Emily Westridge Black is a Partner at A&O Shearman, a member of the firm’s Board, Co-Head of its Global Chemicals Sector, and Managing Partner of the Austin office. She represents leading companies in high-stakes investigations and litigation matters.
For nearly 20 years, Emily has served as a trusted adviser to boards of directors and senior executives, helping them navigate sensitive and complex matters involving products liability, fraud and anti-corruption investigations, securities and ESG issues, environmental and mass tort claims, and cybersecurity disputes. She is recognized for providing commercially focused advice that helps clients address legal issues while meeting broader business objectives.
Clients and industry commentators have praised Emily for her strategic judgment, practical approach, leadership, and ability to build consensus while effectively advancing client interests. Her experience spans a wide range of industries and complex litigation matters involving significant business and reputational risks.
Emily has received numerous professional recognitions, including repeated rankings in Chambers USA for Commercial Litigation. She was shortlisted as North American Environmental Lawyer of the Year at the IFLR Women in Business Law Americas Awards 2025, recognized by The American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Week series for her work on behalf of Dow, Inc. in 2024, shortlisted for Texas Lawyer’s Influential Woman of the Year in 2024, and named Attorney of the Year by Texas Lawyer in 2019.
- Class action
- Commercial
- Commercial and transactions
- Commercial disputes
- Dispute resolution
- Securities
- White collar crime
- Accounting
- Agriculture
- Aviation
- Automotive
- Banking
- Construction and materials
- Consumer goods and services
- Energy
- Financial services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Food and beverage
- Forestry
- Gaming
- Government and public policy
- Healthcare
- Industrials
- Insurance
- Investment management
- Media
- Mining
- Natural resources
- Oil and gas
- Pharmaceutical and life sciences
- Real estate
- Shipping
- Social infrastructure
- Technology and telecommunications
- Tourism
- Transport
- Utilities
- JD, University of Texas - 2007
- Attorney-at-law, State of Texas, US - 2007