Amanda L. Cottrell

Amanda Cottrell is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm’s Dallas office.

Overview

Amanda maintains a true generalist trial practice, representing defendants and plaintiffs in complex commercial litigation as well as white collar defense and investigations. Amanda has gone to trial and spearheads pre-trial strategy on cases – large and small – in the areas of bankruptcy, oil and gas, real estate, commercial contracts and telecommunications.  She understands her clients’ businesses and unique problems.  Amanda helps her clients spot and analyze legal issues and implement practical, business-focused solutions.

Amanda is an avid distance runner, earning two varsity letters in cross country and track at Vanderbilt University. Her endurance and mental tenacity shine through in her law practice. Amanda’s efforts have been recognized by colleagues and peers in a variety of legal publications, including Thomson Reuters’ “Texas Rising Stars” (2016-2021), D Magazine’s “Best Lawyers Under 40” (2019-2020) and “Best Lawyers in Dallas - Energy & Natural Resources” (2019).

Bankruptcy Litigation

Amanda supports the firm’s restructuring practice, providing strategic counsel in contested matters filed in bankruptcy courts from coast to coast. She has represented debtors, lenders and liquidating trustees in complex Chapter 11 cases. Amanda was lead litigation partner in the Seadrill Partners LLC and Alpha Media cases, the latter of which was recognized as the Turnaround Management Association’s “Large Company Turnaround of the Year” in 2021.

Complex Civil Litigation

Amanda has more than a decade of experience representing clients in state and federal courts in high-stakes litigation, including complex contractual disputes, securities fraud, partnership disputes, trade secrets and restrictive covenant litigation. She has jury trial experience, including all aspects of preparing a matter for trial. 

Based in Texas, Amanda has substantial experience in upstream oil and gas litigation. She represents major oil and gas companies, independents, and landowners in disputes over mineral title ownership, operating agreements, surface use and damages, water use, bad faith pooling, oil and gas lease covenants, royalty calculations and alleged underpayments, post-production processing costs, co-tenancy accountings and payout calculations, among many other issues.

Getting her start as a commercial real estate attorney, Amanda is considered a go-to real estate litigator by her peers and clients. She routinely represents companies, banks, and special servicers in commercial disputes, with a focus on title, land use, contractual covenants, landlord-tenant matters, enforcement of letters of credit and other financial instruments, injunctions, mechanic’s liens, and other commercial loan enforcement work. 

White Collar Criminal Defense

Amanda often assists clients in civil and criminal matters prosecuted by state and federal agencies.  Early in her career, Amanda worked with a team led by a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.  After nine years with her former firm, Amanda spent 20 months working with a court-appointed compliance monitor team for a large international technology company. At Sheppard Mullin, Amanda continues to partner with the firm’s White Collar Defense and Corporate Investigation team, representing clients in state and federal false claims cases with a particular focus on healthcare fraud and government contracts.

Investigations

In connection with both her civil and white collar defense work, Amanda is a thorough outside investigator with substantial experience managing and participating in multinational investigations with sensitive timelines and deliverables. She has conducted hundreds of witness interviews and represented witnesses in connection with internal investigations involving a wide array of legal issues, including fraud allegations, false statements, corporate ethics issues, securities violations, and data privacy and security concerns. 

Honors

Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2022

Texas Top Women - Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2022

Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2016-2022

Best Lawyers Under 40, D Magazine, 2019-2021

Dallas Bar Association WE LEAD Class of 2019

Articles

Media Mentions

Events

Memberships

Secretary, Dallas Chapter, Women in White Collar Defense Association

Member, Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section, State Bar of Texas

Member, Energy Section, Dallas Bar Association

Digital Media