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 areas of focus include noncompete and trade secret litigation, wage and hour litigation and counseling, independent contractor issues, and executive contract negotiations and disputes.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Defended national chemical manufacturer in connection with a donning and doffing collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act in the eastern district of Arkansas. Obtained a federal settlement after reducing the scope of the class from a nationwide group to a class at a single facility.
Obtained a favorable resolution of a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act in federal district court in Galveston, Texas. We were able to successfully limit the collective action to a single worksite and thereafter obtained a favorable resolution on behalf of the client.
Successfully defended a noncompete enforcement action on behalf of an executive in Houston, Texas. Obtained a denial of a request for temporary injunctive relief and thereafter obtained a favorable resolution on behalf of the client. The case was filed in Houston, Texas.
Representative Experience
Defended national chemical manufacturer in connection with a donning and doffing collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act in the eastern district of Arkansas. Obtained a federal settlement after reducing the scope of the class from a nationwide group to a class at a single facility.
Obtained a favorable resolution of a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act in federal district court in Galveston, Texas. We were able to successfully limit the collective action to a single worksite and thereafter obtained a favorable resolution on behalf of the client.
Successfully defended a noncompete enforcement action on behalf of an executive in Houston, Texas. Obtained a denial of a request for temporary injunctive relief and thereafter obtained a favorable resolution on behalf of the client. The case was filed in Houston, Texas.
Represented a company in a noncompete/sale of a business case in a lawsuit involving separate filings in Dallas and Wilmington, Delaware. The Delaware case was filed in federal court and, after an evidentiary hearing on NWN’s application for temporary injunction, the court ruled in NWN’ favor and ordered that the defendants cease business operations as provided for in their noncompete covenants. Thereafter, both the Delaware and Texas litigations were resolved favorably.
Obtained a summary judgment verdict in a retaliation case under the Family and Medical Leave Act in federal district in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. The case was filed by a former flight attendant of Southwest and was dismissed based on a variety of arguments raised in our summary judgment motion. The district court’s grant of Southwest’s motion was affirmed by the Fifth Circuit without oral argument.
Tried an independent contractor misclassification case to verdict in Santa Clara County, California. The jury’s verdict was significantly lower than the parties’ settlement numbers and the case is currently on appeal at the Santa Clara Court of Appeals.
Obtained a favorable resolution in an independent contractor misclassification class under California law in Santa Clara County, California. The plaintiff, a former independent contractor of our client, sued under a variety of wage and hour and common law theories. After obtaining summary judgment dismissal of the bulk of her claims, we were able to resolve the matter after mediation.
Represented a national government software company in connection with a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The case was filed in Marshall, Texas in the federal Eastern District of Texas. Obtained a successful resolution after narrowing the scope of the class and claims asserted by telephone support and implementation personnel.
Obtained a favorable “walkaway” settlement in connection with a sexual harassment and retaliation case on behalf of a national cable communications provider. After plaintiff’s deposition, counsel for the plaintiff abandoned the lawsuit and agreed to a dismissal of claims. The case was pending in the federal Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.
Obtained summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case was pending in the federal Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Plaintiff thereafter filed an appeal with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals which affirmed the district court’s summary judgment ruling.
Obtained a favorable resolution in a race discrimination case by a former manager at the company’s Fort Worth, Texas facility. Specifically, the plaintiff alleged harassment and wrongful termination on the basis of race in a case filed in the federal Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. The lawsuit was litigated up to trial and the plaintiff agreed to a mutual walkaway rather than proceed to a jury with his claims.
Obtained a summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s sexual harassment claims in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas.
Obtained summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s independent contractor misclassification claims under California statutory and common law in federal district court in the Northern District of California. After the grant of summary judgment was appealed, argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and obtained an affirmance of the district court’s summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s claims.
Successfully obtained a take nothing jury verdict after a seven day trial in Arapahoe County in Colorado on behalf of Boeing. Plaintiff asserted whistle blower and breach of employment contract claims under Colorado statutory and common law.
Recognitions
Named to the Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers (formerly Acritas Stars) list, 2023, 2025 and 2026
Ranked in Chambers USA for Texas Labor & Employment, 2022-2026
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Labor and Employment: Labor and Employment Disputes (including Collective Actions): Defense, 2019
Credentials
Education
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, 1992, J.D.
- University of Tennessee, 1988, B.A.
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- Texas
Court admissions
Court admissions
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas
News
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