Amy L Snell

Practice Areas

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. Ms. Snell also has a broad environmental litigation practice, defending companies in a wide variety of contamination, Oil Pollution Act, and environmental damage cases. She has tried cases involving ship collisions on the Houston Ship Channel, achieving a $20 million recovery in a 2021 case.

Ms. Snell worked in the oil and gas industry (Pennzoil Company) as an environmental, safety, and health regulatory analyst before becoming a lawyer. 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. Ms. Snell has finished 11 marathons and teaches as an adjunct professor at South Texas College of Law Houston.

BAR ADMISSIONS: Texas

COURT ADMISSIONS: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas; U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Publications

“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)

Work Highlights

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.

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

Counsel for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. in multi-district litigation arising out of power losses during Winter Storm Uri. The multi-district litigation involves thousands of plaintiffs who assert claims for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, and business interruption against hundreds of defendants.

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.

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

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

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 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.

Represented a start-up firm in an equity dispute, 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.

Professional Memberships

Litigation Counsel of America

Houston Bar Association

Texas Bar Foundation

Education

Awards