Carlos E. Flores

“Whitworth Cigarroa is the border. Our litigators and transactional attorneys have decades of experience representing international clients in Texas. I represent companies and individuals throughout Mexico and the United States on issues involving cross-border business and conflict.”

Mr. Flores focuses on American and Mexican companies doing business in the State of Texas and provides legal services in the following areas: civil litigation, complex commercial disputes, property disputes, personal injury cases, labor and employment matters and cross-border business transactions and litigation. Mr. Flores represents a diverse set of clients in state and/or federal courts throughout the State of Texas.

In the News

Although Mr. Flores has over 15 years of litigation and trial experience, below is a brief summary of some matters that Mr. Flores has handled in the past few years:

Lead Counsel in the Zapata V. Trump law suit challenging the constitutionality of the border wall in the Laredo sector. In Donna Brown v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., Mr. Flores, along with Mark Walker, won a take-nothing verdict against the plaintiff, who was seeking personal injury damages, in a jury trial pending before County Court at Law, Number 3 in El Paso County, Texas.

“Zapata County is taking the time to have this evaluated in a new way, without drawing the same conclusions that others have tried to draw quickly… And then assert their rights, and make sure that the community is represented in a meaningful way in this judicial process.”

• Flores said. “… And then assert their rights, and make sure that the community is represented in a meaningful way in this judicial process.” LMT Online, view full article
• Flores said this is the first lawsuit in the Laredo division challenging the administration on the grounds of racial discrimination. Express News, view full article
• But that’s not how the county sees it, said attorney Carlos Flores, who is representing the county. TPR, view full article
• “We think there is a lot of evidence that’s going to show that,” he said. Texas Tribune, view full article
• The federal lawsuit was filed on July 6 in Laredo, by attorney Carlos Flores on behalf of Melissa Cigarroa, who owns an interest in more than 170 acres of land in Zapata County; and Zapata County resident George C. Rincón, the Texas Tribune reported. Texas Tribune, view full article
• “We don’t want his racist monument,” says Carlos Flores, a South Texan lawyer who has filed a lawsuit against the wall on behalf of landowners and the Zapata County local government. News Week, view full article
• SMH, view full article

In 2012 and 2013, Mr. Flores represented several national trucking companies in multiple lawsuits pending in Webb County that involved tractor-trailer accidents that settled without trial, and in Luis Edmundo Garza v. Landstar Inway, Inc., Mr. Flores won an emergency temporary injunction in federal court, in which the plaintiff was enjoined from having a back surgery until after an IME was conducted by defendants’ expert.

In 2014, Mr. Flores, along with Baldemar Garcia, Jr., represented a national shopping mall developer in a partnership dispute arising from the redevelopment of the El Portal Center in downtown Laredo, Texas. At stake was an $80 million dollar investment in Laredo, Texas by the developer; and after winning a temporary injunction and motion for partial summary judgment, the case settled in favor of Mr. Flores’ client. In 2014 and 2015, Mr. Flores defended an international telecommunications company in a lawsuit involving a personal injury claim pending in Webb County, Texas. After multiple legal victories, the case settled favorably for the defendant.

On July 7, 2015, Mr. Flores presented oral arguments before the Tenth Court of Appeals, in which Mr. Flores successfully argued that the judgment taken at the trial court was legally defective and the appellate court reversed the judgment.

In 2016, Mr. Flores, along with Mark D. Willet and Martha C. de Llano, won a summary judgment involving an oil and gas lease interpretation issue, which resulted in a victory on a $2 million dollar claim.

In 2016, Mr. Flores, along with Ricardo E. Morales, won a motion for reconsider the court’s prior summary judgment ruling, which resulted in a ruling that an oil and gas lease had terminated due to the failure of a oil and gas company to comply with the continuous drilling clause of the oil and gas lease at issue in the lawsuit.

In 2016, Mr. Flores, along with Ricardo E. Morales, won a motion for summary judgment involving a complex deed interpretation, and Mr. Flores assisted in the drafting of appellee’s briefing to the Texas 4th Court of Appeals.

In 2019, Mr. Flores has represented American companies in lawsuits involving custom brokers and cross-border trade and has advised Mexican companies on litigation matters involving Texas law.

Throughout Mr. Flores’ career he has assisted creditors and debtors in litigation matters in Texas and has worked with bankruptcy counsel in directing litigation and bankruptcy strategy in state and federal court.

Labor & Employment Experience

Mr. Flores maintains a vibrant labor and employment practice in which he represents companies in litigation and state and federal compliance issues.

In 2018, Mr. Flores represented an oil field services provided sued for alleged violations of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and again in 2019, Mr. Flores represented a powerline construction company sued in Texas for alleged violations of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Both matters were settled under favorable terms for the employers.

In 2015, Mr. Flores represented defendants sued under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act in a mattered styled Marco Antonio Soto v. Texas Wholesale Brands, LLC d/b/a Sun Foods of Texas, LLC an unregistered Arizona Business Entity and Kenneth Chesney, Civil Action No.:14-cv-00206 In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Laredo Division. The case was settled after initial round of briefing of 12b motions.

In 2015, Mr. Flores represented a defendant in a breach of an employment contract and non-compete agreement in a case styled Cause No. 2015-CVF-002793D1; Radiant Global Logistics, Inc. v. Vintage Logistics, Inc., et al; In the 49th Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas. After several months of legal briefing and motions, the parties resolved the matter.

In 2014 through 2016, Mr. Flores represented companies in Laredo, Texas that were investigated by the US. Department of Labor for violations of Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and also advised clients regarding the laws regulating hourly pay and applicable exemptions of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

Mr. Flores’s practice includes preparation of employment handbooks, consulting employers on the various laws that affect employers such as the Texas Payday Act, the Federal Family Leave Act, Texas Unemployment Benefit laws and has many years of experience drafting and negotiating employment contracts and employee termination agreements.

Cross-Border Business and Litigation

Mr. Flores represents multinational companies based in the U.S. and Mexico on a full range of international transactions and complex cross-border matters.

In 2020, Mr. Flores collaborated with Alex Villarreal and Steve Whitworth in several transactional matters from representing a logistics company in the closing of a million dollar warehouse closing involving a SWAP, to preparation of asset purchase agreements and buyout’s, to advising clients on the sale of office space and other real estate matters.

Mr. Flores speaks English and Spanish, which allows him to serve clients on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border..

General Background

Mr. Flores was born in Laredo, Texas but lived in El Paso, Texas from 2005 through 2010. In 2007, Mr. Flores was appointed to serve as a trustee for the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees. During his tenure as a trustee, Mr. Flores fought for governmental transparency and accountability to taxpayers. Mr. Flores was a strong advocate for students and fought to increase dual-language and fine arts programs to supplement student achievement in state-mandated exams.

Mr. Flores currently serves as a commissioner for the City of Laredo’s Planning and Zoning Commission and plays a role on the Commission to implement Viva Laredo: Comprehensive Plan.

Mr. Flores is currently a leader in the #No Border Wall Coalition and has lobbied the City of Laredo and the United States Congress on matters involving border wall funding, impact studies on the Rio Grande ecosystem, and the taking of private property rights of ranchers and businesses potentially affected by the proposed border wall in Webb and Zapata County. Below are links to interviews with Mr. Flores on his advocacy against the border wall.

Faculty Member

Mr. Flores is currently an adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M International University where he teaches two sections of The Legal Environment of Business AND INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL LAW.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Litigation
• Complex Commercial Disputes
• Property Disputes
• Personal Injury Cases (Plaintiff and Defense)
• Labor and Employment Matters
• Cross-Border Business Transactions/Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Texas, 2005
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

Education

• The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
  • J.D. – 2005
• Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas
  • B.A. – 2000

Classes/Seminars

• CLE for the Webb County Bar Association: “Fast and Furious: Things to Consider within 90 Days of Service of Plaintiff’s Petition”
• CLE for the Webb County Bar Association Regarding the “Loser Pays” Laws Enacted in 2011, Texas Legislature, 2012

Professional Associations and Memberships

• San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 2020
• Laredo Chamber of Commerce, 2019
• US-Mexico Bar Association, 2019
• City of Laredo, Planning and Zoning Commission, 2017-present
• Laredo-Webb County Bar Association, Vice President, 2016-2017
• City of Laredo, Ethics Commission, 2013-2014
• City of Laredo, Non-Uniform Civil Service Commission, 2012-2013
• Mexican American Bar Association of El Paso, Board Director, 2006 – 2008
• Chicano/Hispanic Law Student Association, Austin, President, 2004 – 2005