- OVERVIEW
- EXPERIENCE
- INSIGHTS
- NEWS & EVENTS
PRACTICES
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Education
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University of Texas at Austin School of Law,
J.D., Order of the Coif, Articles Editor, Texas Law Review, 2005
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Southern Methodist University,
B.A., summa cum laude, 2001
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Admissions
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Texas
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Texas USDC, Southern District
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Recognitions
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Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (by BL Rankings), 2023-2024
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Included in Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars List, 2012-2019 (by Thomson Reuters)
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Top 50 Texas Women Up-and-Coming Attorneys, 2018 (by Thomson Reuters)
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40 Under 40
Houston Business Journal, 2015
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Employment
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Thompson Coburn LLP
Partner, 2020-Present
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Thompson & Knight LLP
Partner, 2017-2020
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Jones Day
Partner 2015-2017, Associate 2010-2015
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Baker Botts
Associate 2005-2008
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Community
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Equality Texas Foundation
Emeritus Board of Directors Member
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Equality Texas Foundation
Chair of the Board of Directors, 2018-2019, Vice-Chair 2016-2017
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Leadership Austin Essential Class of 2018
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Elizabeth represents clients in high-stakes litigation across the country, involving commercial disputes, product defects claims, and consumer fraud, and securities fraud class actions, and civil rights matters across the United States.
With experience in a diverse range of industries handling a variety of claims, Elizabeth helps companies and individuals achieve impactful results in state and federal litigation and appeals. Applying creative strategies and almost 20 years of jury trial experience, she helps clients defend against class actions in jurisdictions across the country, successfully defend against shareholder actions, resolve complex business disputes, and protect their constitutional rights.
Elizabeth also regularly represents special committees of public companies during internal investigations of alleged regulatory violations and executive misconduct matters.
For each client, Elizabeth listens carefully to stakeholders and approaches litigation with a strong focus on the broader business strategy surrounding a dispute or claim. She keenly understands that litigation is a tool, not an end result, and strives to develop innovative solutions that align with a client's business needs.
In a major pro bono effort covered by The New York Times, The Atlantic and ProPublica, Elizabeth represents thousands of female sexual assault survivors in a federal class action against the Austin Police Department and the Travis County District Attorney's Office over alleged failures in the investigation and prosecution of sexual assaults. In conjunction with her work on the lawsuit, Elizabeth works alongside survivor advocacy groups to successfully petition Texas lawmakers to pass $80 million in funding and new laws focused on improving the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault across Texas.
Elizabeth is involved with multiple initiatives related to human trafficking and child advocacy, and sits the Emeritus Board of Directors for the Equality Texas Foundation, which works to secure full equality for LGBTQ Texans through education and community organizing. She previously served on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Board in 2018 and 2019.
Representative Experience
- Obtained preliminary injunction protecting organizations and individuals from criminal prosecution under Texas law for assisting Texans seeking reproductive healthcare in other states.
- Secured summary judgment victory from Texas MDL regarding the unconstitutionality of various Texas statutory provisions.
- Secured favorable settlement for international energy retailer in connection with failed IT implementation.
Defended an air ambulance service provider in consumer class actions pending in several states.
Defended a global oil and gas company in a lawsuit brought by family members of a contractor's employee who died while working in the delayed coking unit at a refinery facility.
Represented the national manufacturer of several brands of central air conditioning and heating systems in a series of putative consumer products class actions.
Resolved numerous claims brought by hundreds of current and former residents of a town in New York state alleging personal injuries, diminution in property values, and other damages related to alleged vapor intrusion and historic air emissions in the area of a former computer manufacturing facility.
Represented a workforce management solutions company and obtained dismissal of a lawsuit brought against it by a non-employee following a traumatic workplace injury.
Represented the owner of a multi-million-dollar real estate project in a lawsuit in Harris County state court relating to a series of complex commercial real estate transactions.
Represented a bond insurer and won an appellate victory reversing the trial court's ruling and reinstating claims related to approximately $1 billion in bonds issued by the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority in connection with the construction and development of professional sports stadiums in Houston.
Successfully defended certain directors of an offshore oil drilling company against shareholder derivative litigation relating to alleged Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations and shareholder claims challenging a proposed merger.
Successfully defending the hostile takeover bid of an international fertilizer manufacturer.
Represented the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of an international energy services company investigating alleged FCPA violations in response to shareholder demand.
Obtained an asylum grant on behalf of a Honduran woman who had suffered extreme domestic violence in Honduras and her young daughter.
Presentations
"Strategies to Mitigate Director Liability and Exposure in 2021 and Beyond,"
Association of Corporate Counsel - Dallas-Fort Worth, August 2021