Aaron’s practice is focused on the efficient and cost-effective prevention and resolution of employment, business, real estate, and consumer disputes. His clients have included Fortune 500 companies, foreign corporations, large and small businesses, 501(c)(3) non-profits, start-ups, and individual executives and employees. Aaron is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He served as the 2020-2021 Chair of the Austin Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section, and has been recognized as a 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 “Super Lawyer” in Employment Law by Thompson Reuters, and by “Best Lawyers” in Labor and Employment Law in 2022 and 2023. Aaron was elected as a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation based upon his professional achievements and demonstrated commitment to the improvement of the justice system throughout the State of Texas.
Although Aaron's goal is the prevention of disputes, Aaron has over twenty years of experience in all levels of Texas state and federal courts, representing clients in jury trials and bench trials, and in appeals before the Texas Courts of Appeals and Texas Supreme Court. Aaron's areas of experience include:
Wage and hour and overtime disputes, including representation of clients in litigation of both individual and collective action claims, before the Texas Workforce Commission, and in Department of Labor investigations.
Discrimination and retaliation claims, including claims related to age, disability, race, sex, pregnancy, national origin, religion, and other classes protected by federal and state law.
Whistleblower claims against nursing homes and assisted living facilities under Texas Health and Safety Code 260A, which prohibits retaliation for reporting neglect, abuse, or exploitation of residents.
Drafting, defense, and enforcement of post-employment restrictions, including non-compete agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, non-solicitation agreements, claims for breach of fiduciary duties, and claims arising under the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act
Drafting, defense, and enforcement of employment-related contractual obligations, including employment agreements, arbitration agreements, severance agreements, and bonus, commission, and other compensation agreements.
Drafting, defense, and enforcement of general contractual obligations, including commercial and residential leases, sales and service contracts, purchase orders, real estate contracts, settlement agreements, independent contractor agreements, consulting agreements, and mechanics liens.
Defense of disputes arising under consumer protection laws, including the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and Truth in Lending Act.
Filing and Responding to Texas Citizens Participation Act motions to dismiss.
Defense of fair housing claims and claims arising under Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act (access to public accommodations).
Representation of Texas Board of Law Examiners Applicants.
Aaron regularly represents clients in proceedings before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Texas Workforce Commission, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Texas Medical Board, Texas Board of Law Examiners, Texas Board of Nursing, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and the City of Austin's Fair Housing and Equal Employment Office, including appeals of administrative decisions in both district court and the Court of Appeals. Aaron also represents his clients' interests in mediation and in binding arbitration, including arbitration before JAMS and AAA .
Aaron was born and raised in McAllen, Texas. He graduated in 1997 from The University of Texas at Austin's Plan II Honors Program, and, in 2000, from The University of Texas School of Law. Aaron was admitted to the Texas Bar in November 2000. He began his career as an associate in the employment law section of Winstead Sechrest & Minick's Houston, Texas, office. Aaron began his solo practice in 2004. In 2008, Aaron joined the association of Hill, Ducloux, Carnes & de la Garza.
Aaron is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of Texas, the United States District Courts, Western and Southern Districts of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas. Aaron has served as a certified guardian ad litem and as a Texas Education Agency appointed independent hearing examiner for local school district employment disputes. He lives in central Austin with his wife, Jennifer, and their two young children.
