Amy Snell

Principal

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The Facts

  • J.D. magna cum laude, Georgetown University Law Center, 1997 (articles editor, Georgetown Law Journal; Order of the Coif)

  • Judicial Clerk, Hon. Lee H. Rosenthal, U.S. District Judge, 1997–1998

  • B.A. (with honors), Cornell University, 1992 (Phi Beta Kappa)

  • Oxford University, Visiting Student, Queens College, 1990–1991

Biography

Amy Snell’s practice includes commercial, employment, and environmental disputes, among others. She has successfully represented companies in business disputes of all kinds, assisted clients with equity and partnership disagreements, and defended employers in lawsuits involving non-compete agreements and trade secrets. Amy also has a broad environmental litigation practice, handling a wide variety of contamination, Oil Pollution Act, and environmental damage cases.

Amy worked in the oil and gas industry (Pennzoil Company) as an environmental, safety, and health regulatory analyst before becoming a lawyer. After working several years for a large law firm, she co-founded Shipley Snell because, like George Shipley and Joel Montgomery, she believed that companies were seeking an alternative model in the outside firms they engaged—even for their highest value, most critical, and most complex litigation and arbitrations.

Amy enjoys the dynamic environment of trials and executing the strategy developed with clients and witnesses. She values her relationships with clients and the opportunity to offer insight based on a keen knowledge of legal issues and the client’s goals.

Amy has finished 11 marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2012 and 2013, proving in more ways than one that dedication to a project creates results.

Selected Matters

  • Won a $20 million judgment against international shipping companies following a collision and oil spill in the Houston Ship Channel. Result recognized as one of the Top 10 Bench Awards in the United States (2021) by TopVerdict.

  • Defeated a multimillion-dollar contractual indemnity claim, winning summary judgment in Texas state court on behalf of an energy company.

  • Represented barge operator in multiple lawsuits arising from a ship collision and oil spill, successfully resolving more than 1,700 claims under the Oil Pollution Act and maritime law.

  • Represented energy company in numerous Louisiana lawsuits arising out of alleged groundwater and soil contamination. Achieved dismissal of several cases and negotiated settlement of a complex lawsuit brought by more than 500 plaintiffs.

  • Obtained an arbitration award in a construction dispute involving the interpretation of multiple insurance policies.

  • Represented contractor in an ICC arbitration involving the construction of an overseas power plant.

  • Successfully resolved multimillion-dollar remediation claims arising under Indiana’s Environmental Legal Action statute.

  • Represented pipeline company in a dispute arising from multiple transportation agreements. Achieved resolution of the dispute early in the litigation.

  • Represented several companies in employment discrimination and retaliation lawsuits arising under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. Section 1981, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Texas law, obtaining summary judgment in several cases and a directed verdict in a national origin discrimination case.

  • Successfully resolved one of the few lawsuits brought under the Texas Juror Reemployment Act.

  • Represented a start-up firm in an equity dispute with an employee, successfully resolving the dispute before litigation was filed.

  • Lead attorney on numerous cases for a utility company involving personal injury claims, customer disputes, and disputes involving easement and property rights.

  • Successfully tried jury cases involving personal injury claims, easement rights, and property disputes.

Details

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Texas

COURT ADMISSIONS

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

  • Ranked in Band 1 for Texas Litigation: Trial Lawyers by Chambers and Partners

  • Ranked in Litigation: General Commercial-Texas: Houston & Surrounds by Chambers and Partners

  • Adjunct Professor, South Texas College of Law Houston

  • Named as a “Texas Super Lawyer,” (a Thomson Reuters service) 2014–present

  • Co-Chair, University of Texas Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference, 2017

  • Named one of Houston's “Top Lawyers” by H Texas Magazine, 2009–2014

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

  • “2015 Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: Practical Implications and What Litigators Need to Know" (University of Texas Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference, 2016)

  • “Safeguarding Information During Litigation: Protective Orders and Other Remedies" (University of Texas Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference, 2015)

  • "Business Torts: Is it Capitalism or Unfair Competition?” (2012)

  • "Employee Monitoring & Surveillance: What are the Limits?" (2008)