Biography

Crystal J. Parker practices business and commercial litigation, with a focus on defamation, business disparagement, and shareholder oppression claims. She has represented clients as varied as a Fortune 100 company to a shareholder in a closely held corporation. She has experience practicing in state and federal courts and in arbitration.

Ms. Parker's litigation experience includes representing clients in libel, slander, business disparagement, breach of fiduciary duty, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, shareholder oppression, business valuation disputes, and employment discrimination claims, among others.

Ms. Parker's experience as a writer and editor, including serving on the Editorial Board of the Houston Lawyer and teaching writing as a graduate student, allows her to present a particularly focused, persuasive advocacy for her clients.

Ms. Parker focuses on not only achieving the best legal outcome for her clients, but also the best business outcome, recognizing that sometimes the typical litigation strategy is the wrong strategy for the public relations or other concerns of the company. She strives to find creative solutions that bring the most value to each client.

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Representative Matters

• Assisted as second chair in defending a Fortune 100 company in a defamation case involving an employee's blog. Ms. Parker's motion to preclude the plaintiff from asserting damage to his reputation was granted, and the parties entered into a confidential settlement.


• Assisted as second chair in drafting a successful motion for summary judgment that dismissed a race discrimination claim against a national bank.


• Assisted as second chair in successfully mediating a gender discrimination claim on behalf of a former executive of a Fortune 100 company.


• Assisted in representing a company whose competitor was falsely disparaging its products. The false statements were withdrawn and a retraction was issued as part of the settlement.


• Assisted as second chair in representing at arbitration a withdrawing partner who was not fairly paid for his partnership interest, including cross-examining the redeeming partner at arbitration.


• Assisted as second chair in getting ERISA claims dismissed against a claims administrator.


• Drafted the pleadings that resulted in obtaining a favorable settlement of a claim of fraudulent transfer for a former executive of a Fortune 100 company.

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Organization Membership

Ms. Parker is a member of the Houston Bar Association's Law & the Media Committee and the Media Law Resource Center. She is also a member of the Houston Bar Association's Gender Fairness Committee.

Community Involvement

Ms. Parker serves on the Board of the Harriett and Joe Foster YMCA.

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Links to Publications

• How to Protect Privilege With Respect to Communications With Litigation-Related Public-Relations Consultants

More about Crystal J. Parker: Biography | Experience | Involvement |