Gloria M.Portela

Gloria has worked in a diverse range of matters. She once mediated an intellectual property dispute between two companies both owned by non-English speaking persons, in which familial relationships also existed between the parties. Gloria also mediated an employment termination and breach of contract case in which the plaintiff, an executive with dual Mexican-American citizenship, filed litigation in both countries, and brought his exclusively Spanish-speaking Mexican counsel to the mediation. Gloria was able to settle both cases after conducting the mediation in both languages.

Gloria is the founding partner of the firm's Houston office, and formerly served as its managing partner. This management background, paired with her legal experience as a mediator, trial lawyer and counselor, and her eight years of experience as a public company board member, give her a unique appreciation for corporate responsibilities and fiduciary obligations. She provides realistic solutions and guidance to her clients in mediation.

Gloria uses unconventional approaches in mediation, such as proposing mediator's brackets when the parties get stuck, and identifying the value of nonmonetary items that have value to the parties. If parties have disabilities or conditions that make mediation impossible in her office, she identifies and travels to appropriate sites. She can go from the cell block to the C-suite, working with parties in prison just as well as boards and executive committees.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Gloria is bilingual and bicultural, and as an advocate has represented Latin American, Canadian, and Italian companies. This background gives her a keen appreciation for the diverse communication issues that enter into dispute resolution.

Gloria loves working with different attorneys and parties to develop realistic, practical solutions to the disputes that bring them to her office. The variety of her practice is exciting and stimulating.