Man in a blue suit and white shirt, arms crossed, looking at the camera. Graying hair and beard.

Mark E. Torian

– Partner

Mark Torian is a veteran trial lawyer whose practice spans complex business disputes, white-collar defense, securities litigation, and catastrophic personal-injury cases. With more than two decades of courtroom experience, Mark has tried over thirty civil and criminal cases to verdict in state and federal courts and arbitration forums nationwide.
Practice Overview
Mark represents both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving:
  • Breach of fiduciary duty and fraud
  • Misappropriation and theft of trade secrets
  • Shareholder and derivative litigation
  • Partnership dissolutions and business break-ups
  • Oil and gas disputes
  • Securities and regulatory enforcement
  • Catastrophic injury and wrongful death
  • White-collar investigations and defense
Before joining Farmer & Coker, Mark practiced with Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Lynn Tillotson & Pinker LLP, and Sayles Werbner PC, and later became a Partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP and Champion LLP, where he was recognized repeatedly by Best Lawyers in America and Texas Super Lawyers for excellence in commercial litigation and white-collar defense. 
Representative Matters
  • AerReach et al. v. Stanford et al. — Represented plaintiffs in a multi-million-dollar business-fraud, breach-of-fiduciary-duty, and commercial-bribery case against United Technologies Corporation and others.
  • Confidential Arbitration (Dallas, TX) — Obtained favorable settlement for client asserting fraud and breach-of-contract claims against a major insurance carrier.
  • Unnamed Insurer v. International Hotel Chain — Defended insurer in breach-of-contract litigation seeking business-interruption losses for hotels across North America and the Caribbean following the September 11 attacks .
  • Hedge-Fund Litigation (New York County Sup. Ct.) — Secured complete defense in an action where the plaintiff sought over $7 billion in damages .
  • Shareholder Derivative Action (Delaware Chancery Ct.) — Achieved favorable settlement for shareholders alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duty by corporate officers and directors .
  • Confidential Bench Trial (Dallas Cty., Tex.) — Defended breach-of-contract claims exceeding $1 million; obtained judgment on counterclaims for client .
  • Automobile Dealership Securities Fraud (Private Offering) — Prosecuted securities-fraud claims on behalf of investors; obtained favorable multi-client settlement .
  • Commercial Real-Estate Partnership Dispute (Texas & Multi-State) — Won substantial jury verdict for plaintiff following breach of an oral partnership agreement involving multi-state real-estate development properties .
  • Fortune 50 Company v. Competitor (Trade Secrets) — Represented a Fortune 50 corporation; secured jury verdict on misappropriation and conspiracy counterclaims after defeating opposing breach-of-contract allegations .
  • Drilling Company Defense (Texas Energy Sector) — Defended drilling company in breach-of-contract suit involving disruption of the deepest corkscrew gas well in the world at the time .
  • Catastrophic Injury & Wrongful Death — Secured multiple seven-figure settlements in cases involving cement-truck rollovers, oil-field fatalities, and industrial-equipment failures .
  • Construction Law & Accounting Fraud — Secured six-figure verdict for clients while successfully negating all counterclaims in construction-accounting fraud. 
  • Partnership Dispute - Secured six-figure jury verdict for ammunition manufacturer while successfully negating all counterclaims in a lawsuit concerning the interpretation of partnership terms. 
  • Federal Investigations (SEC & DOJ) — Coordinated client responses to investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Internal Revenue Service, and prepared witnesses for testimony before the U.S. Congress.
Education
  • J.D., magna cum laude — University of Arkansas School of Law; Member, Law Review
  • B.A., English & History, magna cum laude — University of Central Arkansas
Admissions
  • State Bar of Texas
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas
Professional Honors
  • Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation and White-Collar Defense
  • Texas Super Lawyers — Business Litigation (2020–2025)
  • Listed by The Texas Lawbook for legal commentary and media analysis of high-profile state matters
Background
Before entering private practice, Mark served in the United States Marine Corps, assigned to Diplomatic Security with the U.S. State Department, protecting American embassies and consulates worldwide . His military service forged the discipline, composure, and leadership that define his approach to trial work today.