Mary is a member of Butler Snow’s Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation group. As a litigator and board certified civil appellate specialist, Mary joins the Austin office of Butler Snow with many years of experience representing state agencies, individuals, corporations and the public interest in state and federal courts across Texas. Having served as a briefing attorney to a state appellate justice and as Deputy Chief of Consumer Protection and Senior Attorney for Charitable Trusts and General Litigation for the Office of the Texas Attorney General, she has a knack for evaluating, developing and implementing strategies through all phases of representation that lead to the best outcomes for the client. Mary is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Overview
Mary is a member of Butler Snow’s Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation group. As a litigator and board certified civil appellate specialist, Mary joins the Austin office of Butler Snow with many years of experience representing state agencies, individuals, corporations and the public interest in state and federal courts across Texas. Having served as a briefing attorney to a state appellate justice and as Deputy Chief of Consumer Protection and Senior Attorney for Charitable Trusts and General Litigation for the Office of the Texas Attorney General, she has a knack for evaluating, developing and implementing strategies through all phases of representation that lead to the best outcomes for the client. Mary is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Practice Areas
Experience
- As Senior Attorney for Charitable Trusts for the Office of the Texas Attorney General, Mary managed a team of attorneys, investigators and staff with oversight of all charitable entities in Texas, which included assigning and handling appropriate investigations, litigation and appellate matters in state and federal courts across Texas, as well as evaluating and drafting legislative proposals.
- As Deputy Division Chief for Consumer Protection for the Office of the Attorney General, Mary managed regional offices across Texas, as well as a general enforcement team, antitrust, charitable trusts, insurance practices and utility regulation sections. As part of her practice she developed policies & managed contracts, labor law issues and employment litigation, and handled consumer DTPA investigations, mediations, litigation and appellate matters.
- As Associate Commissioner of Regulatory Services for the Texas Health & Human Services Commission, Mary regulated all long term health care providers in Texas, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, state supported living facilities, home & community services, home health agencies, hospice, and related professionals.
- With the Office of General Counsel for the University of Texas System, Mary managed all aspects of employment & tort litigation for 15 component institutions.
- As Briefing Attorney for the Honorable Fortunato “Pete” Benavides at the Thirteenth Judicial Court of Appeals, Mary assisted with preparation for appellate arguments and legal briefing and research of civil & criminal appeals.
Distinctions
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board Certified Civil Appellate Law
- Certified Guardianship Attorney and Attorney Ad Litem
- Certified Mediator, 1986
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1985
- U.S. District Courts
- Texas: Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Baylor University School of Law, J.D., 1985
- President, Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society
- National Appellate Advocacy Team
- President, International Law Society
- Order of Barristers
- Stephens College, B.A., 1982
- Dean’s Honor List
- Varsity Tennis Team
- Teaching Assistant, Business & Social Sciences Departments
- Oxbridge Program, Oxford University, St. Peters College, Oxford, England
- University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs
- Women’s Campaign School, 2020-2021
- Governor’s Executive Development Program, 2014
Associations
- State Bar of Texas
- District 9 Grievance Committee, 2023-2026
- Texas Pattern Jury Charges (PJC) Oversight Committee
- Texas Pattern Jury Charges (PJC) Business, Consumer, Insurance & Employment Committee
- State Bar Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee
- Travis & Williamson County Subcommittee Member and Investigator
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- ABOTA 7th Amendment Symposium Coordinator
- Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court
- Austin Bar Association
- Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association
- Foundation Board of Directors, 2023-2024
- Mentoring Program Volunteer Mentor
- Executive Women in Texas Government
- American Bar Association
- Law Practice Division
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Moderator & Planning Committee, “Using Data in Investigations,” NAAG/NASCO National Conference, Denver, Colorado, 2022.
- Planning Committee, “Luncheon Presentation: Fiduciary Responsibilities from the Trial Court Perspective,” State Bar of Texas, 20th Annual Governance of Nonprofit Organizations Course, 2022.
- Presenter, “Taking & Defending Depositions: Procedures & Strategies” and “Purposeful Depositions: examples, tips & best practices,” OAG CLE, 2022.
- Faculty, OAG Civil Trial Advocacy Course 2022.
- Speaker & Presenter, “Ethics: Halloween Horror Stories Related To The Practice of Law” and “Who’s Your Valentine? Where Conflicts of Interest Hide – And Break Your Heart,” Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court, 2021.
- Presenter & Planning Committee, “Identifying Breaches of Fiduciary Duties: When the Attorney General Intervenes,” State Bar of Texas, Governance of Nonprofit Organizations Course, 2021.
- Speaker, “Nonprofit Enforcement in the Time of COVID: A Virtual Fireside Chat with State Regulators,” Venable LLP Nonprofit Webcast, 2020.
- Presenter, “State Regulation of Charitable Organizations (Why We Care and What Is Our Role),” TEGE Annual Exempt Organizations Meeting & Update, Washington, D.C., 2020.
- Presenter, “Panel Discussion: State Attorney General Offices”; written materials: “Update From State Attorneys General: Recent Developments In Regulation and Enforcement,” The University of Texas School of Law 37th Annual Nonprofit Organizations Institute, 2020.
- Panelist, “Fighting Fraud on All Fronts,” International Charity Fraud Awareness Week webinar, 2019.
- Presenter, “Using A Form 990 to Construct a Request to Examine Documents,” NAAG/NASCO (National Association of Attorneys General/National Association of State Charities Officials) Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, 2019.
- Presenter, “Emergency License Suspension, Closure and Systems Improvement Agreements,” and “Being Prepared in the Eye of the Storm: Disaster Response 101,” AHFSA (Assoc. of Health Facility Survey Agencies) Annual Conference, 2018.
- Co-Chairman & Presenter, “Creating An Effective CMP Program,” AHFSA Annual Conference, 2016.
- Co-Chairman, CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Region 6 Conference, 2016.
- Presenter, “Health Care Facilities Lending,” The University of Texas School of Law Mortgage Lending Institute, 2015.
- Course Director & Planner, 11th & 12th OAG Consumer Protection Division Meetings, 2012 & 2013.
- Speaker, “What Does CPD Do?” OAG Law Clerk Brown Bag, 2012.
- Facilitator, NAAG (National Association of Attorneys General) Negotiations Workshop, 2011.
- Presenter & Planning Committee, “Legislative & Case Law Update,” State Bar of Texas, Governance of Nonprofit Organizations Course 2011, 2011.
Civic Involvement
- Seedling Foundation, Mentor
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Junior League of Austin Sustaining Advisor
- Austin Oaks Church
- VLS (Volunteer Legal Services) – Volunteer Attorney
- Robert W. Calvert Inn MAS (Mentoring A Student) Program volunteer
- Travis County Volunteer Deputy Registrar