Attorneys & Staff

Scott DeShazo

Scott DeShazo was raised in Austin. He is an experienced trial lawyer who has tried cases in both state and federal courts across Texas. His trial work has earned him the distinction of Board Certification in Personal Injury Trial Law, a distinction held by less than 10% of lawyers in Texas. Scott has also been inducted to the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization consisting of lawyers who have gained the requisite trial experience to become eligible for admission. Scott earned his JD from Texas Tech University School of Law, and has a Master of Theological Studies degree from Vanderbilt University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University. Prior to founding DeShazo & Nesbitt, Scott was a partner in the Austin firm Herman, Howry & Breen LLP. Scott began his legal career as an Assistant Attorney General in the General Litigation Section for the Office of the Attorney General. Scott is admitted to practice in the U.S. Federal District Courts for the Western, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Scott has also argued cases on appeal to the Third Court of Appeals in Austin and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Scott and his wife, Shawna, have three boys.

Tom Nesbitt

Tom Nesbitt is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Tom is listed in Best Lawyers in America, and Texas Monthly consistently recognizes him as a Super Lawyer in the practice of Labor & Employment law. Tom earned his JD with honors from the University of Texas School of Law. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Baylor University. Prior to founding DeShazo & Nesbitt, Tom was with the Austin office of Fulbright & Jaworski, now Norton Rose Fulbright. Tom is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Laura Goodson

Laura Goodson is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Laura received her JD with honors from The University of Texas School of Law. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and a Master of Arts in history from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Prior to joining DeShazo & Nesbitt in 2014, Laura practiced for 10 years in the Labor and Employment and Trial sections of the Houston office of Gardere, Wynne, Sewell, now Foley Gardere. Laura was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She grew up in both Calgary and in Corpus Christi, Texas, holding dual citizenship and dual allegiances during Olympic hockey games.

William Palmer

Prior to joining DeShazo & Nesbitt, Will Palmer practiced in the commercial litigation section at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in San Francisco, where he focused on general and complex commercial litigation. Will earned his JD from Columbia Law School where he was the Notes Editor for the Columbia Science and Technology Law Review. While in law school, he served as a judicial intern to Hon. Laura Taylor Swain in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Before law school, Will had a career at Google as a technical account manager. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in History and English with a concentration in writing from Yale University. He is admitted to practice law in California. Will is an Austin native and he and his wife are happy to be back in his hometown. 

Marianne Ross

Marianne Ross has been with DeShazo & Nesbitt since 2012, and wears many hats. She is instrumental in the day-to-day operations of the firm and is often the first person our clients meet. Not only is she the firm’s office manager, receptionist, secretary and barista, she is also a Board Certified paralegal in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Marianne has been in the legal field in one form or another since 1987 and has more than 17 years of extensive litigation and trial experience.

Marianne has lived in Austin long enough that she can easily call herself a native. She and her husband David have been married for 19 years. They love to travel and have three grown children.