Professional headshot of Hogan Thompson Schuelke attorney Robert Sheppard in Houston, Texas.

J. Robert Sheppard, III

Senior Associate
713.565.1464
LinkedIn
rsheppard@hoganthompson.com


Biography

Robert focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and energy disputes, representing clients across both the oil and gas and alternative fuel sectors. His wide-ranging experience encompasses disputes in the mass and toxic tort, environmental, healthcare, and employment spaces. He manages cases through all phases of litigation, from pre-suit litigation through trial and ultimately, appellate representation. 

Robert has successfully litigated high-stakes and bet-the-company disputes across diverse forums, including state courts in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and California; federal court districts in Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico; and various arbitral forums. He has also argued multiple appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Robert graduated summa cum laude from The University of Mississippi School of Law. During law school, he served as the Executive Articles Editor of the Mississippi Law Journal.  During law school, Robert served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Albert Diaz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and as a judicial extern to the Honorable Neil P. Olack of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Prior to joining Hogan Thompson Schuelke, Robert was a litigation attorney with Vinson & Elkins LLP and King & Spalding LLP in Houston and Proskauer Rose LLP in New Orleans. Robert is licensed to practice in Texas and Louisiana.

Outside of work, Robert enjoys travel (especially to the mountains and Europe), Tarheel sports, and spending time with his family.

Education

University of Mississippi School of Law

  • J.D., summa cum laude

  • Executive Articles Editor, Mississippi Law Journal

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • B.A., Arts, Economics, History, Classics, with Honors

  • Vice Chair of Student-Run Honor Court

  • Student Government, Committee on Student Conduct


Judicial Clerkships

  • Law Clerk, Hon. Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2014-2015)

  • Extern, Hon. Albert Diaz, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2013)

  • Extern, Hon. Neil P. Olack, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Mississippi (2012)


Publications

  • Thomas H. Wilson & J. Robert Sheppard, III, “In Memory of Sergei Magnitsky: A Lawyer’s Role in Promoting and Protecting International Human Rights,” 42 Hous. J. Int’l L. (Jun. 2019)

  • J. Robert Sheppard, III, “Double Jeopardy Blues: Why in Light of Blueford v. Arkansas States Should Mandate Partial Verdicts in Acquit-First Transition Instruction Cases,” 83 Miss. L.J. 373 (2014)


Previous Affiliations

  • King & Spalding LLP

  • Vinson & Elkins LLP

  • Proskauer Rose LLP


Admissions

  • Texas

  • Louisiana