Elizabeth A. Underwood

Shareholder

    Elizabeth is a shareholder in the Health Care Department, where she delivers strategic defense counsel in medical and dental malpractice matters, as well as long-term care litigation. Elizabeth has successfully represented a wide range of health care professionals, including physicians, dentists, physician assistants, certified registered nurse practitioners and nurses, securing favorable outcomes in numerous complex malpractice cases, including at trial, binding arbitration, and in mediation. Additionally, she defends long-term and skilled care providers, such as assisted living, personal care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities, against claims of negligence, malpractice, breach of contract and wrongful death. Elizabeth’s comprehensive understanding of health care law and dedication to client advocacy consistently result in successful outcomes for her clients.

    Elizabeth also handles complex product liability cases, as well as catastrophic injury matters arising from construction and motor vehicle accidents. She has tried numerous cases to defense verdicts, and has secured dismissals for her clients on dispositive motions.

    Elizabeth graduated cum laude from The George Washington University School of Law. She was awarded the American Bar Association/Bureau of National Affairs Award. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated cum laude and with distinction in her major of International Relations.

    Classes/Seminars Taught

    Getting the Most Out of Medical Experts, NBI webinar, March 20, 2025

    Best Practices for Presenting Medical Records and Expert Testimony, NBI webinar, March 20, 2025

    Creating a Trial Notebook, Institute for Paralegal Education, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 18, 2015

    Published Works

    “Waiving the Right to Seek Arbitration: New Court Ruling Limits Parties’ Ability to Seek to Enforce Arbitration Clause,” Defense Digest, January 2021, Vol. 27, No. 1

    "Case Update: Secretary of Labor v. Summit Contractors, Inc.: A Revival of the Controlling Employer OSHA Citation Policy on Multi-Employer Worksites," Defense Digest, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2009

    "The Summit Decision: Limiting General Contractor's Liability Under OSHA for Safety Violations of its Subcontractors at Multi-Employer Construction Sites," Defense Digest, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2009

    "Show Me The Merit: Pennsylvania's Certificate of Merit Requirement And Substantial Compliance," Defense Digest, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2007

    Admissions
    Pennsylvania
    2004
    Education
    The George Washington University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2004)
    University of Pennsylvania (B.A., cum laude, 2001)
    Year joined
    2006