Dena Palermo
Counsel
denapalermo@andrewskurth.com
Suite 4200
Houston TX 77002
P: 713.220.3846
F: 713.238.7293
Download v-cardDena focuses her practice on litigation and corporate investigations. Dena has significant experience in complex commercial and tort litigation in state and federal courts. She has handled disputes involving contracts, securities fraud, lender liability, breach of fiduciary obligations, fraud, medical malpractice and mass torts.
Dena’s experience in mass tort litigation involves her work as national counsel for an international corporation in silica litigation where she was responsible for overseeing all phases of developing the trial outline for outside trial counsel.
Dena’s experience in corporate investigations includes conducting internal investigations into allegations of potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Sherman Act.
Dena has also been involved in e-discovery litigation and counseling. Dena obtained a $650,000 sanctions award against an international company for violations of court ordered e-discovery and the duty to preserve.
Articles / Publications
"Bribery: US Is Cracking Down On Payments Made Under The Table" (with Paul L. Mitchell), Houston Business Journal (August 31, 2007)
"Today's Women Lawyers Want to be Mentored. The Real Question Is, By Whom?" Houston Lawyer (May/June 2005)
"Ascertaining Undefined State Law Under the Erie Doctrine: Factors Etc., Inc. v. Pro Arts, Inc." Boston University Law Review (1982)
Briefings, Seminars & Speeches
"Discovery Compliance Under The Amended ESI Rules" presented at Waste Managment with Tom Lidbury (March 2008)
"Leaving and Re-entering the Legal Workforce" presented at HBA Gender Fairness Luncheon Series (January 2008)
"Mentoring and Rainmaking" presented at HBA's Woman Lawyer's Guide to Effective Communication (April 2006)
"Ending Isolation: Keys to Effective Mentoring Programs" presented at ABA Leadership Summit (July 1995)
Topic: "How to Invoke the Court's Power to Control Discovery: A Demonstration" presented at University of Houston Law Center Advanced Civil Discovery (June 1994)
"Jury Charge" presented at State Bar of Texas 1993 9th Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law Course (July 1993)
"Admissibility of Junk Science" presented at ABA Litigation Section Meeting (Fall 1993)
"Sanctions Under Tex.R.Civ.P. 13" presented at University of Houston Law Center, Advanced Civil Litigation Seminar (March 1991)
Professional / Civic Affiliations
Member
- Life Fellow, Houston Bar Association
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Texas Bar Association
- New York Bar Association
Professional Activities
- Co-Chair, Houston Bar Association Gender Fairness Committee, 2007-2008
- Member, HBA Gender Fairness Committee, 2004-2007
- Programming Committee Member, HBA’s Woman Lawyer’s Guide to Effective Communication, Mentoring and Rainmaking, April 2006
- Co-Chair Programming Committee, HBA’s Woman Lawyer’s Guide to Effective Communication, Mentoring and Rainmaking, April 2005 - Texas Executive Women, Career Tours High School Mentoring Program, April 2007
- Chair, Women's Initiative Houston Office, Mayer Brown, 2007
- Houston Bar Association, Director, May 1993-1995
- Founder, HBA Mentoring Program 1993
- Chair, Mentor Subcommittee of the HBA Professionalism Committee, 1993-1995
- Co-Chair, HBA Legal Line Committee 1994-1995 - Association of Women Attorneys, Director 1993-1995
- Chair, AWA Judicial Reception Committee 1994-1995
- Co-Chair, AWA Charity Softball Game 1993 - Association of Women Attorneys Foundation, Trustee, May 1993-1995
- Co-Chair AWAF Tribute to Women Judges of Harris County 1994 - South Texas College of Law, Women’s Forum, Volunteer Mentor 1991-1994
Industries
Practice Areas
Education
- JD, 1983, magna cum laude, Boston University School of Law
- BS, 1980, Binghamton University
Admitted
- Texas 1985
- New York 1984
