Paulo has practiced in Dallas, Texas since 1992 and he has focused exclusively on representing employers in employment related litigation and other disputes and in counseling employers. Paulo has first chaired numerous employment lawsuits and arbitrations, in Texas and in other states, and has argued before federal appellate courts in Texas and California. While Paulo’s practice involves all areas of federal and state employment law, his focuses include noncompete and trade secret litigation, wage and hour litigation and counseling, independent contractor issues, and executive contract negotiations and disputes.
Paulo’s trade secret and noncompete practice involves representing employers on both sides of the docket. He has represented clients in seeking to enforce noncompete agreements and related obligations and in responding to enforcement actions to seek denial of injunctive or other relief. In particular, Paulo’s practice focuses on multi-jurisdictional disputes involving complex choice of law, venue and jurisdictional issues. Paulo has written and spoken extensively on these issues and the impact of competing state laws and policies in the noncompete litigation context. In addition to litigating noncompete cases, Paulo regularly advises clients on the enforcement of noncompete provisions and in various states and in drafting and negotiating noncompete agreements.
Paulo’s wage and hour practice involves defending employers in collective and single plaintiff lawsuits under the Fair Labor Standards Act and its state law equivalents. In addition, Paulo has represented clients in administrative matters before the Department of Labor and other agencies, performed wage and hour audits and exemption analyses, and advised clients on various overtime, compensation and withholding issues.
Paulo also regularly represents clients in lawsuits and administrative proceedings in cases where independent contractors have challenged their classification and claimed employee status. Such cases have involved class or collective allegations of misclassification under the Fair Labor Standards Act or other law, and Paulo has represented clients in class action lawsuits in Texas, Massachusetts and California. Paulo also has defended clients before state unemployment and related agencies in a variety of states in proceedings in which independent contractors have claimed employment status and sought wage related or other employment benefits. Paulo also regularly advises clients in drafting independent contractor agreements and policies.
Paulo’s executive compensation practice involves negotiating and drafting agreements as well as representing clients in executive termination and related cases. Paulo has represented clients in a variety of jurisdictions in these types of disputes. He regularly advises clients on matters such as the scope of “for cause” provisions, severance and related post termination obligations, and noncompetition and other post employment covenants.
