Legal Assistant: Lavette Neshay | 713-554-6756 | lneshay@thompsonhorton.com
Elizabeth’s parents, a career educator and a CPA, have emphasized the importance of obtaining a quality education throughout her life. As an attorney, Elizabeth seeks to ensure that educational and governmental institutions have access to the legal resources necessary to cultivate environments that are conducive to the growth, development, and success of all children and young adults.
Elizabeth counsels and represents schools, school districts, and universities in all areas of education and constitutional law, including labor and employment matters, public school finance, free speech, and school prayer. She also advocates for her clients in employment discrimination and civil rights cases, including claims brought under Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Before joining Thompson & Horton, Elizabeth served as a law clerk in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas for five years. She worked under the tutelage of The Honorable Mary Milloy and The Honorable Christina Bryan. During that time, she learned the intricacies of federal civil procedure as well as the nuances of motion and discovery practice.
Education
- J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 2012
- B.A., with honors, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2009
Licensing & Court Admissions
- Licensed in the state of Texas
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
Memberships & Recognitions
- Gulf Coast Community Service Association, Inc., Board Member
- State Bar of Texas, Labor and Employment and School Law Sections
- Houston Bar Association, Labor and Employment and Litigation Sections
- Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Garland Walker Inn of Court
Selected Client Representations
- Represented major university in high profile multi-party Title IX litigation
- Obtained summary judgment for large public school district in 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit alleging violation of a student’s First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights
- Handled personnel investigations relating to allegations of discrimination and/or retaliation
- Obtained dismissal with prejudice in favor of school districts on various claims brought under the Texas Tort Claims Act
Representative Speeches & Presentations
- Expressions of Identity: A 21st Century Snapshot of Dress Code Issues, 36th Annual UT Law CLE School Law Conference
- COVID-19: Hot Topics, Leave Related Issues, Thompson & Horton LLP COVID-19 Webinar Series
- K-12 Title IX Grievances & Determinations, co-presenter with Oleg Nudelman, Thompson & Horton LLP Title IX Summer Seminars
- Navigating the New Normal: Addressing Student Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic, co-presenter with Celena Vinson, Region 4 Education Service Center Summer Seminars