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    Mark Youngjohn photograph

    Mark A. Youngjohn

    Counsel

    Houston
    713-225-7226
    mark.youngjohn@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    LitigationEnergyInsurance

    Energy insurers across the Gulf Coast rely on Mark Youngjohn to defend insureds against large catastrophic claims. Decades of litigation experience and a focus on creative solutions make him a go-to adviser for small to mid-sized operators, oilfield services companies and energy service providers. He’s also trusted by London market syndicates and domestic insurers to quickly resolve high-stakes coverage disputes and indemnity demands.

    Mark gives clients informed options to handle losses stemming from both onshore and offshore operations. He frequently handles complex litigation related to personal injury and property damage at wellheads, production pads, pipelines, construction sites, refineries, and related energy sector operations.

    This experience enables Mark to hit the ground running when clients face first- and third-party coverage issues under energy, bumbershoot and commercial general liability policies. He examines coverage details and contract provisions for defense and indemnity application to help clients determine their duties after a loss or dispute.

    Mark leaves no stone unturned when building a client’s liability defense and has significant large-loss subrogation experience. He leverages deep industry knowledge to find strategic solutions to claims resulting from:

    • Industrial energy production
    • Maritime accidents and losses
    • Oil and gas exploration, development and production
    • Petrochemical facility operations
    • Pipeline construction, operation and maintenance

    Insurers also look to Mark to help them manage risks before litigation, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Mark’s command of all aspects of liability defense allows him to spot contract issues that could add exposure. He works with clients to allocate risk and define indemnification through well-drafted contracts and policies.

    This experience enables Mark to hit the ground running when clients face first- and third-party coverage issues under energy, bumbershoot and commercial general liability policies. He examines coverage details and contract provisions for defense and indemnity application to help clients determine their duties after a loss or dispute.

    Mark leaves no stone unturned when building a client’s liability defense and has significant large-loss subrogation experience. He leverages deep industry knowledge to find strategic solutions to claims resulting from:

    • Industrial energy production
    • Maritime accidents and losses
    • Oil and gas exploration, development and production
    • Petrochemical facility operations
    • Pipeline construction, operation and maintenance

    Insurers also look to Mark to help them manage risks before litigation, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Mark’s command of all aspects of liability defense allows him to spot contract issues that could add exposure. He works with clients to allocate risk and define indemnification through well-drafted contracts and policies.

    Experience

    • Secured favorable settlement for offshore operator to end suit concerning property damage and mitigation of damages after semi-submersible drilling rig’s anchor fouled on an 18-inch natural gas pipeline on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Louisiana.
    • Obtained settlement for refinery operator for property damage, business interruption and mitigation of damages after a refinery fire in Krotz Springs, Louisiana, resulting from contract maintenance crew breaking bleeder valve on the bell end of a heat exchanger in a reformer unit and venting liquid propane into the facility.
    • Secured settlement for pipeline operator in maritime negligence case involving the improper mooring of a semi-submersible drilling rig, which broke loose in Hurricane Rita, drifted 140 miles into shallow water, dredged up client’s undersea gas pipelines and shut in its production platform in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.
    • Settled property damage and business interruption claims for Fort Worth nitrate facility operator resulting from explosion caused by a low temperature embrittlement of a surge tank filled with liquid nitrogen by a faulty nitrogen supply system.
    • Secured settlement for oilfield services provider to resolve product defect claims against a diesel motor manufacturer after wellhead fire caused by a defective fuel injection component destroyed frac trucks and related equipment.
    • Achieved favorable settlement for oilfield service company for property damage claims arising when a frac truck was forced off the road by a fruit truck and destroyed by fire on Interstate 20 in Midland County, Texas.
    • Upheld on appeal the summary judgment dismissal of a $5 million subrogation claim against an oilfield operator brought under the contractual indemnification provisions of an oilfield master services agreement between the operator and its workover consultant.
    • Delivered oral argument to Fifth Circuit upholding district court order compelling arbitration for insurance underwriters in a dispute with electric utility over coverage related to business interruption attributable to delay of construction of a Louisiana power plant caused by an accident in a railroad yard.
    • Achieved favorable settlement for oilfield service company for property damage claims arising when a frac truck was forced off the road by a fruit truck and destroyed by fire on Interstate 20 in Midland County, Texas.
    • Upheld on appeal the summary judgment dismissal of a $5 million subrogation claim against an oilfield operator brought under the contractual indemnification provisions of an oilfield master services agreement between the operator and its workover consultant.
    • Delivered oral argument to Fifth Circuit upholding district court order compelling arbitration for insurance underwriters in a dispute with electric utility over coverage related to business interruption attributable to delay of construction of a Louisiana power plant caused by an accident in a railroad yard.

    Insights

    • October 7, 2024

      Phelps Adds Insurance Attorney To Houston Office…

    • September 17, 2024

      Phelps Welcomes Mark Youngjohn to Help Insurers Manage Risk Amid Texas Energy Expansion…

    Recognition

    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

    Education

    • Southern Methodist University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2000
    • Texas Tech University, M.P.A., 1993
    • Texas Tech University, B.A., Political Science, 1989
    • Southern Methodist University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2000
    • Texas Tech University, M.P.A., 1993
    • Texas Tech University, B.A., Political Science, 1989

    Credentials

    • Texas
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
    • Texas
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

    Memberships and Affiliations

    • State Bar of Texas
    • State Bar of Texas
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