Heaven C. Chee

Ms. Chee is recognized in commercial litigation as “One to Watch” by Best Lawyers in America and as a “Texas Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers. Prior to joining the firm, she practiced with Yetter Coleman LLP and Hogan Lovells US LLP in Houston and clerked for the Honorable Judge George C. Hanks, Jr. and the Honorable Judge Yvonne Y.  Ho, both of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Representations

Represented a major technology company in multiple lawsuits brought by the State of Texas and other sovereigns where the company was alleged to have violated antitrust and consumer protection laws.

Represented a syndicate of institutional lenders in their breach of fiduciary and breach of contract claims against another senior lender who forced an out-of-court restructuring of the borrower. 

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a global pharmaceutical company in a False Claims Act suit that alleged the client defrauded the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of over $12 billion dollars through an off-label marketing and kick-back scheme.

Represented a major sports league and its club affiliate in a trademark infringement case, which resulted in the plaintiff voluntarily dismissing his claim.

Represented a major investment bank against the FDIC’s claim that it had violated the Texas Securities Act, which resolved in a favorable settlement before trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. 

Obtained a multi-million-dollar trial verdict for a European cosmetic distributor, where the jury found the counter-defendant liable on all four claims and assess actual damages, punitive damages, and full attorneys’ fees.

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Antitrust

Banking & Financial Services

Consumer Privacy & Deceptive Trade Practices Litigation

Honors & Awards

Super Lawyers® by Thomson Reuters, Rising Star, 2021 - Present

Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation, 2024

State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Islander Section, Best Under 40 Award, 2023

The Best Lawyers in America©, “Ones to Watch” in Commercial Litigation, 2021 - 2022

State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Islander Section, Pro Bono Award, 2022

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Houston Public Library Foundation, Board of Directors

Asian American Bar Association of Houston, Board of Directors

Asian American Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees

Developments in Literacy USA, Board of Directors

The Federal Lawyer Editorial Board (2019 - 2021)

Court Admissions

Texas

U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern, and Eastern Districts of Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Education

J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, Dean’s Scholarship Recipient, 2013

B.A., Rice University, cum laude, 2010

Languages

English

Clerkships

Hon. Judge Yvonne Y. Ho, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2022 - 2023

Hon. George C. Hanks, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2013 - 2014

Publications

“Mandamus in Discovery Disputes.” State Bar of Texas, Litigation Section Planning Committee - Advanced Discovery & Evidence Conference, 2022 (Member & Speaker)

“Choosing a Forum as a Defendant.” State Bar of Texas, Litigation Section Speaker – Advanced Civil Trial Conference (2021).

“Contract Performance During Pandemic: Lessons From 1918,” Law360, April 17, 2020 (Co-Author)

“Practicum: Mock Appellate Argument: Compelling Arbitration under U.S. Law,” International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Symposium, Washington University School of Law, February 2020 (Co-Presenter)

“Lack of Materiality Evidence ‘Zaps’ Mammoth FCA Jury Awards: 5 Lessons,” BNA’s Health Law Reporter, March 2018 (Author)

“Legal Trends: Upcoming Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” The Houston Lawyer, November/December 2015 (Author)

“Redress, Reparations, & Reconciliation in the Black Community: The Role AAPIs Play in Allyship,” NAPABA Convention, November 2020 (Moderator)

“Lifting the Blindfold of Injustice,” OCA Greater Houston Film Festival Panel Discussion, June 2020 (Panelist)