Tullos Wells
Managing Partner, San Antonio
Ingrid Petty
210.299.3525
J. Tullos Wells is head of the labor and employment section at Bracewell & Giuliani LLP. With more than 25 years of experience, Mr. Wells represents management in the full range of labor and employment matters and heads a comprehensive sports and entertainment practice. Routinely handling a broad array of legal issues for numerous professional and amateur sports franchises, broadcast television and radio stations, and major entertainment venues, Mr. Wells' representative clients include the NBA San Antonio Spurs, WNBA San Antonio Silver Stars and AHL San Antonio Rampage.
Mr. Wells has specific experience in union avoidance and relationships, collective bargaining and handling unfair labor practice charges, including federal and state court trials, arbitrations and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and other federal and state administrative agencies.
Mr. Wells' particular area of strength lies in jury trials of employment cases. He has handled cases throughout Texas, California, Nebraska, Idaho, Tennessee, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arizona and Missouri. Mr. Wells also has extensive appellate court experience.
Mr. Wells has also represented clients for a number of years in government investigations, including investigations relating to government contracts claims brought under the False Claims Act, investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and negotiations with the government in connection with government contracts.
Mr. Wells has also worked extensively with various government contracting issues such as obtaining contracts, teaming, outsourcing and privatization, contract performance, allegations of fraudulent and other misconduct, and proposed suspensions and debarments.
Representative Matters
Forehand v. Harte-Hanks Communications Inc. Jury trial in the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. Successfully defended age discrimination claim brought by former television station manager after ERISA claim was dismissed on summary judgment.
Turner v. North American Rubber, et al., in which the Fifth Circuit overturned a jury verdict and rendered judgment for the defendant in an age claim and established a bright line for the amount of evidence necessary to support an Age Discrimination in Employment Act claim.
Ruiz v. Miller Curtain Company. Jury trial in Bexar County District Court. Successfully defended workers' compensation discrimination and federal preemption claim.
Valdez v. Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce (W.D. Tex.) Successful four-day bench trial alleging national origin, sex, and race discrimination for the largest business organization in South Texas; the jury was dismissed at the start of trial on a successful motion to dismiss the 1981 allegations.
Education
J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1974
B.A., The University of Texas at Austin, 1971
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th, 11th and District of Columbia Circuits
Board Certifications
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Labor and Employment Law
Affiliations
Spurs Foundation, board of directors
The Greater Kelly Development Corporation, board of directors, 1995-2000
President’s Council of The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, co-chair
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs and Military Affairs Councils, former chairman
The Texas Association of the Atlantic Council of the United States, former director
San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, director
World Affairs Council of San Antonio, former chairman of the board of Trustees
Cancer Therapy & Research Center, vice-chairman and former member of board of governors and former director, 2002-2006
Austin-San Antonio Inter-Municipal Commuter Rail District, former chairman of the board of directors, vice-chairman
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the board, 1995
Free Trade Alliance San Antonio, chairman of the board
Noteworthy
The Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment
Texas Super Lawyer, Labor and Employment and Top 50 Central and West Texas Region Super Lawyers, 2003-2007