Shavonne L. Smith

Shavonne is of counsel in the San Antonio office of Ogletree Deakins, where she represents local and national employers of all sizes and across a variety of industries. Her practice focuses on the defense of employment law claims before administrative agencies and in federal and state court, as well as providing advice and counsel on personnel matters. Shavonne defends employers against a wide range of claims, including workplace discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, age, and same-sex status, harassment, retaliation, workers’ compensation retaliation, failure to accommodate, disability discrimination, negligent hiring, wrongful discharge, leave violations, unfair labor practices, disability access, and wage and hour claims arising under state and federal law, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other equal employment opportunity laws.

In addition to litigation defense, Shavonne reviews and drafts employee handbooks, workplace policies and procedures, and employment-related agreements. She conducts internal investigations in response to allegations of discrimination and misconduct and provides training for management and employees on best practices and policies, particularly with the aim of avoiding litigation. Shavonne also advises business clients on compliance with disability access requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act, including claims related to physical barriers and reasonable access. She also represents employers in unemployment compensation matters and Texas Workforce Commission audits and hearings.

Shavonne is dedicated to providing employer clients with the knowledge and tools they need to resolve workplace conflicts. A San Antonio native, she is known for her personable approach and conscientious work ethic. She is dedicated to developing trust and building long-term relationships with her clients. Highly responsive and attuned to her clients’ needs, she strives to anticipate issues before they arise, with the goal of minimizing the risk of future litigation. Shavonne is committed to achieving the best possible outcome for every client while taking cost-efficiency into consideration and making the process as convenient as possible for busy professionals.

Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Shavonne was a Member at a local defense firm with a general professional liability and employment practice.

Shavonne graduated summa cum laude from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky in 2000 with a B.A. in Anthropology/Sociology and Spanish. She then earned her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 2006, where she worked on the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights. Shavonne speaks frequently on a wide variety of topics at employment-related seminars. She is an active member of SHRM SA and the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association and is a graduate of the inaugural class of the LEAD Academy, the mission of which is to encourage the retention of women attorneys in the legal profession and to assist them in attaining the highest levels of success.