Elizabeth Ernest helps businesses and media clients resolve high-stakes disputes across commercial litigation, intellectual property and First Amendment law.
She handles breach-of-contract cases, construction disputes and litigation arising from the gig economy, where market innovation often outpaces the regulatory landscape.
She brings a business-minded perspective to her litigation practice. Elizabeth helps clients understand how a legal dispute affects the practical side of their business as she advises them on litigation strategy and works to reach outcomes that align with their broader objectives.
Elizabeth also works closely with the firm's Media law team, drawing from her experience defending clients in defamation, First Amendment, access to public records and open court cases.
Her practice also encompasses trademark and copyright disputes. She represents clients on both sides of infringement matters, pursuing claims against alleged infringers and defending clients facing infringement actions.
Elizabeth served as Editor-in-Chief of Volume 20 of the First Amendment Law Review at the University of North Carolina School of Law. She counseled clients in the school's Intellectual Property Clinic on trademark matters. Prior to law school, Elizabeth served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa, where she managed federal grant projects and facilitated development programs.
Experience
Commercial Litigation:
- Secured favorable pre-trial resolution in a complex breach-of-contract dispute between health care entities.
- Defended general contractor in a complex contractual dispute and obtained a voluntary dismissal.
Intellectual Property:
- Secured favorable settlement in federal trademark litigation on behalf of trademark owner, including recovery of attorney’s fees.
Media Law:
- Obtained early dismissal of defamation lawsuit on behalf of national broadcasting company.
- Leveraged strategic procedural approach to reduce available damages in defamation lawsuit against defendant, resulting in de minimis settlement of case with initial demand of more than $5 million.
- Successfully argued before criminal trial judge to preserve press access to pre-trial proceedings in multiple murder case.