Yvette Ostolaza is co-head of the Firm's 160 lawyer Complex Commercial Litigation practice and concentrates in the trial and supervision of complex civil litigation in state and federal courts throughout the United States and arbitrations. She also specializes in representing companies, board committees, and individual board members in internal investigations and reviews, including whistleblower, accounting, and executive issues. She has been selected to serve in the Roster of Neutral Arbitrators for AAA.
Ms. Ostolaza has significant experience in managing multi-jurisdictional disputes, including class actions, business torts, consumer fraud, financial services, constitutional, contracts, employment, fiduciary duty, advertising/sweepstakes, insurance, fraud, good faith, and accounting malpractice litigation, arbitration, simulation, and mediation. Ms. Ostolaza also has significant experience in managing Latin America-related litigation and arbitration. She has experience in counseling clients in reducing risks from consumer and advertising-related claims and representing clients in negotiations with state agencies on such claims.
In 2008, the Dallas Business Journal and the Association of Corporate Counsel named Ms. Ostolaza as one of the "Defenders" -- the top 15 business defense attorneys in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. She was also named by her peers as a Texas “Super Lawyer” in Business Civil Litigation (2005-2009) and is listed in Chambers USA (2009 and 2010) in Litigation. Ms. Ostolaza has been featured as a speaker on "Internal Investigations Best Practices" in America's Most Influential Women, broadcast in American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and in Time Magazine and on CNN’s national airport edition. She is a Director of the State Bar of Texas.
She has tried cases and argued appeals before the United States Court of Appeals and the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas. She has also handled appeals to the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.
Ms. Ostolaza is fluent in Spanish.
Public Service, Awards & Professional Activities
- Selected as one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s Top 25 "Women to Watch" by the Dallas Business Journal 2010 Women in Business (2010)
- Selected as one of 20 “Women of Excellence” honored nationwide by HispanicBusiness magazine (2010)
- Recognized as one of the “Best Women Lawyers” in Dallas in Business Litigation by D Magazine (May 2010)
- Outstanding Individual Award (2009), The Dallas Concilio
- Director, State Bar of Texas (2009-12)
- Barrister, Judge Patrick Higginbotham American Inns of Court (2003-06)
- Recognized as one of the Top 15 Business Defense Attorneys in the Dallas Business Journal (2008)
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers in Business Litigation (2009 and 2010)
- Recognized as a Texas “Super Lawyer” in Business Civil Litigation (2005-09)
- AV Rated Martindale-Hubbell
- Award of Merit, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (July 2007)
- Board of Directors, Baylor Health Care Foundation (2007)
- Board of Directors, The Dallas Concilio (2005-08)
- Graduate, Leadership Dallas 2004, Chamber of Commerce of Greater Dallas
- International Advisory Counsel, Dallas Chamber of Commerce (2005-06)
- Dallas Bar Association
- Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (1999)
- Sustainer, Attorneys Serving the Community
- Sustainer, The Junior League of Dallas
- Past Board member, St. Mark's School Parent Association (2006-07); current Board member, The Hockaday School of Dallas Parent Association (2009-10)
- Pro Bono College, Dallas Bar Association Outstanding Achievement Awards (1993, 1994)