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Yesenia Cárdenas
Partner
5830 Granite Parkway
Suite 1000
Plano, TX 75024
Suite 1000
Plano, TX 75024
yesenia.cardenas@nelsonmullins.com
Yesenia is a litigator and trial attorney. She represents U.S. and foreign vehicle manufacturers in complex, high-exposure litigation. Yesenia is recognized for her strategic thinking and experience, leveraging her unique combination of language skills and technical knowledge to also manage foreign, product liability litigation for clients in the automotive industry. Yesenia’s compelling and insightful...
Yesenia is a litigator and trial attorney. She represents U.S. and foreign vehicle manufacturers in complex, high-exposure litigation. Yesenia is recognized for her strategic thinking and experience, leveraging her unique combination of language skills and technical knowledge to also manage foreign, product liability litigation for clients in the automotive industry. Yesenia’s compelling and insightful written advocacy has also contributed to the publication of judicial opinions at the state and federal levels, as well as successful appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals and Texas appellate courts.
written advocacy has also contributed to the publication of judicial opinions at the state and federal levels, as well as successful appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals and Texas appellate courts.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Representative Experience
- Defense verdict on behalf of Japanese vehicle manufacturer in civil action before civil circuit court in the Republic of Panama;
- Successful appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit involving defense of favorable trial court ruling striking plaintiff’s liability experts for discovery sanctions and dismissal of entire action;
- Successful dismissal of appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit due to lack of appellate jurisdiction;
- Successful dismissal of Oklahoma state court action for Japanese manufacturer based on novel application of statute of limitations;
- Successful defense of sanctions motion in Texas state court for Japanese vehicle manufacture wherein plaintiff alleged discovery violations and sought attorney’s fees.
- Successful motion to quash of a non-party subpoena directed at a Chinese corporation but served on an employee of a U.S.-based subsidiary;
- Successful motion for protective order against the production of a Japanese corporation’s confidential and proprietary engineering documents through U.S. subsidiary;
- Successful motion for protective order against the inclusion of dissimilar products in the scope of discovery;
- Successful defense against overbroad subpoena duces tecum concerning alleged similar incident documentation;
- Successful defense of motion to disqualify counsel of record where plaintiff claimed counsel of record was a material fact witness in the case;
- Successful motion to strike of plaintiff's main liability expert who had conducted extensive testing and analysis of exemplar vehicles and alternative designs prior to the close of discovery but not disclosed until after expert deadline;
- Successful defense against the application of 'Law of the Case' Doctrine where plaintiff sought application of appellate court rulings not addressed in a subsequent appeal of the previous plaintiff’s verdict to the Texas Supreme Court;
- Successful summary judgment motion based on Texas statute of repose; and
- Successful dismissal of state court action (with award of attorney’s fees) based on opposing party’s discovery violations.
Education
-
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law,
JD,
cum laude
(2005)
- SMU Board of Advocates
- Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity
- Hispanic Law Students Association
- National Champion, Hispanic National Bar Association Moot Court Competition
- Southern Methodist University, BBA, Finance (2001)
- Southern Methodist University, BA, Foreign Languages (2001)
Admissions
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
- 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
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Industries
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Representative Experience
- Defense verdict on behalf of Japanese vehicle manufacturer in civil action before civil circuit court in the Republic of Panama;
- Successful appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit involving defense of favorable trial court ruling striking plaintiff’s liability experts for discovery sanctions and dismissal of entire action;
- Successful dismissal of appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit due to lack of appellate jurisdiction;
- Successful dismissal of Oklahoma state court action for Japanese manufacturer based on novel application of statute of limitations;
- Successful defense of sanctions motion in Texas state court for Japanese vehicle manufacture wherein plaintiff alleged discovery violations and sought attorney’s fees.
- Successful motion to quash of a non-party subpoena directed at a Chinese corporation but served on an employee of a U.S.-based subsidiary;
- Successful motion for protective order against the production of a Japanese corporation’s confidential and proprietary engineering documents through U.S. subsidiary;
- Successful motion for protective order against the inclusion of dissimilar products in the scope of discovery;
- Successful defense against overbroad subpoena duces tecum concerning alleged similar incident documentation;
- Successful defense of motion to disqualify counsel of record where plaintiff claimed counsel of record was a material fact witness in the case;
- Successful motion to strike of plaintiff's main liability expert who had conducted extensive testing and analysis of exemplar vehicles and alternative designs prior to the close of discovery but not disclosed until after expert deadline;
- Successful defense against the application of 'Law of the Case' Doctrine where plaintiff sought application of appellate court rulings not addressed in a subsequent appeal of the previous plaintiff’s verdict to the Texas Supreme Court;
- Successful summary judgment motion based on Texas statute of repose; and
- Successful dismissal of state court action (with award of attorney’s fees) based on opposing party’s discovery violations.
Media
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Dallas Business Journal, Women in Business Honoree (2018)
- Texas Diversity Council, Dallas Top 50 Women Lawyers Award (2018)
- Latino Leaders Magazine
- Top Latino Lawyers List (2018)
- Most Powerful Women in Law (2018)
Professional Activities
- State Bar of Texas, Pattern Jury Charges - Malpractice, Premises, and Products Committee (2022-2025)
- State Bar of Texas, Diversity in the Profession Committee (2021–2024)
- Dallas Bar Association, Equality Committee (2022)
- National Hispanic Bar Association (2005-present)
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow (2018)
- Dallas Hispanic Bar Association
- Annual Event Committee Co-Chair (2014)
- Unaccompanied Minors Action Committee (2014)
- Vice President (2012–2014)
- Secretary (2011)
- Board of Directors (2010–2011)
- Social Committee Co-Chair (2009–2010)
- Texas Mexican American Bar Association, Board of Directors (2010)
- SMU Dedman School of Law, Moot Court Team for Hispanic National Bar Association Court Competition, Co-Coach (2008–2011)
Community
- North Texas Dream Team, Volunteer (2020-present)
- Catholic Charities, Spanish-language translator for immigrant minor children (2021)
Yesenia is a litigator and trial attorney. She represents U.S. and foreign vehicle manufacturers in complex, high-exposure litigation. Yesenia is recognized for her strategic thinking and experience, leveraging her unique combination of language skills and technical knowledge to also manage foreign, product liability litigation for clients in the automotive industry. Yesenia’s compelling and insightful... written advocacy has also contributed to the publication of judicial opinions at the state and federal levels, as well as successful appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals and Texas appellate courts.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Representative Experience
- Defense verdict on behalf of Japanese vehicle manufacturer in civil action before civil circuit court in the Republic of Panama;
- Successful appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit involving defense of favorable trial court ruling striking plaintiff’s liability experts for discovery sanctions and dismissal of entire action;
- Successful dismissal of appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit due to lack of appellate jurisdiction;
- Successful dismissal of Oklahoma state court action for Japanese manufacturer based on novel application of statute of limitations;
- Successful defense of sanctions motion in Texas state court for Japanese vehicle manufacture wherein plaintiff alleged discovery violations and sought attorney’s fees.
- Successful motion to quash of a non-party subpoena directed at a Chinese corporation but served on an employee of a U.S.-based subsidiary;
- Successful motion for protective order against the production of a Japanese corporation’s confidential and proprietary engineering documents through U.S. subsidiary;
- Successful motion for protective order against the inclusion of dissimilar products in the scope of discovery;
- Successful defense against overbroad subpoena duces tecum concerning alleged similar incident documentation;
- Successful defense of motion to disqualify counsel of record where plaintiff claimed counsel of record was a material fact witness in the case;
- Successful motion to strike of plaintiff's main liability expert who had conducted extensive testing and analysis of exemplar vehicles and alternative designs prior to the close of discovery but not disclosed until after expert deadline;
- Successful defense against the application of 'Law of the Case' Doctrine where plaintiff sought application of appellate court rulings not addressed in a subsequent appeal of the previous plaintiff’s verdict to the Texas Supreme Court;
- Successful summary judgment motion based on Texas statute of repose; and
- Successful dismissal of state court action (with award of attorney’s fees) based on opposing party’s discovery violations.
Education
-
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law,
JD,
cum laude
(2005)
- SMU Board of Advocates
- Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity
- Hispanic Law Students Association
- National Champion, Hispanic National Bar Association Moot Court Competition
- Southern Methodist University, BBA, Finance (2001)
- Southern Methodist University, BA, Foreign Languages (2001)
Admissions
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
- 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
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Dallas Business Journal, Women in Business Honoree (2018)
- Texas Diversity Council, Dallas Top 50 Women Lawyers Award (2018)
- Latino Leaders Magazine
- Top Latino Lawyers List (2018)
- Most Powerful Women in Law (2018)
- State Bar of Texas, Pattern Jury Charges - Malpractice, Premises, and Products Committee (2022-2025)
- State Bar of Texas, Diversity in the Profession Committee (2021–2024)
- Dallas Bar Association, Equality Committee (2022)
- National Hispanic Bar Association (2005-present)
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow (2018)
- Dallas Hispanic Bar Association
- Annual Event Committee Co-Chair (2014)
- Unaccompanied Minors Action Committee (2014)
- Vice President (2012–2014)
- Secretary (2011)
- Board of Directors (2010–2011)
- Social Committee Co-Chair (2009–2010)
- Texas Mexican American Bar Association, Board of Directors (2010)
- SMU Dedman School of Law, Moot Court Team for Hispanic National Bar Association Court Competition, Co-Coach (2008–2011)
- North Texas Dream Team, Volunteer (2020-present)
- Catholic Charities, Spanish-language translator for immigrant minor children (2021)
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