Practice Areas

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Business Litigation
Complex Commercial Litigation
Employment Litigation
Governmental Liability
Trade Secret and Non-Compete Litigation

Education

The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 2007
Juris Doctorate

Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 2004
B.A., Political Science & Communication With Honors

Mediation Credentials

Dispute Resolution Services of North Texas, Inc. Basic Mediation Training (40 Hours)

Admissions

Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Texas

Courtney B. Perez

Partner

Courtney Barksdale Perez is a partner at Carter Arnett. Courtney has a vast array of litigation experience having tried cases to jury in state and federal court. She has represented plaintiffs and defendants in employment-related claims, complex commercial disputes involving allegations of fraud, negligence, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of covenants not to compete, tortious interference with contracts, civil conspiracy, antitrust and in intellectual property disputes alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement, and patent infringement. In addition, Courtney is a trained mediator and assists litigants in resolving employment, business, commercial, consumer, personal injury and civil rights disputes.

Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law, Courtney has specialized knowledge representing individuals, corporations, and government entities in all phases of commercial and employment-related litigation from the risk-management phase through trial and on appeal. Courtney regularly advises clients concerning compliance with employment-related statutes and has served as lead counsel in cases involving claims asserted under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Federal Labor Standards Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Texas Whistleblower Act, the Texas Payday Act, the Texas Labor Code and employment agreements. She also conducts internal investigations, reviews and prepares policies and procedures, and provides training for employers.

Courtney is a frequent author and speaker on topics involving her subject-matter expertise as well as issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, equity and wellness in the profession.

Prior to joining Carter Arnett, Courtney was an associate at an international law firm and served as Law Clerk to the Honorable James A. Beaty, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Honors and Distinctions:

Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2013
American Bar Association, On the Rise-Top 40 Young Lawyers, 2020
D Magazine Best Lawyers Under 40, 2018-2021
D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas, 2017-2021
Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers® (Texas), 2021
Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (Texas) Up-and-Coming 50 Women, 2017-2020
Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (Texas) Up-and-Coming 100, 2017-2020
Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (Texas), 2013-2020
State Bar of Texas Minority Counsel Program Trailblazer Award, Finalist, 2019
Texas Young Lawyers Association President’s Award, 2016-2017, 2017-2018
Texas Young Lawyers Association Outstanding Director Award, 2015-2016

Professional Associations and Community Involvement:

State Bar of Texas
- Chair, Texas Young Lawyers Association
- Member, State Bar Minority Counsel Program Committee
- Member, State Bar CLE Committee 2017-2020
- Graduate, Leadership SBOT 2011-2012
Dallas Bar Association
- Diversity Survey Task Force, 2020-2021
- Board of Directors, 2013-2015
- Business Litigation Section Council Member, 2012
- Membership and Admissions Committee, Chair, 2014
- Minority Participation Committee, Co-Chair, 2012
- Judge Patrick A. Higginbotham Inn of Court, Barrister, 2013-2016
J.L. Turner Legal Association, Member
Theatre Arlington, Member, Board of Trustees, 2019-2021
Dallas Children’s Theater, Member, Board of Trustees, 2013-2015
Theatre Arlington, Member, Board of Trustees, 2019

Published Works and Speaking Engagements:

“Pleadings” Texas Bar CLE Federal Court Practice, May 2021
“Implicit Bias in Jury Selection” Dallas Bar Association, April 2021
“COVID19 Considerations for Employers” Dallas HR, April 2021
“Beyond Wellness: Finding and Maintaining Attorney Wellness” Texas Bar CLE, Course Director 2020
“Words of Wisdom from Minority Women Lawyers” Texas Lawyers Assistance Program, March 2020
“Texas Supreme Court Update” Texas Center for the Judiciary 2019, 2020
“Building Allies: How to Be Anti-Racist in the Legal Profession” DAYL Diversity Dialogue, July 2020
“Deposing the Plaintiff” Texas Defense Lawyers Association, October 2020
“#Squadgoals: The Power of Finding and Maintaining Your Group” Texas Bar Journal, July 2020
“How to Talk to Each Other About Race” Dallas Women Lawyers Association, July 2020
“Engaging Young Lawyers” National Association of Bar Associations, May 2020
“What Employers Need to Know- COVID-19 and More” Dallas Bar Association, April 2020
“Burnout: The Cost of Having it All” Texas Bar Journal, September 2020
“Pleadings and Dispositive Motions” Texas Bar CLE Federal Court Practice, May 2019
“Sexual Harassment Claims in the #MeToo Era” Texas Bar CLE South Texas CLE, May 2019
“Retaliation 101” Texas Bar CLE Employment Law 101, January 2019
“Medical Residents at the Center of a Circuit Split: Title IX and Title VII in the Era of #MeToo Claims” ABA Labor & Employment Law Section Newsletter, Summer 2018
“Joint Employer Issues” Business Law & Corporate Counsel Section CLE, June 2018
“Natural Disasters: Lessons Learned” 40th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute, May 2018
“Retaliation Claims and Whistleblowing” Texas Bar CLE Employment Law 101 Course,January 2018
“Non-compete Case Update” Texas Bar CLE Essentials of Business Law Course, March 2017
“Procedural Rules You May Not Know, But Should” Dallas Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, September 2016
“Responsible Third Parties and Settling Parties: Overview and Recent Cases” Texas Bar CLE Advanced Personal Injury Course, July 2015
“Social Media and the Public Employer: Lessons from the Private Sector” Dallas City Attorney’s Office In-House CLE, June 2015
“What Employers Can Expect When Their Employees Are Expecting” Society for Human Resource
Management National Employment Law & Legislative Conference, March 2015