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Attorneys - Manuel O. Méndez
Manuel O. Méndez
Biography
Manuel focuses his practice on business transactions involving administrative law, international law, and public law. He counsels counties and other local governments on open government, procurement, contracting, financing, healthcare, economic development, tax and transportaion matters. He assists clients in the development of complex U.S. and binational infrastructure projects involving public and private entities. He also counsels U.S. and Mexican clients with business and tax matters, including contested state tax cases.
Mr. Méndez's administrative law practice is concentrated in the area of state and local taxation, with an emphasis on sales and franchise/margin taxes, and includes representation of a wide variety of corporate clients in administrative hearings before the Texas Comptroller's Office contesting state and local tax assessments. He advises clients regarding state tax questions arising from business acquisitions and transactions, and advises and assists clients in preparing for, responding to, and negotiating the resolution of state tax audits.
Manuel has been extensively involved in developing transportation projects. Most recently, Manuel represented Cameron County in the creation of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority. He has also been involved in assisting clients to analyze newly-created options for development of transportation infrastructure. He has represented cities with their transportation projects and actively monitors transportation issues before TxDOT and the legislature. Additionally, he has successfully represented local government clients with respect to binational negotiations, contracting, financing, diplomatic, permitting and regulatory matters involved in the development, construction and placement into operation of four new international bridges between Texas and Mexico, and currently represents three ongoing international bridge projects. Manuel is a native Spanish speaker and is able to negotiate and draft documents in English and Spanish.
Mr. Méndez's administrative law practice is concentrated in the area of state and local taxation, with an emphasis on sales and franchise/margin taxes, and includes representation of a wide variety of corporate clients in administrative hearings before the Texas Comptroller's Office contesting state and local tax assessments. He advises clients regarding state tax questions arising from business acquisitions and transactions, and advises and assists clients in preparing for, responding to, and negotiating the resolution of state tax audits.
Manuel has been extensively involved in developing transportation projects. Most recently, Manuel represented Cameron County in the creation of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority. He has also been involved in assisting clients to analyze newly-created options for development of transportation infrastructure. He has represented cities with their transportation projects and actively monitors transportation issues before TxDOT and the legislature. Additionally, he has successfully represented local government clients with respect to binational negotiations, contracting, financing, diplomatic, permitting and regulatory matters involved in the development, construction and placement into operation of four new international bridges between Texas and Mexico, and currently represents three ongoing international bridge projects. Manuel is a native Spanish speaker and is able to negotiate and draft documents in English and Spanish.
Educational and Professional Background
The University of Texas (B.A.), cum laude, (J.D.)
The Supreme Court of Texas, 1977
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
The Supreme Court of Texas, 1977
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Career Highlights, Honors and Appointments
Member, State Bar International Law Section; Former Chair, Austin Bar International Law Section
Member, Texas Comptroller's Practitioner/Industry Liaison Group
Member and Former Vice Chair, State Tax Committee, State Bar Taxation Division
Former Hearings Attorney, Comptroller of Public Accountants of Texas
Member, Texas Comptroller's Practitioner/Industry Liaison Group
Member and Former Vice Chair, State Tax Committee, State Bar Taxation Division
Former Hearings Attorney, Comptroller of Public Accountants of Texas
Publications, Papers, and Presentations
Speaker, "New Tools for Financing Transportation Projects," Southwest Texas International Conference and Exposition, 2005
Author and Speaker, "Tax Audits and Redetermination Hearings, What to do when the Tax Man Cometh," Seminar presented with Texas Comptroller's Office, 2005
Author and Speaker, "Overview of Three Economic Development Tools: County Development Districts, Tax Abatement and Tax Investment Financing," 14th Annual Local Government Seminar, 2001
Author and Speaker, "Community Housing Development Organizations," 16th Annual Local Government Seminar, 2003
Speaker, "Ingredients for an International Bridge," Texas/New Mexico APA Conference, 20021
Author and Speaker, "NAFTA's Effect on State Agencies and Administrative Law," State Bar of Texas 7th Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course
Author and Speaker, "A Practical Guide to the Examination Process," Texas Sales and Use Tax, National Business Institute
Author and Speaker, "Overview of Texas Sales and Use Taxes," Texas Sales and Use Tax Update
Author and Speaker, "Tax Audits and Redetermination Hearings, What to do when the Tax Man Cometh," Seminar presented with Texas Comptroller's Office, 2005
Author and Speaker, "Overview of Three Economic Development Tools: County Development Districts, Tax Abatement and Tax Investment Financing," 14th Annual Local Government Seminar, 2001
Author and Speaker, "Community Housing Development Organizations," 16th Annual Local Government Seminar, 2003
Speaker, "Ingredients for an International Bridge," Texas/New Mexico APA Conference, 20021
Author and Speaker, "NAFTA's Effect on State Agencies and Administrative Law," State Bar of Texas 7th Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course
Author and Speaker, "A Practical Guide to the Examination Process," Texas Sales and Use Tax, National Business Institute
Author and Speaker, "Overview of Texas Sales and Use Taxes," Texas Sales and Use Tax Update
NAFTA's Effect on State Agencies and Administrative Law
