OVERVIEW

Amy Ruhland is Managing Partner of the firm’s Austin office. With more than 20 years of experience, Amy is a trial lawyer and trusted advisor who represents clients in high-stakes disputes globally. She has held numerous leadership positions at her prior AmLaw 100 firms. Based on her track record of success and depth of experience, clients turn to Amy for advice when facing their toughest legal battles.

Amy’s significant trial practice includes trying cases in state and federal courts across the country. She has also handled her clients’ most difficult appeals, including appeals to the Texas Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. In addition, Amy has an active arbitration practice, having represented clients in a variety of national and international tribunals, including the AAA, JAMS, the ICC, the LCIA, and UNCITRAL.

Amy’s litigation practice spans a broad range of subject matters, including financial services, class action defense, mass torts and products liability, bankruptcy, insurance coverage, and trade secrets. She has represented Fortune 500 and international companies in a broad spectrum of sectors, including the pharmaceutical, automotive, medical device, entertainment, technology, financial services, and energy industries. 

Among her trial successes, Amy co-chaired a month-long jury trial in New York, in which her team won a full defense verdict in a multi-million-dollar breach of contract lawsuit filed by 31 plaintiffs against one of the world’s largest logistics companies. In another case, Amy represented a private equity fund in a two-week bench trial in Delaware Chancery Court, successfully defeating breach of contract and tort claims involving hundreds of millions of dollars. Based on her successful track record, Amy ranks among Benchmark Litigation’s Top 250 Women in Litigation and as a Litigation Star for commercial and securities litigation. She also has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for her excellence in securities litigation, as well as products liability and mass torts defense.

Amy is a frequent speaker and author on civil litigation topics. Most recently, she authored an updated edition of the Attorney-Client Privilege Answer Book, published by the Practising Law Institute. She also has been featured on CBS News for her work in voting rights litigation.

In addition to her litigation practice, Amy is active in the legal community. She has served on the Board of the Texas General Counsel Forum since 2021, and she serves as a mentor for future women leaders through the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas. She is also an active member of the Travis County Women Lawyers Association, where she has spoken on topics ranging from federal court practice to best practices for business and professional development.

Rankings & Honors

• Benchmark Litigation, Top 250 Women in Litigation (Nationwide) and Litigation Star (Texas) for Commercial and Securities Litigation

• The Legal 500 US for Securities Litigation, Products Liability and Mass Torts Defense

publications

• “Attorney-Client Privilege Answer Book,” Practising Law Institute (2022)

• “Pandemic Creates Extra Cyber Risk for Health Care Companies,” Law360 (April 30, 2020)

• “The Importance of a Diverse Trial Team,” American Bar Association, Litigation Practice Group, Sound Advice Podcast (November 2018)

• “A Challenge to Women Litigators:  Move past Statistics and Into the Courtroom,” Law.com (November 22, 2016)

• “Additional Civil Appeals:  Texas,” Practical Law Company’s State Q&A (August 12, 2015)              

• “Initial Civil Appeals:  Texas,” Practical Law Company’s State Q&A (August 12, 2015)

• “4 Tips for Avoiding ‘Do Not Call’ Lawsuits,” Corporate Counsel (February 19, 2015)

• “Commencing an Action:  Texas,” Practical Law Company’s State Q&A (January 6, 2015)

• “Additional Civil Appeals:  Texas,” Practical Law Company’s State Q&A (July 11, 2014)

• “Initial Civil Appeals:  Texas,” Practical Law Company’s State Q&A (July 2, 2014)

• “Texas Regulation and Legislation to Watch in 2013,” Interview with Law360 (January 1, 2013)

• “KeyBank Case Could Gut Consumer, Employee Class Claims,” Interview with Law360 (December 10, 2012)

• “The SPILL Act:  How Recent Oil Spill Legislation May Contaminate Future Class Actions,” LJN Product Liability Law & Strategy (January 2011)

• “Venezuela:  Foreign Investors on the Road to Arbitration,” PetroleumWorld.com

• “Court Is Not the Answer for Securities Arbitration Disputes,” Alternatives (CPR Institute), Vol. 25, Issue 8 (September 7, 2007)

speaking engagements

• “A Day in Federal Court:  Trial and Post-Trial Practice in Federal Court,” The Travis County Women Lawyers Association, Austin, TX (May 5, 2017)

• “Regulatory Reform and the Trump Administration: Initiatives and Challenges,” Webinar presented in Washington, D.C. (April 26, 2017)

• “Breaking the Courtroom Glass Ceiling:  What Women Do That Works,” CLE seminar presented in New York, NY (April 17, 2017)

• “Voir Dire and Jury Selection in Drug and Medical Device Cases,” DRI Drug & Device Seminar presented in Philadelphia, PA (December 13, 2016)

• “How to Take and Defend Expert Depositions,” CLE seminar presented in New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA (December 8 and December 11, 2016)

• “Proposition 65 and California’s War on Chemicals: Why It Affects Your Clients,” CLE seminar presented in New York, NY (November 20, 2014)

• “Deadening the Blow of California Initiatives that Impose Arduous Conditions on Manufacturers:  Proposition 65, Labeling, Green Chemistry,” American Conference Institute’s 5th Annual Forum on Chemical Products Liability and Environmental Litigation, presented in Chicago, IL (April 29, 2014)

• “The Future of Food:  Labeling and Litigation,” CLE seminar presented in Philadelphia, PA (April 5, 2013)

• “Hot Topics in Energy and How They Affect Your Practice,” CLE seminar presented in Philadelphia, PA (October 12, 2012)

• “Product Liability in 2012:  Surveying the Emerging Landscape,” CLE seminar presented in Philadelphia, PA (April 18, 2012)

• “Consumer Class Actions in the Wake of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes,” CLE seminar presented in Philadelphia, PA (April 18, 2012)