of a Liquidating Trustee in the pursuit of claims against the former officers and directors of a bankrupt designer and manufacturer of offshore drilling rigs.
• Representation of the Joint Official Liquidators for companies in the Cayman Islands in the pursuit of claims related to the multi-billion dollar financial collapse of Parmalat, an Italian-based dairy conglomerate.
• Representation of a world-renowned designer and manufacturer of custom motorcycles in a breach of contract suit. David tried this matter to judgment in state court in Fort Worth.

• David Ammons Becomes Board Certified in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law
• 2010 Texas Rising Stars Are Named

• David Ammons and MaryAnn Joerres, co-authors, Production, Privileges, and Practice (Preserving and Piercing Privileges in an Oil and Gas Practice), presented at 34th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Institute (April 2008)
• James D. McCarthy and David Ammons co-authors, Forum Non Conveniens: The Battle Over The Most Suitable Forum For International Litigation, presented to the Dallas Bar Association, International Law Section (October 2007)