Ivan F. Morales

Special Counsel

Location
Houston
Phone number
(713) 355-5009

Ivan Morales represents state and local governments and private-sector clients in complex environmental and commercial litigation. Drawing on experience in both the public and private sectors, he provides practical, strategic counsel aimed at helping clients recover damages arising from environmental contamination, natural resource injuries, and other significant economic losses. His experience includes PFAS contamination, AFFF-related claims, and other high-profile environmental matters, allowing him to deliver efficient, results-oriented advocacy in complex disputes.

Prior to joining Kelley Drye, Ivan was a deputy district attorney for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted—from voir dire to verdict—over forty felony, misdemeanor, and quasi-civil bench and jury trials. Ivan also previously practiced as a general commercial litigator at a local firm, and his experience include matters involving maritime disputes; environmental torts; justice of the peace trials; derivative shareholder disputes; complex class actions; fraudulent transfer claims; commercial contract disputes; trade secrets disputes; employment disputes; and insurance coverage matters.

Environmental Litigation

Representing the States of Washington, Oregon, New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in products liability and related litigation seeking cost recovery and damages caused by lawful use of materials that include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), including contamination stemming from the manufacture and distribution of aqueous film-forming foam (“AFFF”).

Representing the State of New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in site-specific investigations and litigation developments relating to the identification of AFFF products and associated usage at firefighter training academies, in connection with Massachusetts and New Hampshire’s involvement in ongoing potential bellwether track efforts in the AFFF Multi-District Litigation pending the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.

Representing the State of North Carolina in litigation for widespread contamination across a broad swath of the Cape Fear River and Coastal North Carolina, resulting from decades of releases of ​“Gen X” and many other PFAS from the Fayetteville Works Plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Representing the State of Maryland in bringing claims for costs and damages resulting from the commercial vessel DALI’s allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Port of Baltimore in 2024.

Serving as part of the team supporting the State of Ohio’s efforts to recover costs and damages caused by the derailment of a Norfolk Southern Corporation locomotive in East Palestine, Ohio, in 2023.

Represented the District of Columbia in connection with cost recovery and natural resource damages claims against commercial entities whose historical manufacturing operations contaminated the Anacostia River.

Represented the State of Ohio in litigation against DuPont over the company’s decades-long discharge of PFOA from its Washington Works Plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Commercial Litigation

Representing river gravel aggregate supplier in connection with several cases involving negligence, warranty, and products liability claims in a Texas Multi-District Litigation matter pending the Texas District Court for Travis County.

Representing pharmaceutical, commercial real estate, and investment companies in connection with Texas non-party subpoena compliance and enforcement.

Representing renewable energy company in connection with allegations of unsolicited marketing telephonic communications, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Represented Texas toy manufacturer in trade secrets dispute against national toy manufacturer, including in associated preliminary injunction proceedings in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Represented commercial real estate company in connection with labor dispute proceedings in the Texas State Courts.

Represented bridge bearing manufacturer in trade secrets dispute against former employees in the Texas District Court for Henderson County.

Represented the Port of Texas City in several real estate matters and property disputes.

Represented Texas energy corporation in connection with forcible detainer dispute in Zapata County, Texas.