John Gilmour is a founding shareholder of Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC in Houston, Texas. Born and raised in New England, Mr. Gilmour received his undergraduate education in Canada followed by law school in Louisiana. His practice encompasses significant commercial tort and environmental matters from coast to coast, including some of the largest contaminated sites in the country. Mr. Gilmour's experience involves a myriad of complex legal issues ranging from corporate veil piercing and successor liability to natural resource damages in state and federal courts. Outside of the office, Mr. Gilmour enjoys playing his guitar and hockey, attending live music, and spending time with his family.
Practice Areas/Experience
Mr. Gilmour's practice encompasses general business, tort, and environmental litigation. He has handled a variety of matters for clients representing both plaintiffs and defendants across the country, including:
Representing a Class I railroad in defending against potential cost recovery, contribution, and natural resource damages claims arising from three contiguous superfund sites spanning nearing 300 square miles.
Representing 62 members of the U.S. House of Representatives as amicus on class action against the Federal Emergency Management Agency related to Hurricane Katrina.
Representing Class I railroad in recovery of costs and damages arising from derailments.
Representing oil and gas royalty interest owner in breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty dispute.
Representing chemical manufacturer in defense of multiple personal injury claims related to airborne release.
Representing chemical manufacturer in defense of personal injury claims arising from incident on site.
Representing pipe manufacturer in defense of multiple toxic tort suits in Texas.
Representing respirator manufacturer in defense of multiple toxic tort suites in Texas.
Served as local counsel in various matters, including intellectual property and commercial litigation, in federal district court in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.
Representing the State of New Jersey as Special Counsel in pursuing costs and other damages associated with the remediation and restoration of the Passaic River.
Representing national transportation company concerning the recovery of costs associated with the remediation of the client's properties against former lessees that released hazardous materials.
Representing the largest private port in Texas in litigation bringing claims against a major oil company for fraud and breach of various easements, leases and contracts.
Representing international energy company in a CERCLA contribution action against various potentially responsible parties arising out of a contaminated dump site and salvage yard.
Representing the City of Houston in defending against a citizen suit action under the Clean Water Act arising out of construction projects at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Representing an international telecommunications company in prosecution of contract and fraud dispute arising out of the installation of a voice and data system at federal facilities.
Representing an international energy company in defense of Superfund litigation and other matters involving claims brought under CERCLA, RCRA, and various common law theories of recovery.
Representing oil and gas owner and operator in defense of ground water contamination suit.
Professional Background
Prior to founding Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC, Mr. Gilmour practiced at Connelly Baker Wotring & Jackson, LLP and Haynes & Boone, LLP in Houston. In addition, Mr. Gilmour had the honor of clerking for two years with Judge David Hittner in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.
Professional Activities
Houston Bar Association, Environmental Section, Board of Directors, 2007-2009.
Houston Young Lawyers Association, Special Olympics Committee, Co-Chair, 2007-2008.
American Association of Port Authorities, Member
Gulf Ports Association of the Americas, Member
International Association of Defense Council, Former Member
Texas Association of Defense Council, Former Member
Achievements
Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow.
Rising Star. Texas Super Lawyers Magazine, 2007, 2008, 2009.
Law Clerk to Judge David Hittner. United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, 1999-2001.
Presentations & Publications
Mr. Gilmour has authored the following:
The Oil Pollution Act, Natural Resource Damages and Overlapping Trustees. Presentation for Oil in the Gulf: Litigation and Insurance Coverage Conference, November 2010.
Environmental Laws, Natural Resource Damages Matters and Remediation Cases Impacting Railroads. Presentation for Railroad Environmental Conference, October 2010.
2009 Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Presentation for in-house CLE, January 2010.
The Attorney-Client Privilege, the Attorney Work Product Doctrine and the Real World of Discovery Protections. Presentation for in-house CLE, October 2009.
Special contributor to O'Connor's Federal Civil Forms, Jones McClure Publishing, 2007-2008 ed.
New World of E-Discovery. Speech for the Association of Corporate Counsel, March 2007.
Understanding Juries: Environmental and Toxic Tort Litigation. Speech for the Gulf Ports Association of the Americas, November 2006.
Natural Resource Damages: Key Legal Issues and Defenses. Speech for the American Association of Port Authorities, June 2006.
Natural Resource Damages Claims Under the New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act. Paper for the Mealey's Environmental Litigation Conference, April 2005.
Attorney Workshop: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Speeches on motion practice in federal courts, 1999-2001.
Saturday Morning in Court: Practice in Federal Court. Speeches on removal and remand, and general motion practice, 1999-2000.
