Madeline M. Tansey
Partner
EDUCATION:
Baylor Law School, Waco, Texas (J.D., 2017), magna cum laude
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (B.B.A., Management, 2014), magna cum laude
As a litigation attorney, Madeline Tansey handles general commercial litigation in federal, state and other dispute resolution forums. Ms. Tansey focuses her practice on a variety of legal issues involving financial and lending institutions, real estate disputes, the hospitality industry, employment disputes, business torts, the energy industry, securities disputes and compliance, and healthcare.
Ms. Tansey's litigation experience includes complex commercial disputes, breach of contract, fraud claims, trade secret litigation, commercial arbitration, alternative dispute resolution and settlement negotiations. In addition, Ms. Tansey has experience in complex, multiparty litigation and navigating complex discovery matters and disputes, with a special focus on negotiating and drafting complex settlements, as well as pre-suit advising and compliance services.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Tansey was a litigation associate at Thompson & Knight LLP in Houston, Texas from 2017 to 2021. When that firm was acquired by Holland & Knight LLP in 2021, she continued as a litigation associate in its Houston office until 2025.
Madeline’s experience includes:
Complex Commercial Litigation
Obtained pretrial dismissal of putative national class action of occupationally exposed workers filed in federal court in California
Successfully arbitrated on behalf of a startup healthcare and technology provider in a breach of contract action against a laboratory; awarded all damages requested plus interest
Represented a privately held, independent oil and gas company involved in acquisitions and fund management against a placement agent in a breach of contract and fraud dispute
Defended a senior care living facility against allegations of violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA)
Represented a business-to-business finance provider in the solar energy industry regarding a dispute over the ownership of solar assets and assisted in obtaining settlement
Represented an owner/developer of a medical center in a dispute with a contractor, subcontractors, a civil engineer, a geotechnical engineer and a manufacturer of a detention basin system regarding alleged defective design and construction of an underground stormwater detention basin resulting in a favorable resolution
Trade Secret and Non-Compete Litigation
Secured a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction and a permanent injunction for an employer in enforcement of a non-disclosure and non-competition agreement, including claims under the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (TUTSA)
Secured a temporary restraining order and agreed permanent injunction to uphold non-compete, non-solicit and confidentiality obligations at substantial savings to the client, a major real estate brokerage firm, against former employees who left to work for a competitor in breach of their noncompete agreements with the client
Securities Litigation, Investigations and Compliance Counseling
Represented the Cayman Islands-based liquidators of a collapsed mutual fund formerly with hundreds of millions' worth of assets under management in asset recovery using forensic asset tracing, advanced e-discovery analysis and organization of the complex asset dissipation scheme
Advised an alternative asset management firm in compliance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Marketing Rule
Drafted summaries regarding federal and state regulations to assist a national bank in legal compliance efforts
Hospitality and Franchising
Represented a national hotel franchisor regarding numerous breach of contract and rights of first refusal disputes
Negotiated and drafted multiple complex, multiparty settlement agreements regarding a client's rights under its franchise agreements
Healthcare Litigation
Represented minority owners in a medical organization in winding down the organization and receiving fair compensation in the midst of extensive issues of business valuation
Represented hospitals in mass claims collection disputes
Bar and Court Admissions
State of Texas (2019)
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Honors and Awards
Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2021
Dean's Academic Full-Tuition Scholarship, Baylor Law School, 2016-2019
Norton Rose Fulbright Outstanding First-Year Student Award, Baylor Law School, 2016-2017
Andrews Kurth LLP Award I, Outstanding Work for the Baylor Law Review, 2017-2018
Finalist, Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee Intrascholastic Client Counseling Competition, Baylor Law School, Winter 2017
William J. Boswell Memorial Award, Baylor Law School, Fall 2016
Quarterfinalist, Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, Winter 2018-2019
Champion and Fourth Place Speaker, Elliott Cup Moot Court Competition, State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section, Winter 2018-2019
Semifinalist and Third Best Brief, Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship, Winter 2017-2018
Semifinalist, Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Competition, Fall 2017
Quarterfinalist, Baylor Intrascholastic Moot Court Competition, Spring 2017
Moot Court Order of Barristers, Spring 2017-Spring 2019
American Bar Association (ABA), Labor Law Mock Trial Competition, Fall 2018
Academy of the Advocate at St. Andrews, Advanced School of Trial, Baylor Law School, Summer 2018
First in Class, Business Law Boot Camp, Baylor Law School, Spring 2018
Baylor Law Review, Senior Articles Editor
Legal Publications & Seminars
SEC Settlements Over Whistleblower Protections Pile Up - Holland & Knight SECond Opinions Blog / October 10, 2023
SEC to Issuers: Retaliating Against or Impeding Whistleblowers Is Not Zen - Holland & Knight SECond Opinions Blog Summer Series / June 12, 2023
Do Not Delete: SEC and DOJ Send Serious Messages on Preserving Ephemeral Communications - Holland & Knight SECond Opinions Blog / May 26, 2023
Risky Business: SEC Expands DCP Enforcement Using Company Risk Factors - Holland & Knight SECond Opinions Blog / February 17, 2023
Overblown? SEC's Aggressive Enforcement of Rule 21F-17 for Whistleblower Protection - Holland & Knight SECond Opinions Blog / July 27, 2022
COVID-Related SEC Enforcement Actions Not a Thing of the Past - Holland & Knight SECond Opinions Blog / June 8, 2022
Oil and Gas Leases – Shutting in a Well - Client Alert / April 29, 2020
FDA Releases Warning on Cybersecurity Threat to Connected Medical Devices and Healthcare Networks - Thompson & Knight Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Blog / October 10, 2019
Death of a (Used Car) Salesman - Baylor Law Review / 2019
Navigating the SEC's Wells Process - Holland & Knight Webinar / November 16, 2023
Cybersecurity Case Law Updates - Faculty Presenter / Institute For Law And Technology Cybersecurity And Data Privacy Law Conference / September 23, 2021
What Happens After a Data Breach - Holland & Knight Cybersecurity Litigation Roundtable / August 26, 2021