Blayre has practiced civil litigation and has handled civil appeals full-time for over fifteen years, covering all aspects of business and construction disputes. She is a legal strategist, specializing in messy litigation with multiple parties or in multiple forums and serves as General Counsel for a variety of Texas corporations and individuals. Blayre serves Hance Scarborough clients in an of counsel capacity, and works with the full team at Hance Scarborough to achieve the client’s goals. Blayre also maintains a separate practice through her firm VBPena Law, PLLC.
Often, Blayre’s aim is to keep her clients out of the courthouse by resolving disputes before they escalate. She is confident, capable, and skilled at seeking relief at the courthouse, from the first filing, through trial, and on appeal. In 2021, Blayre achieved Board Certification in Civil Appellate Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Although there are over 93,000 lawyers licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, there are only 400 lawyers in the State of Texas with this special designation at the time Blayre became certified. She was also the first lawyer in Williamson County to become board certified in Civil Appeals, and currently is the only attorney in Williamson County with this designation.
Blayre represents both Plaintiffs and Defendants, which gives her a unique perspective in defending cases aggressively. She has also represented all subsets of parties in construction disputes, including general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and sureties. Blayre has first-chaired jury and non-jury trials and received favorable verdicts in her clients’ favor. She has handled cases all over the state of Texas including in Austin, Dallas, Georgetown, Houston, Lubbock, and McAllen, and has established a strong reputation as a zealous advocate with both judges and her peers.
Experience
In her litigation practice, Ms. Peña represents large and small businesses, as well as individuals and environmental groups, primarily in Travis and Williamson County. Ms. Peña’s legal experience encompasses all aspects of commercial litigation, including construction, government, environmental, employment, contracts, business torts, real estate, legal malpractice, trade secrets and technology. Ms. Peña has both represented and sued governmental entities, and is very familiar with sovereign immunity issues, the open meetings act, and the public information act.
Ms. Peña’s practice includes representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants, which gives her a unique perspective. Ms. Peña has first chaired jury and non-jury trials and received favorable verdicts in her clients favor.
Some of the cited cases, in which Ms. Peña was involved at the trial and/or appellate level include:
Morrison v. Profanchik, 2018 Tex. App. 6913 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2018);
Morrison v. ProCal Stone Design, LLC, 2018 Tex. App. 6917 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2018);
G&A Outsourcing IV, LLC v. Texas Workforce Commission, 2017 Tex. App. Lexis 7785 (Tex. App. – Austin 2017);
Joe Anthony Beames, Personal Representative of the Estate of Deborah Kay Davis v. Edwin Howard Hooks, Cause No. 01-14-00103-CV; Houston Court of Appeals [1st Dist.] (Jan. 13, 2015);
Waller County, et. al. v. City of Hempstead and Citizens Against the Landfill in Hempstead, Cause No. 01-14-0946-CV Houston Court of Appeals [1st Dist.] (Nov. 26, 2014);
Petition for Writ of Mandamus in re Waller County, et. al., Cause No. 01-14-00916-CV, Houston Court of Appeals [1st Dist.] (Nov. 21, 2014);
H.K. Global Trading, Ltd. v. Combs, 429 S.W.3d 132 (Tex. App. – Austin 2014);
Tex. Comm’n on Environmental Quality and Waste Control Specialists, LLC v. Sierra Club, No. 03-12-0035-CV, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 4232 (Tex. App. – Austin, Apr. 18, 2014);
Sierra Club v. Tex. Comm’n on Environmental Quality and Waste Control Specialists, LLC, No. 03-11-000102-CV, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 3661 (Tex. App. – Austin, Apr. 4, 2014);
In re Walker & Twenhafel, LLP, No. 13-14-00065-CV, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 1729 (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi, Feb. 14, 2014);
City of Dallas v. Arredondo, et. al, No. 05-12-00963-CV, 415 S.W.3d 327 (Tex. App. – Dallas, Aug. 13, 2013);
Southwest Officials Ass’n v. Timmons, No. A-10-CA-753-LY, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28139 (W.D. Tex. Mar. 17, 2011); and
City of Dallas v. Albert, 2011 Tex. LEXIS 636; 54 Tex. Sup. J. 1609 (Tex. 2011).
Speaking Engagements
Blayre speaks at various continuing education events and community events. Blayre’s recent public appearances include:
Moderator and speaker – 16th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook Seminar; presented by the Civil Litigation Section of the Austin Bar Association (November 13, 2020);
Moderator and speaker – 15th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook Seminar; presented by the Civil Litigation Section of the Austin Bar Association (November 15, 2019);
Moderator for 14th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook Seminar; presented by the Civil Litigation Section of the Austin Bar Association (October 19, 2018);
Speaker at Consequences of the Vanishing Jury Trial and How to Fix It; hosted by the Williamson County Inns of Court (October 18, 2018);
Speaker at Perseverance; hosted by Minority Women Pursuing Law, University of Texas (October 2, 2018);
Speaker at How to Maneuver the Texas Citizen’s Participation Act; hosted by the Civil Litigation Section of the Austin Bar Association; co-panelists – James A. Hemphill and Laura Lee Prather (April 16, 2018);
Speaker at Diminished Capacity and How it Affects Your Representation; hosted by Williamson County Inns of Court (February 15, 2018).
Professional Memberships / Affiliations
Blayre is active in the Austin Bar Association and sits on the board of the Civil Litigation Section, serving as the Treasurer. Blayre is a member of and serves on the board of the Williamson County Inns of Court. She is also a member of the Williamson County Bar Association, for which she served as president. Blayre is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, which only invites the top 1/3 of 1% of Texas attorneys. In 2015, Blayre was named a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers. Blayre previously served in government when she sat on the Board of the Meadows at Chandler Creek Municipal Utility District from 2008-2014.
Civic
Blayre has represented indigent clients in litigation matters on a pro bono basis through Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas. She has volunteered at the Monday Night legal advice clinic hosted by VLS, and also volunteered for the Dell Children’s Hospital, Wills for Heroes, Now that You’re 18, Junior Judges, and Austin Habitat for Humanity.