With more than a decade of experience representing clients in high-stakes litigation and corporate governance matters, Chelsea counsels companies in litigation arising out of mergers and acquisitions, particularly venture capital or private equity-financed investments.
She handles stockholder derivative cases, securities class actions, internal investigations, and investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice. In addition, she advises companies on Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG), risk management, corporate governance and investment matters.
Experience
- Secured the dismissal of a $68 million fraud and breach of fiduciary duty shareholder derivative suit arising out of the wind down of a hedge fund at the summary judgment stage.*
- Successfully tried to a jury verdict on the merits in the Northern District of Texas in the defense of a corporate client against quantum meruit claims arising out of a private placement transaction*
- Defended national broker-dealers in FINRA arbitration proceedings against various types of investor complaints, including allegations of misrepresentation, misreporting and breach of fiduciary duty.*
- Represented a group of former shareholders of a multinational investment banking firm in bringing 10-b(5) claims.*
- Obtained favorable dismissal of breach of contract claim seeking in excess of $7 million in damages in Northern District of Texas.*
- Obtained favorable award in a business mismanagement suit, defending claims for breach of contract and unpaid account against companies by prior manager’s family members.*
*Experience handled prior to joining McGuireWoods.
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SMU Dedman School of LawJD
cum laude, Editor & Administrative Director, Science and Technology Law Review
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Southern Methodist UniversityBFA
summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, departmental distinction
Co-chair, Dallas Bar Association, Judiciary and Judicial Investiture Committee
Co-chair, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Securities Litigation Subcommittee
William “Mac” Taylor American Inn of Court
Graduate, Business Council for the Arts, Leadership Arts Institute, 2020
Fellow; Co-chair, District 6 Nominating Committee, 2021-2022, Texas Bar Foundation
Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation
Sustaining Fellow and Grant Committee, DAYL Foundation, 2019, 2020, 2022
Co-chair, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Trial Skills Committee, 2018-2020
- Moderator, "Developing an Authentic Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Culture", 5th Annual Women in Business & Law (WIBL), Tarrytown, NY, November 13, 2023
- Panelist, "ESG in the Current Climate", Southwest Women in Financial Services (SWIFS) Spring Symposium, May 2, 2023
- Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Woodward/White, Inc., 2024
Named to “Texas Rising Stars,” 2014-2018, 2020-2023, Securities Litigation, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters
Recognized, “Ones to Watch,” Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers, 2021-2023
Recognized, “Best Lawyers Under 40,” D Magazine, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Selected for inclusion by her peers as a “Texas Rising Star,” Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazines, 2014-2022
Featured, “One to Watch,” Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, November 2020
- Contributing author, "Legal & Regulatory Responsibilities of Board Members", Board Ready Women, Deloitte, April 2019, 2020, 2021
- Author, "Legal & Regulatory Responsibilities of Board Members", Harvard University, March 2019, 2021