J. Hoke Peacock II
Partner since 1970
jhp@obt.com
 
J. Hoke Peacock II has a broad-based practice primarily in business litigation. Hoke has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1997. Over the last 47 years, he has been a bond lawyer, a contracts lawyer, a real estate lawyer, and a trial lawyer. He has always tried the odd or different cases, from wage and hour disputes in the late 1960's, securities arbitrations in the 1970's, bankruptcy cases in the 1980's, business disputes in the 1990's, to patent infringement cases as plaintiff and defendant in the late 1990's and early 2000's. He was lead counsel for the City of Beaumont in proceedings to recover $20,000,000 it lost in the ESM Government Securities debacle, which cases were in Florida, New York, and Texas, and were in state and federal courts, including bankruptcy court. Ultimately, the City recovered $22,000,000 from ESM and its principals and from the banks and auditors that made the ESM scam possible. Hoke also represents several mineral owners in disputes with surface interests and other mineral owners. He is actively involved in business affairs serving as a director of American Electric Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ Symbol AETI).

His representative experience includes:

• Led plaintiff's trial team in federal court suit for infringement of Hong Kong patent resulting in a verdict of $19,000,000.00.
• Jointly led the defense of Prudential Insurance Company in three sales practices cases in Jefferson County, Texas in which class certification was denied.
• Represented lawyers in breakup of large plaintiffs' asbestos law firm.
• Led defense team in successful settlement of a multi million dollar business fraud case.
• Represented major aircraft manufacturer as plaintiff in patent infringement suit that resulted in substantial recoveries from several defendants after plaintiff's successful appeal to Federal Circuit from adverse Markman ruling by trial court.
• Handled and resolved multi-party legal malpractice case against major law firm arising out of a $5,000,000 land sale transaction.

Hoke received his bachelors degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1963 and his law degree with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1965. While attending the University of Texas School of Law, Hoke was an associate editor of the Texas Law Review, a member of the Order of the Coif and a member of the Friar Society. He has been Board Certified in Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law since these specialties were first recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1983. He served on the Real Estate Specialization Examination Commission the following year and for a number of years thereafter, ultimately becoming Chairman of that Commission. Hoke has also been Board Certified in Civil Trial by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1991. Thereafter, he served on the Civil Trial Specialization Examination Commission for 10 years. He is one of only a dozen or so Texas lawyers that are Board Certified in both Commercial Real Estate Law and Civil Trial Law, and is the only lawyer who has ever served on both examination commissions for these specialties.

Hoke is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a Proctor of the Maritime Law association of the United States.

Hoke is a member of The Southeast Texas Orchid Society and has served as its President.

Hoke practices primarily in the firm's office in Beaumont.

                                                                            

 

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