As an associate in Dickinson Wright’s El Paso office, Adrian Acosta has a diverse background in all aspects of commercial litigation. Adrian is an aggressive advocate with an ability to distill complex issues before a judge and potential juries.
Before joining the firm, Adrian was an associate with a large commercial law firm, where he gained significant experience in state and federal court managing cases, appearing before tribunals, taking and defending depositions, negotiating on behalf of clients, conducting workplace investigations and advising on compliance matters.
Education & Credentials
Education
University of California, Berkeley
J.D., 2015- Berkeley Law La Raza Organization
- American Bar Association Council on Legal Education Opportunity Junior Jumpstart Lecturer
- The University of Texas San Antonio Summer Law School Preparation Academy
University of Texas at El Paso
B.A., Political Science, 2009- summa cum laude
- Liberal Arts Banner Bearer, 2009
- Outstanding Political Science Undergraduate, 2009
- Outstanding English Minor, 2009
- Outstanding Latin Student, 2008
- The Honorable Philip R. Martinez Scholarship Recipient
University of Texas at El Paso
M.A., Political Science, 2012- 4.0 GPA
Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- Super Lawyers
- Texas "Rising Star," 2023
Prominent Assignments
- Delivered oral arguments for and against motions for summary judgment in breach of contract cases.
- Drafted motion to dismiss claims of fraud and vicarious liability against a bank in federal court.
- Drafted motion for summary judgment against claims regarding the independent contractor/employee relationship between a company and an individual that caused an accident.
- Conducted complex workplace investigations for employers regarding allegations under TCHRA, Title VII, and ADA.
- Researched for and drafted legal memoranda analyzing labor and employment issues, including termination of a peace officer by a school district and Texas whistleblower laws.
- Drafted EEOC responses and attend mediation on behalf of client, where retaliation and national origin complaints were settled for a nuisance value.
- Counseled clients on compliance with labor and employment laws, including drafting an EEO statement for a public entity and advising on compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
- Delivered presentations on ADA issues to the El Paso human resources community, focusing on recent Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit decisions.
Court Admissions
- Texas
- Michigan
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Publications/Presentations
- Author, " Gantt V. Harris County: How Death Does Not Dismiss a TCHRA Case under the Texas Survivorship Statute,” All Things HR Blog, February 2023
- Author, "All My Exes Live in Texas: Texas’ New Laws in the Wake of #MeToo and a Growing Economy," Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, May 2022
- Author, "In the West Texas Town of El Paso, I Fell in Love with Working from New Mexico: Applying Home State Laws for Remote Work," Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, March 2022
- Author, "Am I My Brother's Keeper: Religious Accommodations and Vaccine Mandates Under Title VII," Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, October 2021
- Author, “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Mask, No Service,” Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, March 2021
- EPSHRM Legal Seminar on the American with Disabilities Act, September 2019