Sinéad is a complex commercial litigator and appellate lawyer with two decades of experience. She represents clients in state and federal court and assists clients with pre-litigation disputes. Her practice focuses on business disputes, product and professional liability, and consumer class action defense. After law school, Sinéad served as a briefing attorney for Justice Harriet O’Neill of the Texas Supreme Court and then joined Vinson & Elkins in the appellate section, where she provided appellate support to trial teams working in the pharmaceutical and products liability docket. At Reeves & Brightwell, she has worked on numerous federal and state trial and appellate matters, including a recent victory in Texas Third Court of Appeals in a multi-million dollar commercial dispute. Sinéad also has an active pro bono practice.
Representative Matters
- Serves as trial and appellate counsel in breach of contract action where court of appeals partially affirmed a summary judgment dismissing a multi-million dollar contract claim and the Texas Supreme Court granted the parties’ petition for review;
- Represents computer manufacturer in products liability action alleging defective battery caused significant fire damage;
- Represents insurance company in interpleader actions;
- Represented hospital seeking to enforce contractual non-compete obligations and secured pre-litigation settlement;
- Assisted real estate company investigate allegations of franchisee misconduct and resolve related claims;
- Represented seller of police camera equipment in personal injury action brought by injured policeman and secured a favorable settlement;
- Represented computer manufacturer in action alleging negligent misrepresentation and successfully moved for dismissal of plaintiffs’ claims;
- Represented software service provider in action alleging breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, and fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation and obtained partial summary judgment leading to favorable settlement;
- Represented university as appellate counsel in age discrimination matter and secured a new trial;
- Served as trial and appellate counsel in case where Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of class action seeking CLRA remedies for alleged computer defect;
- Served as in-house litigation counsel during a six-month secondment to Dell Inc.;
- Represented computer manufacturer in class actions alleging deceptive advertising and unfair business practices; prepared motions, engaged in discovery, negotiated settlements, and assisted with class administration;
- Represented pharmaceutical and tire manufacturers in mass tort litigation; prepared pre-trial motions, including summary judgment motions, jury charge and charge objections, and motions for directed verdict and judgment as a matter of law; and
- Assists clients respond to civil investigative demands and subpoenas.
Reported Cases
- Integrity Global Security, LLC v. Dell Marketing L.P., 579 S.W.3d 577 (Tex. App.—Austin 2019) (pet. granted) (affirming in part a summary judgment dismissing multi-million dollar breach of contract claims);
- Garcia v. Dell, Inc., 905 F. Supp. 2d 1174 (S.D. Cal. 2012) (compelling individual arbitration in statewide class action involving alleged wiretap violations);
- A.A. ex rel. Betenbaugh v. Needville Indep. Sch. Dist., 611 F.3d 248, 253 (5th Cir. 2010) (upholding religious right of Native American kindergartner to wear his long hair in braids at public school);
- Oestreicher v. Alienware Corp., 322 Fed. Appx. 489 (9th Cir. 2009) (affirming dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) of class action alleging defective computer hardware);
- Humphrey v. United Parcel Serv., 200 Fed. Appx. 950, 951 (11th Cir. 2006) (affirming dismissal of RICO and race discrimination claims); and
- In re SWEPI, L.P., 103 S.W.3d 578 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, orig. proceeding) (granting mandamus to allow request to conduct a directional survey and bottom pressure test of a well).
Professional Background
- Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Harriet O’Neill of the Supreme Court of Texas, 1999-2000
- Appellate Associate, Vinson & Elkins LLP, 2000-2003
Publications
- Has the Supreme Court of Texas Altered What It Means to Have “No Adequate Remedy by Appeal” and Other Questions Raised by the Court’s Recent Opinions: In Re Prudential and In Re AIU, 17 App. Advoc. 11 (Spring 2005)
CLE Presentations
- Lessons from the Courthouse: A Litigators Guide to Contract Drafting (with Paul Schlaud), October 2015
Activities and Affiliations
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Member
- Austin Bar Association
- CLE Committee Co-Chair
- Bench Bar Committee Co-Chair, 2018-2019
- Civil Appellate Section, Officer and Council Member, 2011-2017
- Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association, Member
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation, Fellow
- Volunteer Legal Services, Clinic Volunteer
Admissions
- Texas courts
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Courts of Appeals (5th, 9th, & 11th)
- All federal district courts in Texas
