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Slater Elza criminal defense attorney

Slater Elza

Shareholder

Fax:

(806) 242-0526

Address:

500 S. Taylor, Suite 1200
Amarillo, Texas 79101


P.O. Box 9158
Amarillo, Texas 79105

Slater Elza criminal defense attorney

Slater Elza

Shareholder

Slater Elza’s practice focuses on representing businesses and governmental entities, including municipalities, economic development corporations, independent school districts, and hospital districts in both general and litigation matters. Slater serves as general and litigation counsel to many municipalities. He also maintains a civil litigation practice, representing businesses and employers throughout the Texas Panhandle and South Plains. As a litigator, Slater has tried over 125 matters through verdict in state courts, federal courts and arbitrations.  Over the past few years he has handled significant litigation in Texas, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia and Pennsylvania for clients.

Slater’s non-governmental clients include an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural products and services, various nationally recognized insurance companies, and many other regional employers and businesses. Understanding his clients is very important to Slater as he considers himself more than legal counsel – he solves problems. Slater believes in a team approach that places the best Underwood attorneys for any matter on the case.

He serves as  Executive Vice President for the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, a statewide organization of personal injury defense, civil trial and commercial litigation attorneys, and is a former treasurer and director for the Amarillo Area Bar Association. Elected in 2018, Slater also serves on the Litigation Council for the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas and is an elected board member for the Texas City Attorneys Association and former regional chairman for the Texas Supreme Court’s Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law. Slater regularly speaks around the State on litigation and local government issues.

Slater serves on Underwood’s Board of Directors, as well as heading up the Litigation and Municipal Law Practice Groups for the Firm.

March of Dimes, Former Amarillo Council President

West Texas Regional Market Board, Former Member 

Amarillo Community Center, Past President

Center City of Amarillo, Board Member

  • Overview

    Slater Elza’s practice focuses on representing businesses and governmental entities, including municipalities, economic development corporations, independent school districts, and hospital districts in both general and litigation matters. Slater serves as general and litigation counsel to many municipalities. He also maintains a civil litigation practice, representing businesses and employers throughout the Texas Panhandle and South Plains. As a litigator, Slater has tried over 125 matters through verdict in state courts, federal courts and arbitrations.  Over the past few years he has handled significant litigation in Texas, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia and Pennsylvania for clients.

    Slater’s non-governmental clients include an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural products and services, various nationally recognized insurance companies, and many other regional employers and businesses. Understanding his clients is very important to Slater as he considers himself more than legal counsel – he solves problems. Slater believes in a team approach that places the best Underwood attorneys for any matter on the case.

    He serves as  Executive Vice President for the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, a statewide organization of personal injury defense, civil trial and commercial litigation attorneys, and is a former treasurer and director for the Amarillo Area Bar Association. Elected in 2018, Slater also serves on the Litigation Council for the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas and is an elected board member for the Texas City Attorneys Association and former regional chairman for the Texas Supreme Court’s Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law. Slater regularly speaks around the State on litigation and local government issues.

    Slater serves on Underwood’s Board of Directors, as well as heading up the Litigation and Municipal Law Practice Groups for the Firm.

    March of Dimes, Former Amarillo Council President

    West Texas Regional Market Board, Former Member 

    Amarillo Community Center, Past President

    Center City of Amarillo, Board Member

  • Experience
  • Affiliations
    • Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Executive Vice President
    • Texas City Attorney’s Association, Board of Directors
    • Defense Research Institute (DRI) – Governmental Liability Committee and School and Education Law Committee
    • Texas Municipal League, Associate Member, 2003-Present
    • Texas Municipal League Legislative Committee on Utilities and Transportation, 2016 – 2018
    • Amarillo Bar Association,1997-Present; 2003-04 Sec./Treas.; 2010-12 Executive Committee
    • Texas Supreme Court, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee Sub-Committee Chairman, 2012-2015
    • Litigation Council, State Bar of Texas, 2018-present
    • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, 2017-present
    • Texas City Attorneys Association, 2003-Present; Elected State Board Member, 2015-Present
  • Insights

    Publications & Presentations

    1. Your City’s Legal Counsel: Working with Your Lawyers, TML 2018 Annual Conference, Ft. Worth, Texas, (2018).
    2. Ethics of Paralegal Interactions with Clients, Witnesses, and Experts, InReach Continuing Education Solutions Webinar, (2018).
    3. Don’t Mess Up The Criminal Case – Successfully Navigating Parallel Proceedings, TADC West Texas-New Mexico Seminar, Ruidoso, New Mexico (2018).
    4. Civility in Litigation: A Discussion on Professionalism, TADC Annual Meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico (2018).
    5. How Far Can You Go In Preparing a Witness?, TADC Deposition Boot Camp, Lubbock, Texas (2018).
    6. Economic Development – Working With Your City Administration, High Ground of Texas, Spring 2018 Meeting – Plainview, Texas (2018).
    7. Surviving Code Enforcement, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2018).
    8. Sexual Harassment, Back To Basics, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock, Texas (2018).
    9. Developing Your Agenda and Open Meetings Pitfalls, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2018).
    10. TADC Trial Academy, Faculty, Ft. Worth, Texas (2018).
    11. An Introduction to the Texas Tort Claims Act and Immunities, TCAA Riley Fletcher Basic Municipal Law Seminar, Dallas, Texas (2018).
    12. Amarillo Area Bar Association Trial Academy, Faculty, Amarillo, Texas (2017).
    13. Staying Out of the Courthouse: Best Practices for Employee Discipline, TCAA Annual Meeting, Houston, TX (2017)
    14. Deposing Experts Like a Pro, TADC Summer Meeting, Orlando, Florida (2017).
    15. Making Things Easy — Running The Perfect City Council Meeting; Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2017).
    16. EDC’s and Cities: Can’t We All Just Get Along; Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2017).
    17. Election Laws Pertaining to Cities; Texas Municipal League Region 3 Quarterly Meeting (2017).
    18. Ethical Challenges in Representing Governmental Entities; Dallas Bar Association – Government Law Section (2016).
    19. Your Employment Policy and Procedure Manual, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2016).
    20. Ethical Issues Between City Council and Staff; Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2016).
    21. Taking and Defending Depositions: The Strategy and the Law;  AAYLA 14th Biennial Las Vegas CLE, Las Vegas, NV  (2016)
    22. Municipal Liability — 5 Minute University; TCAA Riley Fletcher Basic Municipal Law Seminar, Austin, Texas (2016).
    23. Police Officer Terminations – F5 Issues and More; TCAA Annual Meeting, Bastrop, TX (2015).
    24. Disciplining Police Officers; ULF Municipal Law Seminar, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2015).
    25. City Council Board Training – Thoughts and Considerations, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2015).
    26. Ethical Considerations Between Legal Counsel and the City Council; Texas City Attorneys’ Association Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas (2014).
    27. Understanding Condemnation Suits, TADC Summer Meeting, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (2014).
    28. The Role of a Guardian Ad Litem, TADC West Texas-New Mexico Seminar, Ruidoso, New Mexico (2014).
    29. 2013-2014 Case Law Update, Region 16 Special Education Seminar, Amarillo, Texas (2014).
    30. The Open Meetings Act, ULF Municipal Law Seminar, Lubbock, Texas (2014).
    31. Hiring and Firing – What You Need to Know, ULF Municipal Law Seminar, Lubbock, Texas (2014).
    32. What Every Civil Litigator Needs to Know About Criminal Law, TADC West Texas Rookie Seminar (2013).
    33. EDC Contracts, Policies, and other Economic Development Legal Issues, High Ground of Texas 2013 REDI Course (2013).
    34. June 2012 NLRB Changes – Employees and Social Media, Hereford Economic Development Corporation Luncheon for Regional Employers, Hereford, TX (2012).
    35. Drafting a Peddler/Itinerant Merchant Ordinance, TCAA Annual Meeting, South Padre Island, TX (2012).
    36. Potential Traps for Attorneys Drafting Third-Party Closing Opinions, TCAA Annual Meeting, South Padre Island, TX (2011).
    37. Senate Bill 100 – How it Affects Your City; TML Regional Meeting, Lubbock, TX (2011).
    38. Fifth Circuit Employment Law Update; TADC Winter Meeting; Steamboat, CO (2011).
    39. Ethics – The Relationship Between City Secretaries and the City Council; TMCA Regional Meeting, Lubbock, Texas (2011).
    40. Code Enforcement and Nuisances, TCAA Annual Meeting, South Padre Island, TX (2010).
    41. Economic Development Marketing Trends & Tips of the Trade, High Ground of Texas Spring Membership Meeting, Lubbock, TX (2009).
    42. Deposing the Plaintiff in Personal Injury Cases; TADC Rookie Seminar, Lubbock, TX (2008)
    43. Notary Publics – Knowing the Law, TMCA Regional Meeting, Lubbock, TX and Amarillo, TX (2007) 
    44. Agencies, Follow Your Statutes: The Substantial Evidence Rule in Judicial Review of Administrative Agency Decisions, Texas Tech Journal of Texas Administrative Law, Vol. 4 Book 2, Summer 2003.

    Insights

Affiliations

  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Executive Vice President
  • Texas City Attorney’s Association, Board of Directors
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI) – Governmental Liability Committee and School and Education Law Committee
  • Texas Municipal League, Associate Member, 2003-Present
  • Texas Municipal League Legislative Committee on Utilities and Transportation, 2016 – 2018
  • Amarillo Bar Association,1997-Present; 2003-04 Sec./Treas.; 2010-12 Executive Committee
  • Texas Supreme Court, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee Sub-Committee Chairman, 2012-2015
  • Litigation Council, State Bar of Texas, 2018-present
  • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, 2017-present
  • Texas City Attorneys Association, 2003-Present; Elected State Board Member, 2015-Present

Publications & Presentations

  1. Your City’s Legal Counsel: Working with Your Lawyers, TML 2018 Annual Conference, Ft. Worth, Texas, (2018).
  2. Ethics of Paralegal Interactions with Clients, Witnesses, and Experts, InReach Continuing Education Solutions Webinar, (2018).
  3. Don’t Mess Up The Criminal Case – Successfully Navigating Parallel Proceedings, TADC West Texas-New Mexico Seminar, Ruidoso, New Mexico (2018).
  4. Civility in Litigation: A Discussion on Professionalism, TADC Annual Meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico (2018).
  5. How Far Can You Go In Preparing a Witness?, TADC Deposition Boot Camp, Lubbock, Texas (2018).
  6. Economic Development – Working With Your City Administration, High Ground of Texas, Spring 2018 Meeting – Plainview, Texas (2018).
  7. Surviving Code Enforcement, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2018).
  8. Sexual Harassment, Back To Basics, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock, Texas (2018).
  9. Developing Your Agenda and Open Meetings Pitfalls, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2018).
  10. TADC Trial Academy, Faculty, Ft. Worth, Texas (2018).
  11. An Introduction to the Texas Tort Claims Act and Immunities, TCAA Riley Fletcher Basic Municipal Law Seminar, Dallas, Texas (2018).
  12. Amarillo Area Bar Association Trial Academy, Faculty, Amarillo, Texas (2017).
  13. Staying Out of the Courthouse: Best Practices for Employee Discipline, TCAA Annual Meeting, Houston, TX (2017)
  14. Deposing Experts Like a Pro, TADC Summer Meeting, Orlando, Florida (2017).
  15. Making Things Easy — Running The Perfect City Council Meeting; Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2017).
  16. EDC’s and Cities: Can’t We All Just Get Along; Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2017).
  17. Election Laws Pertaining to Cities; Texas Municipal League Region 3 Quarterly Meeting (2017).
  18. Ethical Challenges in Representing Governmental Entities; Dallas Bar Association – Government Law Section (2016).
  19. Your Employment Policy and Procedure Manual, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2016).
  20. Ethical Issues Between City Council and Staff; Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2016).
  21. Taking and Defending Depositions: The Strategy and the Law;  AAYLA 14th Biennial Las Vegas CLE, Las Vegas, NV  (2016)
  22. Municipal Liability — 5 Minute University; TCAA Riley Fletcher Basic Municipal Law Seminar, Austin, Texas (2016).
  23. Police Officer Terminations – F5 Issues and More; TCAA Annual Meeting, Bastrop, TX (2015).
  24. Disciplining Police Officers; ULF Municipal Law Seminar, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2015).
  25. City Council Board Training – Thoughts and Considerations, Underwood Municipal Seminar — Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas (2015).
  26. Ethical Considerations Between Legal Counsel and the City Council; Texas City Attorneys’ Association Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas (2014).
  27. Understanding Condemnation Suits, TADC Summer Meeting, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (2014).
  28. The Role of a Guardian Ad Litem, TADC West Texas-New Mexico Seminar, Ruidoso, New Mexico (2014).
  29. 2013-2014 Case Law Update, Region 16 Special Education Seminar, Amarillo, Texas (2014).
  30. The Open Meetings Act, ULF Municipal Law Seminar, Lubbock, Texas (2014).
  31. Hiring and Firing – What You Need to Know, ULF Municipal Law Seminar, Lubbock, Texas (2014).
  32. What Every Civil Litigator Needs to Know About Criminal Law, TADC West Texas Rookie Seminar (2013).
  33. EDC Contracts, Policies, and other Economic Development Legal Issues, High Ground of Texas 2013 REDI Course (2013).
  34. June 2012 NLRB Changes – Employees and Social Media, Hereford Economic Development Corporation Luncheon for Regional Employers, Hereford, TX (2012).
  35. Drafting a Peddler/Itinerant Merchant Ordinance, TCAA Annual Meeting, South Padre Island, TX (2012).
  36. Potential Traps for Attorneys Drafting Third-Party Closing Opinions, TCAA Annual Meeting, South Padre Island, TX (2011).
  37. Senate Bill 100 – How it Affects Your City; TML Regional Meeting, Lubbock, TX (2011).
  38. Fifth Circuit Employment Law Update; TADC Winter Meeting; Steamboat, CO (2011).
  39. Ethics – The Relationship Between City Secretaries and the City Council; TMCA Regional Meeting, Lubbock, Texas (2011).
  40. Code Enforcement and Nuisances, TCAA Annual Meeting, South Padre Island, TX (2010).
  41. Economic Development Marketing Trends & Tips of the Trade, High Ground of Texas Spring Membership Meeting, Lubbock, TX (2009).
  42. Deposing the Plaintiff in Personal Injury Cases; TADC Rookie Seminar, Lubbock, TX (2008)
  43. Notary Publics – Knowing the Law, TMCA Regional Meeting, Lubbock, TX and Amarillo, TX (2007) 
  44. Agencies, Follow Your Statutes: The Substantial Evidence Rule in Judicial Review of Administrative Agency Decisions, Texas Tech Journal of Texas Administrative Law, Vol. 4 Book 2, Summer 2003.

Practice Areas

Bar/Court Admissions

Education