DALLAS (October 15, 2024) -- It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of our steadfast leader, dear friend and colleague Eric Buether.
Eric was a founding Managing Member of the Firm in 2010. He represented clients in a wide variety of industries ranging from oil and gas products and services to telecommunications, air transportation, the internet and consumer electronics.
Eric had extensive experience and demonstrated success in litigating patent, trademark, and copyright infringement claims, trade secret and other intellectual property litigation, and antitrust, class action and other complex litigation over his 43 year legal career.
Firm Managing Member Chris Joe recalls, "Eric was the smartest, most creative, and most passionate lawyer I ever practiced law with, and he was one of my best friends and an incredibly loyal and devoted business partner."
Eric's trial wins included obtaining a $24 million jury verdict and $41 million final judgment in a patent infringement lawsuit related to oil and gas drill bit technology and a $12 million jury verdict and final judgment in a lender liability case against a major banking institution. He also successfully negotiated several multi-million dollar settlements in favor of his clients.
He was consistently recognized as one of the top intellectual property and patent litigators in the nation by numerous legal directories, including SuperLawyers, Best Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Chambers.
Eric was a graduate of the University of Chicago's undergraduate and law school programs.
Eric began his legal career in Dallas as an associate with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher (through 1989). He then practiced law as a shareholder at Johnson & Gibbs (through 1991), a founding shareholder at McKool Smith (through 2003), an equity shareholder at Godwin Gruber (through 2005), and a principal shareholder at Greenberg Traurig (through 2010).
Eric's passions included international travel, photography, Formula 1 racing, debating politics (from the Republican point of view) with his friends, family and colleagues, and supporting the Dallas Opera and United Way foundations.
Buether Joe & Counselors, LLC is an intellectual property and commercial litigation boutique law firm focusing on patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, and unfair competition lawsuits, as well as antitrust, contract and other business disputes for both plaintiffs and defendants. BJC offers clients the expertise of attorneys with decades of experience in handling complex litigation in an effective and efficient manner.
