Liz Devaney is Of Counsel in Quinn Emanuel’s Houston office. She joined the firm’s Houston office in 2019 and previously worked in the firm’s New York office. Liz has extensive experience in high-stakes commercial litigation and arbitration across a variety of industries, including the financial and energy industries.
Prior to joining the firm, Liz served as a law clerk to Judge John Rogers of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She received her J.D., with highest honors, from the University of Texas School of Law, where she was book review editor of the Texas Law Review and graduated first in her class.
- Obtained a nine-figure settlement on behalf of merchant power producer Talen Montana LLC from PPL Corp. in connection with a fraudulent transfer claim based on PPL’s distributions out of Talen Montana prior to spinning it off, with multi-front litigation in Montana state court, Delaware Chancery Court, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
- Represented a single-member Special Litigation Committee of the Baker Hughes Board of Directors in connection with its investigation of a derivative action against GE and members of the Baker Hughes Board and successfully handled proceedings in Delaware Chancery Court and the Delaware Supreme Court following the Committee’s recommendation that the litigation be terminated.
- Represented HPS Investment Partners and its former managing director in securities fraud class action and related opt-out litigation by Alta Mesa shareholders alleging that the value of the company had plummeted by more than $3 billion. Secured a complete summary judgment victory on securities fraud and control liability claims brought against the managing director and near-total dismissal of the control liability claims against HPS Investment Partners, leading to a pretrial settlement on the few remaining claims.
- Represented operator of oil storage terminal in arbitration seeking to save contract worth approximately $50 million per year that had nine-figures remaining on it and to recover tens of millions of dollars in withheld crude oil storage fees. Arbitration panel denied attempt to terminate contract and awarded $20.7 million in damages to client.
- Secured a temporary restraining order on behalf of working interest owner stopping operator from shutting in a number of wells in which our client owned an interest without our client’s consent, in violation of the relevant operating agreement. After winning the TRO hearing, the case quickly settled amicably prior to the temporary injunction hearing.
- Defended large global steel distributor in six-week jury trial of claims that steel distributors and steel mills conspired to boycott new entrant in the market.
- Represented VR Capital Partners L.P. in a lawsuit alleging fraud against Russian investment bank Trioka Dialog related to an investment in a failed factoring company, obtaining a successful settlement.
- Represented XE Capital and affiliates in a multi-pronged dispute, involving both litigation and arbitration, with a partner in a "life settlement" joint venture arising out of the partner's failure to deliver approximately $30 million in commissions into the joint venture.
- Successfully represented MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. in a FINRA arbitration against Merrill Lynch. MetroPCS brought fraud and related claims arising out of Merrill’s sale of over $100 million of auction rate securities comprised of certain tranches of collateralized debt obligations, ultimately achieving a settlement on favorable terms prior to the hearing.
- The University of Texas School of Law
(J.D. with highest honors, 2006)- Order of the Coif
- Texas Law Review:
- Book Review Editor
- The University of Texas, Austin, Texas
(B.S., Public Relations, with high honors, 2000)
- The State Bar of Texas
- The State Bar of New York
- United States Court of Appeals:
- Sixth Circuit
- United States District Court:
- Eastern District of Texas
- Western District of Texas
- Southern District of Texas
- Northern District of Texas
- Occidental Petroleum Corporation:
- Senior Corporate Counsel – Litigation, June 2014-August 2019
- Senior Corporate Counsel – Litigation, June 2014-August 2019
- Vinson & Elkins, LLP:
- Associate, December 2012-December 2014
- Associate, December 2012-December 2014
- Law Clerk to the Hon. John M. Rogers:
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2006-2007