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Elizabeth R. Penn

Elizabeth R. Penn

Partner

New Orleans

504.565.7569

504.799.4384

LinkedIn


Education

  • University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 2006
  • Mississippi State University, B.B.A., 2003, magna cum laude, Phi Kappa Phi

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 2006
  • Louisiana, 2006
  • New York, 2009
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
  • U.S. District Courts for Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Clients come to know Elizabeth as an innovative thinker who cares not only about their case, but about their business and livelihood. She handles all areas of litigation, advising product manufacturers and premise owners in mass tort actions. Since joining FormanWatkins in 2016, Elizabeth’s practice has been concentrated primarily in the state and federal courts of Louisiana, often defending multiple parties. While the majority of her time is devoted to pre-trial practice, Elizabeth participates in every stage of the litigation life-cycle, from jurisdictional challenges to jury selection.

Elizabeth began her career as an eDiscovery attorney and remains passionate about the opportunity to counsel clients on cost-effective practices for the preservation, collection, review, and production of electronically stored information. Elizabeth is experienced in selecting vendors, negotiating discovery plans, identifying corporate custodians, and managing technology assisted review (TAR). She is a member of multiple working groups within The Sedona Conference, the preeminent authority in eDiscovery rule-making, where she is continually involved in dialogue with industry leaders regarding discovery issues affecting complex litigation.

Prior to joining FormanWatkins, Elizabeth worked as a staff attorney at a firm ranked No. 1 among the most prestigious law firms in the United States by Vault Law 100, participating in the defense of matters involving technology, financial services, and government regulation. Elizabeth also serves on the firm's Technology Committee and Diversity Committee, and she maintains a strong pro bono practice.

Professional Recognition

Important Litigation Involvement

  • Significant trial experience, including voir dire, opening statement, expert preparation, and strategic management.
  • Active discovery practice, including eDiscovery negotiation and management, preparation of expert and fact witnesses, deposition cross examinations, and pre-trial motion practice.
  • Represents product liability and premise defendants in asbestos and commercial litigation throughout Louisiana.
  • Defended mortgage servicers in Mississippi and Louisiana state and federal court litigation involving Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), as well as state tax sales, foreclosures, and adversary proceedings in bankruptcy courts.
  • Pursued trustee rights in Mississippi and Louisiana state and federal court litigation related to residential mortgage-backed securities.
  • Coordinated discovery of residential mortgage-backed securities in multi-district litigation involving mortgage originator.
  • Reviewed mainframe software documents in defense of unfair competition lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
  • Conducted document review regarding government regulations of wireless chip maker involving antitrust laws and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

News & Knowledge

Professional Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, since 2021: Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Selected to Louisiana Rising Stars (2019-2021)
  • Selected to Mid-South Rising Stars (2017-2021)

 

Organization/Committee Memberships

  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar
  • The Sedona Conference

Pro Bono & Community Service

  • Joni and Friends, a disability advocacy and support organization
  • Mission First Legal Aid Office
  • Mississippi Center for Justice

Law School Honors & Awards

  • Patrick Michael Magann Public Interest Award
  • Mississippi Law Journal, Associate Mississippi Cases Editor

Previous Experience

  • Prior to joining FormanWatkins, Elizabeth gained over a decade of litigation experience representing the interests of both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving personal injury, insurance coverage, financial services, securities regulation, unfair competition, and technology.

Other Office Location

Practice Areas