Shelby L. O’Brien

Professional Background

Experience

• Represents businesses and trade associations in lawsuits against the State of Texas and local governments in state and federal courts, including challenges to administrative rules, statutes, and ordinances
• Represents businesses and individuals in commercial and other business disputes in state and federal courts
• Represents clients in all aspects of pretrial preparation, including depositions, discovery, motion practice, and mediation
• Represents clients in appellate matters before the Texas Supreme Court and state and federal courts of appeals
• Represents businesses and individuals before the State Office of Administrative Hearings
• Researches and drafts legislation and legislative memoranda to support clients before the Legislature

Awards & Recognition

• Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2016-present
• Austin Monthly, Top Appellate Lawyer, 2020-present
• Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2022-present
• Texas Super Lawyers, Appellate Law, 2022

Admitted to Practice

• Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas

Education

• University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
  - J.D., with Honors
  - Dean’s Achievement Awards for Highest Grades in Constitutional Law I and Texas Criminal Procedure
  - Recipient of Robert S. Strauss Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Law
  - Board of Advocates
• University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
  - B.A., English Literature
  - University and English Honors Programs

Professional & Community Activities

• State Bar of Texas
  - Administrative & Public Law Section
  - Appellate Section
  - Litigation Section
• Austin Bar Association
  - Director (2022-present)
  - Civil Appellate Section, Member
    - Chair (2021-2022)
    - Chair-Elect (2020-2021)
    - Secretary-Treasurer (2019-2020)
    - Governing Council (2017-2019)
  - Civil Litigation and Administrative Law Sections, Member
• American Bar Association
  - Litigation Section
  - Lawyers Conference Division
• Travis County Women Lawyers' Association, Member (2013-present)
  - Immediate Past-President (2021-2022)
  - President (2020-2021)
  - President-Elect (2019-2020)
  - Board of Directors (2017-2019)
• Travis County Women Lawyers' Foundation
  - Immediate Past-Chair (2022-2023)
  - Chair (2021-2022)
  - Board of Directors (2019-2021)
  - Fellow (2016-present)
• Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court, Member
• Austin Court of Appeals Pro Bono Pilot Committee, Member (2016-2019)
• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow (2018-present)