Image

Emily Westridge Black

Partner

Emily is Managing Partner of Austin and Established Industries Sector Lead.
 

She focuses on the representation of companies and high-profile individuals in class actions, internal investigations, product liability litigation, global compliance and anticorruption matters, cybersecurity matters and other complex commercial litigation. Emily has secured major victories for clients, including walk-away, voluntary dismissals in a price-gouging class action against a prominent grocer and a breach of fiduciary duty suit against a hedge fund and its principals.

She recently obtained an early, favorable settlement of a Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action, as well as multi-million dollar judgments for a specialty retailer in two suits related to a security compromise of its payment card network. She has also been active in various investigations related to fraud and corruption, product safety concerns and executive malfeasance. Most recently, Emily has led investigations into alleged FCPA and UK Bribery Act violations by employees and agents of publicly traded transportation, manufacturing and software companies. She also represented an oil and gas services company in connection with a criminal investigation of alleged FCPA violations.

Prior to joining private practice, Emily served as a law clerk for the Honorable W. Osmond Smith III in the Superior Court of North Carolina.

Emily is a member of the A&O Shearman Women Council, a member of the Women Partners Committee, and a member of the D&I Leadership Committee.

Experience

Representative matters

Obtained dismissal of securities class action filed against Supreme Industries.

Representation of a chemical company in connection with an international arbitration related to the construction of a high-pressure polyethylene plant in the Middle East.

Lead strategic counsel to a chemical company for its Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”)-related lawsuits, which have been filed across the country and are, for the most part, currently consolidated before in an MDL in South Carolina.

Lead counsel for defendants in a putative class action alleging breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting, and vicarious liability in connection with the failure of a hedge fund. Defeated class certification and obtained voluntary dismissal of remaining claims.

Pro bono

Emily is dedicated to serving the community. Since 2010, she has been involved in humanitarian asylum work, and has helped twelve individuals from countries including Cameroon, Ghana, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras win asylum, including a case that secured a precedent-setting opinion on constitutional due process rights of asylum-seekers.

Published Work

  • Co-Author (2024) “6 Focus Areas For Companies Managing The Risks Of AI Use” Law360
  • Co-Author (2023) “New York State Finalizes Significant Amendment to Part 500 Cybersecurity Regulation” American Bar Association
  • Co-Author (2022) “2021 Year in Review: Antitrust and Business Litigation” Texas Bar Journal
  • Co-Author (2021) “2020 Year in Review: Antitrust and Business Litigation” Texas Bar Journal

Speaking Engagements

  • Co-Presenter, The Evolving Landscape of ESG Litigation, University of Texas School of Law The Review of Litigation Symposium: The ESG Legal Landscape, February 2024
  • Co-Presenter, Harnessing the Potential of Artificial Intelligence While Ethically Managing the Risks, Leading Investment Management Firm, October 2023
  • Co-Presenter, Social Media and Artificial Intelligence – Ethical Guidelines for Lawyers, Public Utility Law Section of the State Bar of Texas Annual Conference, September 2023
  • Co-Presenter, Social Media and AI – Ethical Guidelines for Lawyers, Texas General Counsel Forum, May 2023

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Co-Chair, Privacy and Data Security Committee, Litigation Section of the American Bar Association
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Member, United Way Women United
  • Associate, Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court (2009)
Recognition
Emily has been recognized for general commercial litigation, with clients noting she is “a consummate leader in litigation matters” who is “extremely good at building coalitions without ceding ground.” Others praise her as “just wildly intelligent” and “a great writer” with “keen insight,” who “can quickly grasp the legal implications of an issue but more importantly can quickly grasp the practical implications those legal issues have for our business.” As a result, Emily “delivers practical advice that almost always generates cost savings.” Clients also describe her as “sharp,” and “knowledgeable and thorough in her analysis,” “absolutely phenomenal with expert witnesses,” and note that “her work ethic is unbelievable.
Chambers USA

Awards

  • Recognized by Chambers USA, 2021-2023
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 in Financial Services Litigation and Securities Litigation, 2023
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), 2024
  • Attorney of the Year, Texas Lawyer, 2019

Qualifications

Admissions

Texas, 2007

Courts

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Academic

B.A., University of North Carolina, 2003

Phi Beta Kappa

J.D., University of Texas, 2007

Phi Delta Phi

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.