Partner / Austin
Drew Pate is a versatile trial lawyer who has represented clients in a variety of cases. Born and raised in Texas, Drew now represents clients across the country. Drew focuses on complex commercial litigation including class actions, oil and gas royalty underpayment, securities fraud, breach of contract, business and commercial disputes, and personal injury litigation.
Drew joined Nix Patterson in 2011 and immediately began working on some of the firm’s largest and most complex class action cases. Since that time, Drew has contributed to the firm’s successful resolution of cases recovering over a billion dollars for clients, including a $280 million cash settlement against BNY Mellon for alleged breach of its fiduciary duties and securities lending agreements, as well as a $186 million settlement for the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations against the federal government.
Drew was one of the lead members of the trial team in the firm’s representation of the State of Oklahoma in the first trial in the country against opioid manufacturers for their role in creating the opioid crisis. The firm’s representation of the State of Oklahoma in opioid litigation has so far led to $355 million in settlements and a $465 million verdict against J&J.
Drew has also been heavily involved in the firm’s representation of royalty owners against oil and gas companies for recovering underpaid royalties and related issues. Drew recently served as Co-Lead Trial Counsel in the class action case Cline v. Sunoco, Inc. et al, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and obtained a historic $155 million judgment following a week-long bench trial. The judgment included $75 million in punitive damages.
Prior to beginning his practice, Drew distinguished himself at Baylor Law School, graduating magna cum laude and serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Baylor Law Review. Drew was also the Evidence Coach of the 2011 Baylor Law National Trial Competition Mock Trial Team. He is admitted to practice in Texas state courts.
Education and Academic Affiliations
Baylor University School of Law, Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, 2011
Trinity University, B.A., History and Classical Studies, summa cum laude, 2008
Academic Affiliations and Honors
Phi Beta Kappa
Editor-in-Chief, Baylor Law Review, Fall 2010-Spring 2011
National Trial Competition Mock Trial Team, Evidence Coach 2011
Strasburger & Price Moot Court Competition Champion
Bar and Court Admissions
Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
