Atty. David E. Warden

Atty. David E. Warden

David E. Warden is an internationally recognized expert in business litigation and arbitration, including patents and other intellectual property.

Call (713) 655-1101

Profile Summary

About David E. Warden at a glance

David E. Warden is a ip attorney based in Houston, Texas, practicing at Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing. Admitted to practice in Texas, State Bar of Texas. Educated at Rice University (Ph.D., 2019) and University of Virginia (J.D., 1981). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serves clients in Houston, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • David E. Warden is an internationally recognized expert in business litigation and arbitration, including patents and other intellectual property
  • He is a lawyer, arbitrator, engineer, adjunct professor, published author, and businessman
  • Mr. Warden has tried many healthcare, energy, securities, and intellectual property business lawsuits for individual clients and entities, as well as mass actions and class actions, and is licensed as a patent attorney before the U.S
  • Patent & Trademark Office
  • He was a founding partner of his former firm Yetter Warden & Coleman LLP, and prior to that was a partner at Baker Botts LLP. Mr. Warden also has been appointed by federal courts as a special master and mediator in patent litigation, has served as an arbitrator in ICC and ad hoc arbitrations, and has served as class counsel in major class action cases
  • He has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law since 1989 by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • He has arbitrated cases under the auspices of ICC International Court of Arbitration (Paris) and American Arbitration Association (New York), and has conducted ad hoc arbitrations, both as counsel and as an arbitrator
  • Mr. Warden is licensed to practice law in all Texas state courts, the U.S
  • District Courts in Texas, the 5th U.S
  • Circuit Court of Appeals, the federal Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S
  • Supreme Court
  • He has been on the list of Texas Super Lawyers since 2003
  • He has been recognized by attorneys across the United States as one of the Best Lawyers in America from 2015 – 2025
  • He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Purdue University
  • Before attending law school, Mr. Warden was an engineer and district production engineering supervisor for Exxon Company USA
  • He has been an adjunct professor in both engineering and economics at Rice University since 2006
  • He earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University in 2019, focused on novel high energy radiation shielding applications
  • He speaks basic French, and is an instrument-rated pilot and a certified scuba diver
  • Mr. Warden’s business activities include serving as vice president-corporate development for Excalibur Almaz U.S.A. from 2009 to 2011, and has been for over 15-years associated with various commercial space enterprises, including as founder and CEO of Black Moon Energy for the last two years
  • He was on the board of directors for Encore Bancshares Inc. and chaired its audit committee for seven years
  • He also served on the board of directors for InNexus Biotechnology Inc
  • Industry Forum Lead, National Space Biomedical Research Institute
  • Chinese Community Center
  • and Board of Trustees for the Awty International School

Practice Areas Explained

David E. Warden's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases David E. Warden handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Intellectual Property

IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.

David E. Warden is one of 94,505 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Texas →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Texas

Practicing law in Texas. Legal matters in Texas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Houston are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Texas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Texas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Texas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Texas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Houston or all attorneys in Texas.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about David E. Warden

Where is David E. Warden's law office located?
David E. Warden's law practice is located in Houston, Texas. The firm is Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does David E. Warden handle?
David E. Warden focuses on ip. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Texas.
Where did David E. Warden go to law school?
David E. Warden earned their education at (Ph.D., 2019); (J.D., 1981); (—, 1973).
How can I contact David E. Warden for a consultation?
You can contact David E. Warden directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has David E. Warden received?
David E. Warden's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property; Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Arbitration; Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation.

Education

Ph.D.
Rice University
- 2019
J.D.
University of Virginia
- 1981
Purdue University
- 1973
BS
Purdue University
- 1972

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Arbitration
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2003-2025
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
- 2026

Bar Admissions

Texas, State Bar of Texas

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