Laurie N. Patton
Overview
Laurie Patton represents companies and individuals in a wide range of business and employment disputes and litigation matters, working closely with her clients to identify their objectives and develop a strategy to achieve those goals. She helps clients identify potential vulnerabilities and liabilities related to their business and advises clients on how to implement policies and procedures to minimize those risks. Laurie aggressively advocates for her clients at all stages of the matter and efficiently manages the case while allowing the client to remain focused on running their business.
As an experienced commercial litigator, Laurie is an integral part of legal teams preparing for and presenting complex business matters at jury and bench trials and arbitrations. She pursues and defends against temporary injunctions with specific experience in cases involving non-compete disputes and trade secret claims under state and federal law. Laurie has deposed and defended key witnesses, and drafted and argued multiple successful motions for summary judgment, including a motion that was ultimately affirmed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Outside of the courtroom, Laurie helps clients navigate business and employment issues beginning from the initial investigation through final resolution. She drafts and revises employment-related agreements, assists clients in maintaining current and appropriate written policies and procedures, and advises clients on maintaining documentation to position themselves most favorably in the event a dispute arises.
Laurie’s litigation experience spans across many specialties, industries, and venues, including all types of contract matters, departing employee issues, financial services defense and collection, software implementations, business divorce, dissolution and internal member disputes, fraud, embezzlement, negligence, adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court, and equine law, including sales, leases, ownership disputes, horse-related injuries/liability, and other transactions involving horses.
Credentials
Education
- Southern Methodist University School of Law, 2011 (J.D.), cum laude
- Texas A&M University, 2008 (B.A.), magna cum laude
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- Helped secure a jury verdict for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and breach of contract, and damages awarded of $649,568.85, in a matter involving violations of duties by a company’s former president. The court further awarded an additional $548,177.43 as equitable disgorgement pursuant to the motion Laurie drafted.
- Served on a trial team that obtained a complete defense victory for a chief restructuring officer accused of breaching fiduciary duties of loyalty and his contract.
- City of Richardson, Civil Service Board, 2024-Present
- City of Richardson, Library Board, 2017-2023
- First United Methodist Church Richardson, Board of Trustees, 2020-2023
- Attorneys Serving the Community, Sustaining Member
- YMCA Girls’ Soccer Coach
- State Bar of Texas Member, Litigation Section
- “Texas Business Courts: Opportunities and Challenges for Business Disputes,” Federal Bar Association and MyLawCLE, January 2025
- “What Happens if We Get Sued? Best Practices and Realities of Defending a Lawsuit and Reducing Future Risk,” The HRSouthwest Conference, October 2020
- “Who’s the Boss? It Might be You…,” Dallas Bar Headnotes, January 2017
- “Fact and Fiction: Venezuelan Education Reform Law,” 16 L. & Bus. Rev. Am. 873, Fall 2010