William “Tracy” Freeman concentrates his practice in general liability, commercial litigation and transportation defense. He represents companies and individuals in civil lawsuits involving catastrophic personal injury, property damage and high-exposure commercial disputes. He has successfully obtained defense verdicts, summary judgments and arbitration awards in matters involving commercial motor vehicles, professional liability, maritime and complex insurance and liability claims.

With 30 years of experience in both state and federal court, Tracy is known for his command of complex legal issues, practical trial strategy and ability to secure favorable outcomes through trial, motion practice and arbitration. His work spans multi-party litigation, appeals, class actions, business torts and claims brought under federal maritime and transportation statutes.

Tracy previously opened and served as Managing Partner of the Houston office of a regional litigation firm and previously held Partner and Senior Attorney roles at national law firms. He has represented clients in matters involving product liability, maritime, energy services, insurance coverage, construction accidents and recreational injury claims. Tracy holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is frequently called upon in high-exposure transportation and professional liability matters, sometimes on short notice.

Tracy earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law, where he was inducted into the Order of Lytae. He received his B.J. (Bachelor of Journalism) from the University of Texas at Austin.

Tracy lives in the Texas Hill Country with his wife and they have four grown children. Outside of practicing law, Tracy is a longtime season ticket holder for Texas Longhorn football, enjoys traveling with his wife, and is an avid crossword puzzle enthusiast.

Honors

  • A-V Preeminent® Rating Martindale-Hubbell
  • Order of Lytae, South Texas College of Law

Professional & Civic Involvement

  • Proctor, The Maritime Law Association of the United States
  • Deacon, Sugar Land Baptist Church
    • Former Chair,  Personnel Committee
    • Former Chair, Legal Committee
    • Former Chair, Renovation Project Committee
  • Transportation Lawyers Association

Practice Highlights

Representative Matters

  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a commercial motor carrier and its driver in Hidalgo County, Texas, resulting in full dismissal of all claims.
  • Secured a unanimous defense verdict in Denton County, Texas, for a national trucking company and its driver in a three-vehicle accident case; jury returned a defense verdict within 45 minutes on claims brought by two elderly plaintiffs seeking nearly $1 million.
  • Obtained a complete defense award, including attorneys’ fees and costs, in a JAMS arbitration before a former U.S. District Court judge; represented a global consulting firm and its director in a one-week proceeding.
  • Achieved full dismissal of claims following a bench trial in federal court in the Eastern District of Oklahoma under the Shipowner’s Limitation of Liability Act, securing complete exoneration of the client.

Notable Case Opinions

  • Hadel v. Morris, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 161165 (S.D. Tex. July 12, 2024) – Obtained summary judgment on behalf of client under the doctrine of restitutio in integrum (publication anticipated)
  • Brown v. Edwards & Richter, LLP, Fed. Appx. 30 (5th Cir. 2019) – Concerning timeliness of LOLA proceeding
  • In re Turney, 525 S.W.3d 832 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017) – Secured partial mandamus relief in trial court’s failure to conduct in camera review of plaintiff’s medical records
  • In re Lloyd’s Register N. Am., Inc., 780 F.3d 283 (5th Cir. 2015) – involving a classification society’s certification of a cruise ship
  • Starr Indem. & Liab. Co. v. SGS Petroleum Serv. Corp., 719 F.3d 700 (5th Cir. 2013) – represented prevailing client in coverage dispute concerning buy-back provision in a bumbershoot policy
  • In re Macy’s Tex., Inc., 291 S.W.3d 148 (Tex. 2009) – Obtained mandamus in favor of client compelling arbitration

Publications

  • “U.S. Supreme Court’s Unanimous Opinion Enforcing Maritime Choice of Law Provisions –  How May it Implicate Uberrimae Fidei in Texas and Fifth Circuit,” Transportation Lawyers Association, July 2024, Vo. 26, No. 1