Vanessa leads the firm’s employment law litigation group. She has practiced law for over twenty years and has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2005. Vanessa’s employment law experience includes successful jury trials and the dismissal of numerous claims by motions for summary judgment and motions to dismiss. Born and raised in South Texas, Vanessa earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law after completing her B.A. in Speech Communication from Texas A&M University. After law school, Vanessa served as an Assistant Attorney General of Texas, where she represented the Texas Department of Transportation before entering private practice. Vanessa regularly counsels government and private employers to ensure compliance with state and federal employment laws; conducts workplace investigations; prepares and negotiates employment contracts; prepares and updates employee manuals; and provides management training. In addition to traditional employment law claims brought under the FLSA, Title VII, the ADA, the FMLA, and the Texas Labor Code, Vanessa has extensive experience defending constitutional employment law claims and whistleblower claims against government entities. Vanessa’s clients have included government entities, institutions of higher education, nation-wide companies, small businesses, and nonprofits. She also counsels institutions of higher education in matters related to the Public Information Act, Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and the Clery Act.
