Erin Friel Elmore - Of Counsel
Erin Friel Elmore graduated summa cum laude from The University of Texas School of Law in 2000. Ms. Elmore was Vice Chancellor of the class of 2000, a distinction awarded to the second in her class. She was also a member of the Texas Law Review.
Ms. Elmore joined Vinson & Elkins in 2000 and practiced complex commercial litigation with a focus on antitrust, commercial arbitration, and securities law, primarily litigating on behalf of large corporate clients.
After taking time off to raise her two children, Ms. Elmore returned to the practice of law with Henneman Rau Kirklin & Smith LLP in 2019. Her litigation and arbitration practice focuses on complex commercial cases and business disputes of all types. Ms. Elmore has substantial experience representing financial advisors and financial institutions in employment disputes, business transitions, regulatory compliance and customer disputes. She has successfully represented clients on claims involving fraud, trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, antitrust violations, securities violations, breach of contract, covenants not to compete, tortious interference with business relations, unfair competition, business disparagement, partnership disputes, and employment-related issues, including enforcement of non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.
Ms. Elmore has also assisted in obtaining, or defending against, emergency injunctive relief at TRO proceedings and temporary injunction hearings and has experience in all phases of litigation in both state and federal courts as well as FINRA arbitration proceedings.
Ms. Elmore is admitted to practice in Texas state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
- University of Texas School of Law, J.D., with High Honors, 2000
- Vice-Chancellor
- Texas Law Review
- University of London School of Law, attended in 1999
- Queen Mary School of Law, attended in 1999
- Texas A&M University, cum laude , 1997
- First chair in FINRA arbitration promissory note collection. Obtained an award of $583,202.43 plus attorneys’ fees and costs.
- Representation of a national oil & gas company on a variety of matters.
- Second chair in AAA arbitration defending registered investment advisor against former employer who sought to enforce a “buy-out” provision in the employment contract. The employer sought more than $4.8 million in damages. The AAA Panel found the “buy-out” provision to be an unenforceable liquidated damages clause, thereby rendering it a penalty provision and void as a matter of law (Dallas, TX).
- Obtained dismissal of a $1.3 million claim for trade secret misappropriation in Texas State Court.
- Extensive representation of individuals, financial advisors, and financial services firms in hundreds of industry disputes in FINRA and AAA arbitrations nationwide.
- Successful representation of individual members of LLC and multiple companies in a business divorce matter.
- Successful representation of FINRA-registered brokers and SEC-registered investment advisers in post-employment disputes, including defending against attempts by opposing parties to obtain temporary and preliminary injunctive relief nationwide.
- Successful representation of financial advisors and financial services firms in litigation of post-employment restrictive covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation clauses, as well as breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, tortious interference, and other claims on behalf of both employers and employees.
- Successful representation of individuals, financial advisors, and financial services firms regarding transition of financial advisors to new firm.
- Successful representation of individuals, financial advisors, and financial institutions in FINRA and AAA arbitrations nationwide.
- Successful representation of national financial services firms in promissory note disputes.
- Successful representation of commercial property owner in lawsuit against former partner regarding claims for breach of contract, fraud, and theft.
- Successful representation of business owner on a claim for money had and received.
- Successful representation of business owner on trademark dispute.
- Successful representation of dental practice against former employee regarding breach of non-competition and non-solicitation provisions in employment agreement.
- Successful representation of national financial services firm on a whistleblower claim.
- Served as the Treasurer of the Houston Bar Association’s Securities Litigation and Arbitration Section for the 2021-2022 year.
- Houston Bar Association
- Texas Bar Association
- Served as President of the St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Parent Teacher Organization for both the 2017-2018 and the 2018-2019 school year.
- Volunteer in the West University community.
In her free time, Erin enjoys spending time with her two teenagers and their two rescue dogs. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, painting, reading and yoga.
