Maria Vittoria "Giugi" Carminati

I am an efficient and effective litigator with experience representing clients in a wide variety of fields. I represented whistleblowers, criminal defendants, and several energy companies in the business of marketing and transporting energy products. I have also represented aerospace consulting companies on high-stakes, high-profile projects. Now at the helm of my own boutique, my practice continues to specialize in high-end litigation. If the case is  novel, difficult, or challenging, I have the the right experience and attitude. And I don't work alone; my team of contract attorneys is here to provide fire power when we need it.

 

ADMISSIONS

•​State: Texas and Washington D.C.

 

•Federal Districts: Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas, District of Colorado, Northern District of Alabama.

 

•Appellate: Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Supreme Court of the United States.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Carminati Law PLLC, Houston, TX - Principal Attorney

 

•Represented foreign defendant in $22 million civil conspiracy, civil RICO, breach of fiduciary duty suit.

•Represented upstream natural gas marketer and transporter in relation to marketing contract.

 

•​Co-counselled on a multi-billion dollar qui tam suit against a pharmaceutical company for off-label marketing and violations of the anti-kickback statute, as well as individual retaliation claims.

•Developed informed consent process for high-altitude record-setting manned balloon project.

•Assisted in re-negotiating a severance agreement for an ex-pat Mexican citizen in the US.

 

 

 

Berg & Androphy, Houston, TX - 2013-2015

 

•Mediated and settled upstream natural gas dispute regarding over-nomination/under-allocation.

•Participated in the settlement multi-million dollar dispute between client condensate marketing company and PEMEX for alleged conversion of stolen condensate.

 

•Second-chaired a one-week criminal trial representing a former military officer accused of17 counts of wire fraud.

 

•Lead associate in the criminal representation of a former Mexican Governor.

 

 

 

Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP - 2008-2013

 

 

Complex Commercial Litigation & International Arbitration Associate

 

•Participated in the representation of an energy consortium composed of six of the largest Latin American oil & gas companies, in Spanish, in an ICSID proceeding for non-payment of royalties.

 

•Participated in the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, providing litigation representation in adversary proceedings and mediations seeking to settle Credit Default Swap Agreements under ISDA.

•Participated in the representation of a national bank in a multi-million dollar title insurance case involving land in Mexico.

 

•Represented Latin American client in shareholder oppression suit, ultimately settled the suit.

 

•Solo tried 11 jury and 1 bench misdemeanor trials

 

•First chaired an asylum hearing on the merits in immigration court, including direct examination of refugee and preparation of medical expert.

 

•Second chaired a child abduction case under the Hague Convention in federal court, including deposition and cross-examination of mother-defendant.

 

 

 

FEDERAL JUDICIAL INTERNSHIPS

 

•Federal Judicial Internship, Hon. Nancy Atlas, Houston, TX (January–March 2007), United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division

 

•Federal Judicial Internship, Hon. Frances Stacy, Houston, TX (July–August 2006), United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division

 

 

EDUCATION

University of Nebraska College of Law

 

•L.L.M. in Space, Cyber & Telecommunications Law

 

 

 

 

University of Houston Law Center, Houston, TX                                                  Magna Cum Laude

•Houston Law Review, Associate Editor

 

•Lex Award–Civil Procedure I

 

•2008 Hippard Intra Mural Champion (Champion & Best Speaker)

 

 

University of Houston, Honors College, Houston, TX

 

•Summa Cum Laude

 

 

 

 

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

 

 

International Institute of Space Law

•International Institute of Space Law (IISL), Nominated and Elected Member, October 2010-present

 

•Observer to UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, Austria, Mar. 2014

 

•Assistant Regional Organizer, Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, April 2012-present

 

•Judge, 2010 North American Regional Round, Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition

 

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Community Organizations

 

•​National Association of Women Business Owners

•Zonta International

 

•Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association

 

 

 

Educational Institutions

•University of Nebraska College of Law, Alumni Advisory Council

 

•University of Houston Honors College Advisory Board

 

 

 

American Bar Association

 

•Chair, Space Law Committee, ABA Science & Technology Section, Aug. 2014-present.

 

•Vice Chair, Space Law Committee, ABA Science & Technology Section, Aug. 2013-Aug. 2014.

 

•Vice Chair, International Arbitration Committee of the ABA Section of International Law, Aug. 2012-Aug. 2014

 

•Editor-in-Chief, Commercial and Business Litigation Newsletter, Litigation Section, Aug. 2012-Aug. 2014

 

•Co-Editor, Commercial and Business Litigation Newsletter, Litigation Section, Mar. 2009-Aug. 2012

 

•Chief Editor, The Affiliate, Young Lawyers Division, Aug. 2010-Aug. 2011

 

•Assistant Editor, The Affiliate, Young Lawyers Division, Aug. 2009-Aug. 2010

 

 

 

State Bar Associations

 

•Director, Texas Young Lawyers Association, Board of Directors, 2008-2010