Mario Barrera

Mario A. Barrera has over 20 years’ experience handling first chair cases and trying those cases to verdict. As a labor and employment partner in Norton Rose Fulbright’s San Antonio office, Mario has been involved in individual and class/collective actions involving :

• Race, national origin, religion and gender discrimination (including sexual harassment) and retaliation under Title VII and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code
• Age discrimination and retaliation cases under Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code
• Discrimination and retaliation claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Breach of fiduciary claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
• Restrictive Covenants (non-compete and non-solicitation)
• Employment torts and contractual claims

A portion of Mario’s practice also involves rendering legal advice and opinions on a variety of issues including all facets of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, restrictive covenants, employment agreements, separations, OSHA, ERISA and collective bargaining issues.

Mario has conducted both employment investigations and training seminars for a variety of clients. He was certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1989. Previously, Mario was a partner with another international firm.

Education :

• JD, The University of Texas School of Law, 1984
• BA, magna cum laude, Pan American University, 1981

During law school, Mario was an Articles Editor for The Review of Litigation. Mario is licensed to practice in Texas and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Federal Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Representative experience  :

• Defended race and national origin discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims against a private research institute in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division; zero award to plaintiff (2015)
• Defended disability discrimination and retaliation claims against a Catholic university at arbitration in Bexar County; zero award to claimant (2013)
• Prosecuted an Equal Pay Act claim in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division; jury award in favor of plaintiff (2011)
• Defended workers’ compensation discrimination claim against a furniture company at arbitration in Webb County; zero award to claimant (2010)
• Prosecuted fraud and tortious interference with business relationship claims in the 327th District Court, El Paso County; jury award in favor of plaintiff (2008)
• Defended a Chapter 21 retaliation claim against a community college district in the 408th District Court, Bexar County; zero award to plaintiff (2008)
• Defended a FMLA/Retaliation claim against a large insurance and financial services company in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division; three week jury trial ended in mistrial; 8-1 jury in favor of defense (2004)
• Defended workers’ compensation discrimination claim against a large garment manufacturer in the 92nd District Court, Hidalgo County; zero award to plaintiff (2002)

Admissions : Texas State Bar

Memberships and activities :

• American Board of Trial Advocates
• State Bar of Texas
• San Antonio Bar Association
• Joint Board of Pensions for the Southwest and Rio Grande Conferences of the United Methodist Church, (2012 – 2016)
• The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors (2007 -2018)