Profile
Ms. Perez has more than 25 years of experience practicing labor and employment law and personal injury defense. She provides counsel and advice to management on a full range of employment and labor law matters, including:
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Discrimination
- Wage and Hour Compliance
- Investigations
- Medical Leaves of Absence
- Non-Competition Agreements
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs
She has handled complex removal issues involving Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and Labor in Management Relation Act (LMRA) preemption. Raquel has litigated cases in federal and state courts, and arbitration, and has appeared before federal and state administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Department of Labor. She has obtained numerous positive results for clients in arbitration and court proceedings, including dismissals and summary judgements.
Experience
Representative Matters
- An 8-4 defense verdict as second chair in a four-week jury trial regarding a workers’ compensation discrimination/retaliation claim.
- An arbitration award for the employer as first chair in a two-day arbitration involving claims of race and sex discrimination under Title VII.
- Summary judgements in an American with Disabilities Act and intentional infliction of emotional distress case; a Title VII race discrimination and defamation case; a Title VII retaliation case; and a Title VII race discrimination and hostile environment case.
- Dismissals of an age discrimination case and a national origin discrimination case.
Affiliations
Civic & Professional
State Bar of Texas, Labor & Employment Law Section
San Antonio Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section
Leadership San Antonio XXIV
National Charity League, Member 2019-2023
Young Men's Service League, Member 2019-2024
Board of Directors, Big Brothers & Sisters, Prior Director
Board of Directors, Texas Employment Law Council, Prior Director
News & Insights
Speaking Engagements
- San Antonio Human Resources Management Association
- "Changes in Texas Sexual Harassment Law", 16th Annual Employment Law Conference (August 2022)
- "Practical Tips for Managing Family and Medical Leave", 15th Annual Employment Law Conference (August 2021)
- "Best Practices for Handling Political Discussions", 14th Annual Employment Law Conference (August 2020)
- “Hot Issues in Workplace Privacy and Civility”, 13th Annual Employment Law Conference (August 2019)
- "Effective Drafting of Employee Handbooks", South Texas Human Resources Symposium (February 2019)
- San Antonio Manufacturers Association
- "Developments Under the New Texas Sexual Harassment Law", 18th Annual Employment Law Seminar (February 2023)
- "Employee Handbook Updates & Must-Haves", 16th Annual Employment Law Webinar (March 2021)
- “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations”, 14th Annual Employment Law Seminar (February 2019)
- Texas SHRM
- "Effective Drafting of Employee Handbooks", Annual HRSouthwest Conference (October 2019)
Certifications & Specialties
Certifications & Specialties
Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Capabilities
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
Education
University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1992
St. Mary's University, B.A., 1989
- summa cum laude
Certifications & Specialties
Certified in Labor & Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Languages
- Spanish
