Profile
Sarah-Michelle Stearns focuses her practice on risk management, complex commercial litigation, and appeals, with an emphasis on both real estate litigation and labor and employment matters. Her practice includes the representation of investors, employers, developers, commercial landlords and tenants, and related stakeholders in disputes concerning investments, breach of contract issues, real estate development, commercial lease matters, intellectual property, and related litigation. She has wide-ranging experience in both state and federal courts in Texas, including experience in pursuing and defending applications for injunctive relief. Her practice also includes advising clients on best practices for complying with applicable regulations, and she reviews and drafts contracts with an eye toward the same. She has familiarity with a variety of industries and typically serves clients in the finance, health care, arts and entertainment, and technology industries. Overall, Sarah-Michelle is a fierce advocate, strong writer, and she finds creative strategies to approach complex problems.
Concentrations
- Appellate
- Business disputes
- Class actions
- Complex commercial litigation
- General litigation
- IP litigation
Capabilities
Experience
- Assisted in representing a software company in a lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas involving the misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Assisted in representing a semiconductor company in a lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas involving a claim for breach of warranty.
- Assisted in representing a kitchen and bath products manufacturing company in a lawsuit in Texas state court involving the breach of a noncompete agreement.
- Assisted in representing a chemical industry company in a lawsuit in Texas state court involving a breach of contract.
- Assisted in representing an investment firm in a copyright infringement lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas involving the firm’s practice of electronically forwarding a daily newsletter to more of its staff than allowed under the subscription agreement.°
°The above representations were handled by Ms. Stearns prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Legal Internship, G6 Hospitality, 2016
- Legal Internship, North Texas Tollway Authority, 2015
- Legal Internship, Hon. Jane Boyle, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, 2014
- Legal Internship, Dallas Cowboys Football Club, 2014
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Commercial Litigation, 2021-2025
- Listed, D Magazine, "Best Lawyers Under 40," 2023, 2025
- Listed, Super Lawyers Magazine, Texas Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2021-2024
- Named, Client Service All Star, BTI Client Service All-Stars Report, 2020
- Selected, Dallas Young Lawyers Association, “One to Watch,” 2018
- Member, North Texas Master Naturalists
- Member, Junior League of Dallas
- Parks Improvement Project, 2023-present
- Member, National Association of Women Lawyers
- Member of Host Committee for Annual Meeting, 2023 - Present
- Selected, Communities Foundation of Texas, Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy, 2022
- Dallas Regional Chamber
- Selected, YP Lead, 2021
- Young Professionals Advisory Council, 2024- Present
- Selected, Mayor’s Star Council, 2020-2021
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 2016-Present
- Board of Directors, 2019-2022
- Leadership Class, 2018
- Member, Dallas Mayor's Star Council, 2020-2021
- Member, Dallas Women Lawyers Association
- Member, Dallas Bar Association, 2016-Present
- Co-Chair, Transition to Law Practice Program, 2019
- Chair of Professionalism Committee, 2024
- Associate, The William ‘Mac’ Taylor American Inn of Court, 2016-Present
- Board Member, Big Leaders Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Dallas, 2018-2022
- Leadership Arts Institute, Business Council for the Arts, 2018
- Moot Court Coach, SMU Dedman School of Law, 2017-Present
- Chapter Advisory Board, Kappa Delta Sorority, 2018-2022
- Board Member, Shakespeare Dallas, 2019-2022
- Board Member, Old City Park
- Member, Daughters of the American Revolution
- Member, Trinity Christian Academy Alumni Association
Credentials
-
J.D., cum laude, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 2016
- Order of the Barristers
- Staff Editor and CLE Editor, SMU Law Review Association
- John E. Kennedy Award
- The Barristers
- M.A., Economics, cum laude, Southern Methodist University, 2016
- B.A., University of Texas at Austin, 2011
- Hon. Justice Douglas S. Lang, Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, 2016-2017
- Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit