Marie R. Yeates, Esq., is widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost appellate attorneys, bringing more than four decades of experience to her role as a mediator and arbitrator at JAMS. Her practice encompasses a broad array of complex matters, including those involving oil and gas, energy, construction, personal injury, class actions, business and commercial, and securities. Renowned for her rigorous preparation and ability to distill intricate legal issues into actionable strategies, Ms. Yeates fosters collaboration and drives fair, equitable resolutions.

During her illustrious 43-year career at Vinson & Elkins, Ms. Yeates argued 141 appellate cases before federal and state courts nationwide, including dozens before the Texas Supreme Court. Her extensive appellate experience also includes appearances in Louisiana courts, where she has drawn on her command of both civil and common law systems.

Ms. Yeates has played a key role in landmark appellate victories. She successfully represented Anadarko Petroleum Corp. in a Texas Supreme Court case, reversing a ruling to secure over $100 million in defense costs stemming from the Deepwater Horizon incident. In another precedent-setting case, she clarified Texas law regarding the eminent domain authority of "common carrier" pipelines on behalf of Denbury Resources, solidifying her reputation as a trusted legal strategist in the energy industry.

A former judicial clerk for Hon. Alvin B. Rubin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Ms. Yeates is a founding member and Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and has held board certification in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1987. She has been consistently recognized in Chambers USA since 2003, earning the distinction of “Senior Statespeople” in 2024.

As a neutral, Ms. Yeates brings unparalleled strategic insight and a collaborative approach to her work, making her an invaluable asset for resolving complex appellate and commercial disputes. 

Representative Matters 

• Antero Resources Corp. v. Veolia Water Technologies, Inc., 2023CA897 (Colo. Ct. App. 2023): Secured affirmance of a $215 million judgment in a contract dispute over wastewater treatment facilities
• In re Anadarko Petroleum Corp., 573 S.W.3d 187 (Tex. 2019): Represented Anadarko in the Texas Supreme Court, obtaining a reversal allowing recovery of over $100 million in defense costs from the Deepwater Horizon incident
• Denbury Green Pipeline-Texas, LLC v. Texas Rice Land Partners, Ltd., 510 S.W.3d 909 (Tex. 2017): Successfully argued a Texas Supreme Court case clarifying the "common carrier" test for pipeline eminent domain powers
• Huntsman Int’l, LLC v. Praxair, Inc., 2022-0777 (La. App. 4th Cir. Apr. 19, 2024): Secured affirmance of a $93 million judgment in a contract dispute
• Antero Resources Corp. v. South Jersey Resources Group, LLC, 933 F.3d 1209 (10th Cir. 2019): Obtained affirmance of a $60 million net jury verdict in a gas purchase pricing dispute

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Memberships and Affiliations 

• President, Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, 2014–2015
• Fellow, Trial Lawyer Honor Society, Litigation Counsel of America
• Member, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, 1997–2025
• Board Certification, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1987–2025
• Member: The Council of Appellate Lawyers, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, American Law Institute
• Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation, American Bar Foundation, Houston Bar Foundation
• American Bar Association
• United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast
  • Co-Chair, Law Firm Initiative, 2009–2010
  • Co-Chair, Alexis de Tocqueville Society, 2005–2006
  • Chair, Women’s Initiative, 2001–2002
  • Board of Trustees, 2003–2008
  • Recipient, Woman of the Year Award, 2004
• Recipient, Woman on the Move Award, Texas Executive Women, 2002
• Member, Executive Women’s Partnership Committee, Greater Houston Partnership
  
  

Selected Awards and Honors

• Chambers USA: Band 1 rankings
  • Senior Statespeople in Litigation: Appellate (Texas), 2024
  • Litigation: Appellate (Texas), 2007–2023
  • Appellate (Nationwide), 2009–2019
  • Litigation: General Commercial (Texas), 2003–2006
• Legal 500 U.S.
  • Supreme Court & Appellate – Supreme Court, 2010–2019
  • Energy: Litigation, 2013 and 2018
  • Dispute Resolution: Appellate, 2020–2024
  • Energy Litigation: Oil & Gas, 2020–2022
• Selected to the 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon, 2023–2025
• Benchmark Litigation, 2025
• Best Lawyers in America^©
  • Appellate Law (Houston), 2008–2025
  • Commercial Litigation, 2010 and 2012–2025
  • Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Law (Houston), 2021
• Texas Lawyer (American Lawyer Media)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016 and 2020
  • Texas Trailblazer, 2020
• Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation
  • America’s Top 250 Women in Litigation, 2012–2014 and 2017–2018
  • Local Litigation Star in Texas, 2011–2013 and 2016–2018
• National Law Journal
  • Energy & Environmental Trailblazer, 2015
  • Appellate Hot List, 2009
• Who’s Who Legal (Law Business Research Ltd.), Litigation, 2017
• Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters)
  • Listed, 2003–2024
  • Top 50 Women Lawyers (Texas) and Top 100 Lawyers (Houston), 2003–2009
• Houston Business Journal, Who’s Who in Energy, 2014
• Globe Business Publishing Ltd., Client Choice Awards: Litigation (Texas), 2016
• Euromoney’s Benchmark Appellate, Fifth Circuit Litigation Star, 2012 and 2013

Background and Education

• Vinson & Elkins, 1981–2024
• Partner, 1988 – 2024
• Managing Partner
• Houston Office, 2008–2012
• Firm Management Committee
• Member, 2000–2006 and 2009–2014
• Appellate Practice Group
• Chair, 1991–2023
• Judicial Clerkship, Hon. Alvin B. Rubin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• J.D., Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, 1980
• Order of the Coif
• Editor-in-Chief, Louisiana Law Review
• Graduated first in class
• B.S., summa cum laude, Accounting, Louisiana State University, 1977