Donna K. McElroy

Member


Ask Donna McElroy the nature of her employment law practice, and she'll tell you, "Drugs, sex, violence, and protecting the family jewels."

Humor aside, the description encompasses pitfalls that can land employers in court and the press and why clients rely on Donna to avoid them. Regardless of the issue, her highest priority is to help clients manage unpredictability by avoiding litigation if possible and aggressively protecting their interests when it's not.

Donna provides comprehensive representation, including counseling and compliance, and she regularly appears in state and federal courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration.

She advises clients in various industries and verticals on a wide range of employment matters, such as discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, trade secret and non-competition violations, wage and hour claims, reductions-in-force and mass layoffs, and union negotiations—and the potentially costly reputational hits that can accompany them.

In today's supercharged environment, the threat of exposing workplace issues on traditional and social media is as dangerous as courtroom litigation. Donna strives to avoid damaging situations before they happen and certainly before they hit the press and the court of public opinion.

By counseling clients on creating safe spaces where employees are valued and adequately compensated, Donna helps employers increase retention and sustain healthy cultures.

When clients first retain Donna, they are often pleasantly surprised by how aggressively she tries to forge personal relationships. She commits to getting to know clients' businesses, meeting their teams, walking their facilities, and visiting their headquarters and satellite locations at no cost to them. Clients quickly realize Donna is a strong advocate who will fight for them as hard as she can, even if she goes down swinging, and will also be a close confidante and caring friend.

My job is to reduce clients' financial exposure and keep them out of the news. Importantly, our clients want to make things right for their employees, too. That drives me to do what I do.
      • Tulane University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1986
      • Auburn University, B.S., 1983
  • Bar Admissions

    • Texas, 1986
  • Court Admissions

    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit
    • United States District Court Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
    • United States District Court Northern District of Florida
    • United Stated District Court District of Nebraska
    • United States District Court Northern District of Ohio
    • United Stated District Court District of Oregon
    • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2011-2024

    • Recognized in Texas Super Lawyers® for Employment Litigation; Employment & Labor; Schools & Education, 2003-2008, 2010-2013, 2016-2024

    • Recognized by S.A. Scene in “San Antonio’s Outstanding Women in Law” 2021, 2022

    • Recognized by San Antonio Magazine in "San Antonio's Top Attorneys" for Labor & Employment, 2019-2022

    • S.A. Scene, "San Antonio's Best Lawyers," Employment Litigation-Defense; Labor & Employment; Schools & Education, 2016, 2018
    • Recipient of the San Antonio Business Journal Outstanding Lawyers Award", 2017
    • Named a Fellow in Litigation Counsel of America, 2015
    • Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating and Judiciary Rating for 22 years
    • Recipient of President's Award, San Antonio Bar Association, 2014
    • Selected for inclusion in the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™, 2013
    • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
    • Fellows of the American Bar Association, Member
    • Texas Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
    • San Antonio Bar Association, Board of Directors, Secretary
    • San Antonio Bar Foundation
    • American Employment Law Council, Member
    • Texas Bar Foundation, District 10 Nominating Committee
    • Bexar County Women’s Bar Association, Member and former Board of Director
    • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Member
    • U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Education, Employment, and Training Committee, Member
    • William S. Sessions American Inn of Court
    • National Association of College and University Attorneys
    • Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Board of Advisors
    • Olmos Park Economic Development Corporation, Board of Director
    • Mental Health Association, Former Board of Director
    • Headwaters Coalition, Board Member
    • Downtown YMCA, Former Director
    • Lone Star Auburn Club, Former Director
    • Our Lady of Grace ACTS Core Director, 2010-2012
    • San Antonio City Year, Board Member and Treasurer, 2008-2010
    • National Association of Professional Women

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