Mark Holden is a trial lawyer who focuses on complex commercial litigation, class action litigation, and white-collar investigations. He has represented clients in a variety of matters including cybersecurity/data privacy, healthcare, and energy litigation matters. He was previously an associate at AZA from 2014-2017, and proudly rejoined the Firm as Of Counsel in 2025. Prior to rejoining AZA, Mr. Holden was a litigation partner at a major international law firm in Houston. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation every year since 2021.
Mr. Holden graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. He received his B.A. in political science and philosophy, cum laude, from Columbia University.
Mark Holden is a trial lawyer who focuses on complex commercial litigation, class action litigation, and white-collar investigations. He has represented clients in a variety of matters including cybersecurity/data privacy, healthcare, and energy litigation matters. He was previously an associate at AZA from 2014-2017, and proudly rejoined the Firm as Of Counsel in 2025. Prior to rejoining AZA, Mr. Holden was a litigation partner at a major international law firm in Houston. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation every year since 2021.
Mr. Holden graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. He received his B.A. in political science and philosophy, cum laude, from Columbia University.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
- Represented leading private equity firm in multiple class actions concerning allegations of usury and RICO conspiracy in connection with consumer lending businesses, as well as TRO proceeding in federal bankruptcy court.
- Represented railcar owner in connection with class action litigation and regulatory proceedings arising from 2023 train derailment.
- Represented the City of Dallas in an internal investigation into a March 2021 loss of Dallas Police Department data. The results of the investigation were reported to the Dallas City Council and the investigation received public and media attention.
- Represented leading E&P company in land use and mineral rights disputes in Louisiana state court.
- Represented E&P debtor in dispute regarding claims subordination on appeal to SDTX and the Fifth Circuit.
- Represented multiple debtors in litigation matters with claimants in federal bankruptcy proceedings.
- Represented major oilfield services provider in $20 million race discrimination case. Second-chaired jury trial in Texas state court that ended in jury verdict for client on all issues.
- Represented major pipeline company in multimillion-dollar crude oil trucking dispute in Texas state court.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Kirkland & Ellis LLP (2017-2025)
Council on Foreign Relations (2009-2010)
EDUCATION
- Harvard Law School – J.D., 2014
- Cum laude
- Dean’s Scholar Awards in Food & Drug Law and Corporations
- Managing Editor, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy
- Columbia University – B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy, 2009
- Cum laude
- Departmental Honors, Political Science
- Dean’s List 2006-2009
- Editor, Columbia Daily Spectator
ADMISSIONS
- State Bar of Texas
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
- United States District Court for the District of North Dakota
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Represented leading private equity firm in multiple class actions concerning allegations of usury and RICO conspiracy in connection with consumer lending businesses, as well as TRO proceeding in federal bankruptcy court.
- Represented railcar owner in connection with class action litigation and regulatory proceedings arising from 2023 train derailment.
- Represented the City of Dallas in an internal investigation into a March 2021 loss of Dallas Police Department data. The results of the investigation were reported to the Dallas City Council and the investigation received public and media attention.
- Represented leading E&P company in land use and mineral rights disputes in Louisiana state court.
- Represented E&P debtor in dispute regarding claims subordination on appeal to SDTX and the Fifth Circuit.
- Represented multiple debtors in litigation matters with claimants in federal bankruptcy proceedings.
- Represented major oilfield services provider in $20 million race discrimination case. Second-chaired jury trial in Texas state court that ended in jury verdict for client on all issues.
- Represented major pipeline company in multimillion-dollar crude oil trucking dispute in Texas state court.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP (2017-2025)
Council on Foreign Relations (2009-2010)
- Harvard Law School – J.D., 2014
- Cum laude
- Dean’s Scholar Awards in Food & Drug Law and Corporations
- Managing Editor, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy
- Columbia University – B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy, 2009
- Cum laude
- Departmental Honors, Political Science
- Dean’s List 2006-2009
- Editor, Columbia Daily Spectator
- State Bar of Texas
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
- United States District Court for the District of North Dakota
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit