Michelle R. Meriam Blair

Michelle is a highly effective advocate who has handled a wide array of matters: big and small, complex and simple, international and domestic. She understands that the needs of each client and case are unique. Whether a case is being tried to a jury in Texas court, appealed to the United States Supreme Court, or arbitrated in London under a complex array of foreign laws, Michelle distills complex legal issues to efficiently and persuasively present the client’s story to the court or tribunal.Michelle has represented clients in numerousappealsin every level of the Texas and federal courts of appeals, helping them to either hold onto favorable jury verdicts or reverse unfavorable rulings from the trial courts. Michelle’s practice is also focused oninternational commercial arbitration, where she has honed her skills as both a litigator and appellate attorney by developing the facts underlying international disputes and briefing complex legal issues.While attending the University of Houston Law Center, Michelle participated in the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, where she won consecutive awards for best briefs and oral argument. The Jessup is the world’s largest and most prestigious moot court competition, with competitors from over 80 countries working year-long to prepare briefs and arguments for a simulated fact problem before the International Court of Justice. Michelle has previously served as head coach of the University of Houston’s competition team and continues to participate in the Jessup as a judge in the international rounds in Washington, D.C.AWARDS AND HONORSBoard Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal SpecializationRecognized as a “Rising Star” in Appellate Law by Thomson ReutersSuper Lawyers –Texas, since 2016Certificate of Achievement in International Arbitration from the International Chamber of CommerceCertificate in Advanced Arbitration Skills from the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center of the University of Houston Law CenterPhyllis Randolph Frye Writing Competition AwardDistinguished Service Award from the University of Houston Law CenterMost Outstanding Articles Editor, Houston Law ReviewOrder of the Barristers (honor society for oral and written advocacy)Order of the Coif (scholastic honor society)Order of the Barons (scholastic honor society)Order of the Scribes (honor society for written advocacy)MEMBERSHIPSChartered Institute of Arbitrators, MemberAssociate Member of the Institute for Transnational ArbitrationInternational Law Section of the American Bar AssociationCollege of the State Bar of TexasCOURT ADMISSIONSSupreme Court of TexasSupreme Court of the United StatesUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitSouthern District of TexasWestern District of TexasPUBLICATIONSAgreeing on How to Disagree: Post-Dispute Arbitration Agreements, co‑authored with Eileen O’Neill, Business Disputes Course, State Bar of Texas, September 2016EDUCATIONJ.D.,magna cum laude, University of Houston Law Center, 2011Houston Law Review, Articles EditorJudicial Intern to Chief Justice Sherry Radack at the First Court of Appeals in HoustonLegal Writing Tutor & Assistant to Writing ProfessorsResearch Assistant to Professor Robert RagazzoMoot Court Board MemberAdvocates Board MemberInternational Law Society, Foreign LLM LiaisonB.A. in English, with honors, University of Texas at Austin, 2006UTeach Program, Language ArtsShakespeare Study Abroad Program at Oxford UniversityPRACTICE AREASInternational Commercial Arbitration, Civil Appeals, Business/Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Oil and Gas Litigation, Probate Litigation, Products Liability Litigation