Scot Clinton
Senior Attorney
Areas of Focus
Contact
Scot is a senior attorney with Wilson Cribbs + Goren who has been practicing law since 2004. He represents clients in a variety of real estate, construction, business, and commercial litigation matters. Scot enjoys working with clients, learning about their businesses, and working with them to develop specialized strategies that suit their needs and are tailored to their business goals.
When beginning a new representation, Scot starts his work with the desired end result in mind. “As an experienced trial lawyer, I bring a perspective that most lawyers, and many litigators, do not have. I believe this helps me work more efficiently for the client, and I’m better able to assess what really matters and how to reach a satisfactory resolution.”
Understanding and empathizing with clients and their situation is an important part of representing them. “My father was an attorney and a judge, so I learned from him about the practice of law and the special responsibility attorneys serve in helping others. We can protect people’s rights and interests, defend against abuse of power, help the underprivileged, and influence the functioning of government. There is probably no other profession where an individual can have such a profound role in society.”
Scot earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999 and received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2004.
Education
- B.A. Government and History, The University of Texas at Austin, 1999
- Spring 1999 Cum Laude Ampla et Magna
- Spring 1998 Ampla Cum Laude
- J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 2004
- 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training, University of Houston Law Center, 2012
Certifications & Licenses
State Bar of Texas, 2004
- Appellate Section
- Litigation Section
- Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section
Houston Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Commercial & Consumer Law Section
- Member, HBA Administration of Justice Committee, 2017-18
- Member, HBA Lawyers for a Beautiful Houston Committee, 2016-2018
- Member, HBA Membership Committee, 2016-2017
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2005
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 2016
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 2016
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2016
HYLA Leadership Academy, 2008-2009 Class
Fellow, Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
Professional Recognition & Affiliations
- Recognized in Real Estate, The Best Lawyers in America© (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2022-2024
- “Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Houston, TX” Selected to Super Lawyers® (Thomson Reuters), Business Litigation, General Litigation, Rising Stars (Houston, TX) 2014-2016
- Jury Verdict named to “Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame” Honorable Mention by Texas Lawyer in conjunction with VerdictSearch (LexisNexis®), 2013
- Jury Verdict named to “Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame” Verdict #15 by Texas Lawyer in conjunction with VerdictSearch (LexisNexis®), 2011
- Named among Top Lawyers in Houston by Houstonian Magazine, 2015
Bar & Court Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- Appellate Section
- Litigation Section
- Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section
- Houston Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Commercial & Consumer Law Section
- Member, HBA Administration of Justice Committee, 2017-18
- Member, HBA Lawyers for a Beautiful Houston Committee, 2016-2018
- Member, HBA Membership Committee, 2016-2017
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 2016
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 2016
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2016
- HYLA Leadership Academy, 2008-2009 Class
- Fellow, Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
Representative Experience
- Deed Restrictions
- Represented marine petroleum transportation operator in lawsuit in United States District Court for Southern District of Texas brought by neighbor alleging violations of deed restrictions and nuisance in Channelview. Convinced the Court to grant our motion for summary judgment on Plaintiffs claim for common-law nuisance and to grant in part our motion for summary judgment on Plaintiffs claim for violation of restrictive covenants. 2024 WL 627787. Also convinced the Court to grant our motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s action to enforce restrictive covenants under the Texas Property Code. 2023 WL 6397890; 2023 WL 6396044.
- Currently representing homeowner’s association in Angelina County state district court in case involving deed restrictions.
- Easements
- Represented property owner at jury trial in claims brough by neighboring property owner involving easement agreement in Montgomery County state district court. Picked the jury and examined witnesses.
- Currently representing property owner in Waller County in dispute involving trespass and implied easement claims.
- Option agreements
- First-chair trial counsel representing landlord in Harris County state district court in dispute involving commercial lease agreement for premises located at Houston Farmer’s Market. Case also involves various issues including lease renewal option provision, agreements to agree, fixtures, capital contributions, and parol evidence.
- First-chair trial counsel in case involving competing claims to purchase property in Galveston County state district court. Following two-day bench trial, judgment for the client and that opposing party take nothing on its claims.
- Leases
- First-chair trial counsel in Brazoria County Court at Law in lease dispute. Judgment for the client for past due monies owed.
- Currently representing owner of Greenspoint Mall in lawsuit involving dispute with tenant in Harris County State District Court.
- Contracts
- Defended developer, home-builder and operator of build-to-rent communities in arbitration with multi-state subcontractor over a construction contract involving claims exceeding $1 million. Case settled following final arbitration.
- Defended a public insurance adjuster in a case involving estimating and appraisal services after Hurricane Ike. The case was settled at mediation on favorable terms.
- Defended a mortgage lender in a lawsuit filed by an accounting firm concerning audit-related services. The case was settled during discovery on favorable terms.
- Defended a homeowner in a suit by homebuyers claiming misrepresentations about the condition of the home. The case was settled during discovery on favorable terms.
- Represented a subcontractor in a payment dispute with a general contractor over construction work performed on a local commercial project, involving issues under the Trust Fund Act, the Prompt Pay Act, and mechanic’s lien. The dispute was resolved without litigation with payment in full to the client.
- Bankruptcy
- Represented land owner in adversary proceeding in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of Texas in lawsuit involving property in Montgomery County and allegations of forged deed. Lawsuit successfully resolved with confidential settlement.
- Government litigation
- Representing property owners and tenants in action against general law municipality involving closure of public street.
- Representing limited liability company in action against public utility district in Montgomery County involving a real estate contract for purchase of residential lots from Defendant and provision of services in connection with development of the lots as a residential subdivision.
- Loan agreements
- Successful representation of lenders on issues relating to default under loan agreements for Houston-area hotel in United States District Court for Southern District of Texas.
- Water
- Represented a municipal utility district in water drainage dispute in Montgomery County state district court involving multimillion dollar damage to real property. Lawsuit successfully resolved with confidential settlement.
- ADA
- Defended a full service commercial real estate investment company in lawsuit alleging barriers to access at shopping center in Dallas in U.S. District Court for Northern District of Texas. The Court granted our motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, based on the mootness doctrine. 2024 WL 734644; 2024 WL 733636.
- First Amendment
- First-chair trial counsel in U.S. District Court for Southern District of Texas in employment retaliation claim based on First Amendment freedom of speech. Jury verdict and judgment for the client with recovery of damages for lost wages, mental anguish, and punitive damages.
- Deceptive Trade Practices
- Trial counsel in Taylor County State District Court in airplane sale dispute involving claims of deceptive trade practices and fraudulent inducement. Favorable settlement agreement reached during trial.
- Recognized in Texas Lawyer/Verdict Search’s “Top Texas Verdicts of 2011” for obtaining the #1 jury verdict in the category of Consumer Protection (#15 overall in the State of Texas). In 2013, this verdict was recognized (Honorable Mention) in the Texas Lawyer/Verdict Search “Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame.”