Cody Schneider

Cody has significant experience navigating high-stakes legal matters involving industrial facilities, commercial developments, data centers, traditional and renewable energy projects, LNG expansions, and public infrastructure. He has zealously advocated for clients in a vast array of disputes, including but not limited to claims involving breach of contract, breach of warranty, prompt pay act violations, scheduling impacts, change orders, construction defects, delays, cost overruns, loss of productivity, differing site conditions, liquidated damages, bond claims, and mechanic’s liens. Cody regularly appears in state and federal courts as well as frequently leads cases through mediations and arbitrations. 

In addition to his litigation practice, Cody advises clients throughout the project lifecycle on contract drafting, negotiations, and risk management. His transactional experience includes preparing, reviewing, and revising various construction related documents and/or provisions relating to indemnities, warranties, risk allocations, lien and bond requirements, payment structures, and project amendments from preconstruction through close-out. 

Cody is actively involved in Houston’s business and construction community, serving on several boards and committees, including the Board of Directors for Central Houston, Inc., the Connect Downtown Committee for Downtown Houston+, the Energy Advisory Committee for the Greater Houston Partnership, and the Board of Directors for the Construction Law Section of the Houston Bar Association. 

Cody received his J.D. from South Texas College of Law where he served on the South Texas Law Review as well as the Board of Advocates and he obtained his B.S. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin.

Representative Experience

• Led efforts to aid industry leading manufacturer and supplier of electrical systems to recover millions in past due payments without filing any lawsuits in connection with various data centers projects spanning across several states in the U.S.
• Headed firm’s review of construction contracts in connection with multi-billion dollar financing for expansion of LNG export facility with pipeline connections from Texas to Louisiana. 
• Efficiently guided data center developer and operator through terminating agreement with defaulting general contractor and then resolved numerous claims from various subcontractors totaling well over $1 million.
• After obtaining a summary judgment that resulted in over $1 million in claims against dredging general contractor client being dismissed, successfully led appeal and oral argument that resulted in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the summary judgment as reflected in Diamond Servs. Corp. v. RLB Contracting, Inc., 113 F.4th 430 (5th Cir. 2024).
• Counseled owner and operator of LNG facility in prelitigation discussions with contractor involving claims in excess of $1 million in connection with liquidated damages, progress and final payment disputes, and construction defects. 
• Led arbitration team to obtain an award of over $800,0000 in damages through a partial summary judgment, and then a final hearing, that was confirmed in Powell Electrical Systems, Inc. v. Precision Millwright & Machine, Inc., Civil Action No. 4:25-CV-00287, In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.
• Headed team in fruitful resolution of arbitration proceeding on behalf of prime contractor against claims totaling over $1 million by pipe fabricator for alleged past due payment, and over $2 million in counterclaims due to defective work, loss of productivity, and liquidated damages, in connection with a pipeline expansion project in Pennsylvania. 
• Successfully defended and resolved claims for mining contractor against various tort and contamination allegations involving multi-million dollar dispute in connection with operations on a lignite mine and coal power plant in Atascosa County, Texas.
• Obtained a trial judgment for a construction equipment supplier of over $1.5 million in Harris County, Texas that ranked among the Top 50 Bench Awards in the United States based on breach of contract, fraud, and alter ego/corporate veil piercing claims.
• Defended and resolved a matter for a prime contractor in a complex construction defect case involving a water treatment plant in South Texas with multi-million dollars in claims. 
• Obtained summary judgments against adverse possession claimants in favor of a housing financing corporation that operates as the City of Houston’s only governmental community development entity. 
• Negotiated prelitigation resolution for industrial property owner in El Paso, Texas in connection with improper diversion of surface water from adjacent property and oversaw remediation measures to repair resulting property damage.
• Led prelitigation dispute resolution negotiations for community developer in connection with claims against adjoining landowner arising out of a cost sharing allocation agreement for the construction of utility improvements and then unauthorized installation of utilities on community developer’s property.
• Successfully resolved a construction defect action for an owner/operator against a former property owner and its contractors for improper installation of concrete paving and deficient subgrade treatment for a commercial parking lot.
• Obtained a favorable summary judgment for a prime contractor on two public highway construction projects against a subcontractor’s claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination, tortious interference of a prospective business relationship, quantum meruit, unjust enrichment, and exemplary damages. 
• Represented an offshore oil and gas jack-up rig designer in a complex international arbitration to obtain multi-million dollar award for the client.