STEPHANIE SCHMUTZ PARENTE Stephanie practices law in the state and federal courts of Texas representing clients in a wide variety of complex litigation matters involving labor and employment issues, securities issues, FCPA issues, toxic tort, insurance defense, and contract disputes.  She has participated in corporate investigations and represented clients under investigation by various government agencies.   She also has been involved in several arbitration matters including AAA, NASD, FMCS, and international arbitrations.

Representative Experience

• Obtained favorable jury verdict for client accused of sex and pregnancy discrimination.
  
  
• Obtained favorable Fifth Circuit ruling upholding District Court’s decision affirming plan-administrator’s denial of long-term disability benefits.
  
  
• Obtained favorable decision in FMCS arbitration involving the Company’s alleged wrongful termination of a union employee.
  
  
• Counseled large non-profit organization on employment and general litigation issues.
  
  
• Obtained favorable AAA decision regarding breach of contract construction dispute.
  
  
• Advised companies with respect to document retention policies.
  
  
• Drafted and reviewed discovery, drafted settlement agreements, and negotiated case settlement.
  
  
• Took and defended depositions, mediated cases, and drafted and argued motions.
  
  
• Prepared witnesses for SEC testimony, deposition, and trial and arbitration testimony.
  

Results depend on facts of each case.

Professional Activities

• Speech: Terminating Employees Without Inviting a Lawsuit, Employee Discharge and Documentation in Texas, Lorman Seminar, Houston, July 2004.
  
  
• Member: State Bar of Texas, American Bar Association, Houston Bar Association, and Houston Young Lawyers Association.
  
  
• Cited: Stephanie D. Schmutz, Note, Infanticide or Civil Rights for Women: Did the Supreme Court Go Too Far in Stenberg v. Carhart?, 39 HOUS. L. REV. 529 (2002), cited in an Amici Curiae brief to the United States Supreme Court in Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., 2006 WL 2281977 (U.S. Aug 03, 2006).
  
  
• Admitted to practice: United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and State of Texas.

Education and Background

• University of Houston Law School, J.D. magna cum laude, 2002 (Dean's Scholarship; Notes and Comments Editor, Houston Law Review, Order of the Barons, Order of the Coif).
  
  
• University of Houston, B.B.A. summa cum laude, 1999 (Cullen Leadership Scholarship, Moody Foundation Scholarship, Dean’s Honor Roll, Honor’s College Member).
  
  
• Law clerk to the Honorable Jorge A. Solis, United District Court for the Northern District of Texas, 2002-2003.