Overview
Thomas Watson focuses his practice on the trial and arbitration of complex matters throughout the United States and across the world. Clients seek out Thomas to assist with their most important matters, often bet-the-company matters, including multi-million and multi-billion dollar disputes.
Tom has represented a variety of Fortune 500 companies, energy companies, investment firms and hedge funds, high tech companies, start-ups and high-net-worth individuals, to name a few. He has helped clients in cases ranging from commercial, securities, bankruptcy, human rights, to international and cross-border disputes. He has substantial energy experience as well, having represented clients in disputes involving power, natural gas, and renewable energy.
Tom also has significant knowledge of the False Claims Act, having represented individuals who blow the whistle and report fraud committed against the government, as well as government entities pursuing fraud recovery.
As an experienced advocate, he has had numerous successful trials, including both federal and state multi-week jury trials, as well as successful appeals. In addition, he has substantial experience representing clients in both US and international arbitration, including both commercial and investor-state matters.
- California
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1995
- A.B., Harvard University, 1991
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
- Representing global energy company in claims for fraud and tortious interference in connection with a contract to construct a power plant.
- Representing an international entertainment company in arbitration proceedings against a co-investor in a marketing firm.
- Representing partners in a California real estate partnership asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty.
- Representing heirs seeking just compensation from an Eastern European country in a multi-billion-dollar expropriation matter under international law.
- Obtained an arbitration award in favor of a high-tech company against a cryptocurrency company.
- Represented North American energy company in multiple international arbitrations regarding a multi-billion-dollar long-term energy contract.
- Obtained a settlement for an investor asserting claims for misrepresentation from founders of a start-up in the natural foods space.
- Obtained a favorable opinion from the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in an international human rights matter against an international bank.
- Obtained a favorable opinion from the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in an international expropriation matter.
- Obtained a settlement on behalf of a software company in dispute with a customer in a Singapore-based ICDR arbitration.
- Obtained a jury verdict on behalf of numerous states and municipalities following a seven-week jury trial in a False Claims Act case concerning misrepresentations about PVC pipe sold to water systems owned by those states and municipalities.
- Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a power supplier following a six-week jury trial in a case challenging a multi-billion-dollar energy supply contract.
- Obtained a settlement for an owner of a natural gas pipeline in cross-border dispute with adjoining pipeline owner over a right of first refusal.
- Obtained an arbitration award in favor of co-owner of power plant in a dispute with its co-owner regarding power sales.
- Defended a wood flooring company and its principals in a AAA arbitration hearing concerning an investment advisory contract.
- Obtained multi-million-dollar judgment in favor of investors in a hotel and casino in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
News & Publications
Press Releases
Global Arbitration Review Names Steptoe to GAR 100 for Seventh Consecutive Year
April 13, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Expands Its Litigation and International Arbitration Practices with Tom Watson
November 16, 2021
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Los Angeles County Bar Association