Profile

Ms. Shields is a trial attorney and maintains a diverse litigation practice, representing clients in probate and fiduciary litigation, labor and employment litigation, complex commercial litigation, and arbitration.  In the area of probate and fiduciary litigation, Ms. Shields successfully represents trustees, executors, beneficiaries, individuals, and business entities in all types of complex litigation matters including will contests, trust disputes, beneficiary claims, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. 

Ms. Shields also has significant experience arbitrating and litigating in state and federal court on behalf of employees and employers.  Ms. Shields’ experience includes representing clients in various industries with respect to FLSA, Title VII, ADA/ADEA, and hostile work environment claims, as well as a variety of state law claims.  In her commercial litigation practice, Ms. Shields represents clients in a wide range of cases including real estate, contractual disputes, and construction litigation. 

Ms. Shields graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and psychology. She then graduated with honors from University of Texas School of Law.

Significant Cases

• Estate of Ravindra Kumar, MD: Obtained a complete defense judgment in will contest challenging lack of capacity, fraud, and undue influence.
• Welling v. Bat:  Obtained successful plaintiff’s jury verdict in commercial breach of contract dispute.
• K. Griff Investigation Services, Inc. et al. v. Cronin, Riordan, and Whitman Security et al.: Obtained a complete defense verdict in business litigation dispute against claims of promissory estoppel, negligent misrepresentation, and fraud.
• Estate of Aline V. Gausepohl: Assisted in obtaining a complete defense jury verdict in estate litigation against claims of fraud, undue influence, capacity, and forgery.
• Employment Arbitration: Successful defense judgment in arbitration on behalf of governmental employer against claims by employee of disability discrimination, FLSA retaliation, and false claims act retaliation.
• Guardianship Access Dispute: Successfully defended and obtained full relief for guardian in guardianship access dispute.
• Guardianship Dispute:  Successfully defended and obtained full relief for client opposing wrongfully sought guardianship.

Seminars & Presentations

• Ex-friends with Death Benefits: Litigating Life Insurance Policies in Texas, Attorneys in Tax and Probate Association 2018 (Co-Speaker)
• Emerging Gun Laws: Are Your Policies Missing the Mark, HR Houston, February 10, 2016 (Co-Speaker)
• Up in Smoke: Zero Tolerance Drug Policies Take a Hit, HR Houston, October 28, 2015 (Co-Speaker)
• Employment Discrimination Issues, Client Presentation, 2015
• Risk Management Strategies for EEO Retaliation Claims, Even when It’s Over, It’s not Over 2014 (Co-Speaker)

Internships

• Honorable Judge Andrew Austin, Federal Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas 

Professional Affiliations

• Texas State Bar Association
• Houston Bar Association
• Houston Young Lawyers
• Attorneys in Tax and Probate Association
• Houston Estate and Financial Forum (HEFF)
• Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program

News

Presentations

Publications