Attorneys

Carla Cotropia 
Houston, Texas
Partner
phone 713-571-4204
409-761-4004
fax 713-225-0844
email Email Me

Carla leads the firm's Labor and Employment Law group where she specializes in employment law, mediation, arbitration and workshops designed to prevent discrimination and harassment lawsuits.

Carla has been practicing employment law since 1980, having tried her first sexual harassment case in l986 in Benton v. The Kroger Co., 640 F. Supp. 1317. She is Board Certified in Employment and Labor Law and has litigated not only harassment cases but civil rights, Title VII, gender, disability, age and national origin cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. Carla is also an employment mediator and has served as a mediator for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division. She is on the panel for employment mediations and arbitrations for the American Arbitration Association. She is listed in Super Lawyer from 2004 - 2010. Carla counsels employers concerning ongoing employee matters, and conducts The Cotropia Workshops, which provide discrimination and harassment trainings.

Areas of Practice:
Employment Law
Mediation
Arbitration
Discrimination and Harassment
Certification/Specialties:
Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization


Bar Admissions:
Texas, 1980
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
Education:
Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas, 1980
J.D.


Texas A & M University-College Station, College Station, Texas, 1977
B.A.
Honors: Cum Laude


Classes/Seminars Taught:
Lecture, What Works In Arbitration and Mediation From An Arbitrator's And Mediator's Perspective., Houston Bar Association, Houston, Texas, June 4, 2010


Lecture, Preventing Sexual Harassment Cases, 2003


Lecture, Choosing and Courting a Jury - The Focus Group - How It Can Aid in Choosing Your Jury, 2002


Lecture, Investigation Allegations of Sexual Harassment, 2002


Lecture, Sexual Harassment Issues, 2001


Lecture, Jury Selection in the New Millennium, 2000


Lecture, Sexual Harassment: Managing Risks Related to Employment, 2000


Lecture, Sexual Harassment, 1999


Lecture, Texas Harassment Training for Faculty Members and Staff, 1998


Lecture, Employment Retaliation Litigation: An Overview, 1998


Lecture, Employee Status Issues, 1996


Lecture, Confidentiality Issues in Employment Law, 1996


Lecture, Governmental Liability in Employment, 1995


Lecture, Sexual Harassment and Work Place Damage Claims, 1995


Lecture, Public Law Update, 1995


Lecture, Update on Texas Cases Affecting Governmental Bodies, 1994


Lecture, Emotional Torts in the Workplace, 1994


Lecture, How to Avoid Employment Law Litigation, 1993


Lecture, What You Absolutely Can and Cannot Do: The Legal Aspect of the ADA, 1992


Lecture, Sexual Harassment, 1992


Working with Legal Counsel, Executive Director/Staff, 1992


Lecture, The Use of Summary Judgments in 42 USC 1983 Cases, 1985


The Cotropia Workshops, Director


Honors and Awards:
Texas Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation, 2010


Texas Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation, 2009


Texas Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation, 2008


Texas Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation, 2007


Texas Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation, 2006


Texas Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation, 2005


Voted one of the Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2005


Texas Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation, 2004


Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Arbitration Association
Panel, Employment Mediations and Arbitrations


National Arbitration and Mediation Company(NAM)
Panel, Employment Mediations and Arbitrations


American Bar Association
Member


Galveston Bar Association
Member


Houston Bar Association
Member


Practice Area Focus

Galveston - Main Office
400 Washington Building
2228 Mechanic Street
Galveston, Texas 77550
Phone: 409-763-2341
Fax: 409-763-2879
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Houston
One City Centre
1021 Main Street
Suite 1950
Houston, Texas 77002
Phone: 713-225-0547
Fax: 713-225-0844
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San Antonio
409 S. Presa
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Phone: 210-733-9132
Fax: 210-733-9131
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Clear Lake
17225 El Camino Real
Suite 450
Houston, Texas 77058
Phone: 713-571-4270
Fax: 713-571-4271
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