Roxann Pais Cotroneo

Roxann Pais Cotroneo

Pais Cotroneo Law.
  • Municipal Law, Gov & Administrative Law
  • Texas
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Biography

Roxann has 25 years of municipal law experience. She worked for the City of Dallas for 14 years as an Executive Assistant City Attorney. She also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for 8 years and won national awards from the U.S. Department of Justice for her work to improve cities and reduce violent gun crime. After serving Dallas, she served as Harlingen City Attorney for 4 years. Roxann offices in San Antonio and now serves cities throughout Texas. Having lectured at 40+ national conferences all across America on municipal law -- she is known as an innovator, collaborator, and problem-solver. Roxann wants to use her big city experience and help smaller towns achieve their goals!

Education
St. Mary's University School of Law
J.D. (1995)
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St. Mary's University School of Law Logo
University of Texas - Austin
B.A. (1992)
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University of Texas - Austin Logo
Universidad de Salamanca, Spain
Spanish Certification (1989)
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Professional Experience
Attorney
Pais Cotroneo Law
- Current
City Attorney
CIty of Harlingen, Texas
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Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
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Executive Assistant City Attorney
City of Dallas
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Addressing Foreclosed and Abandoned Properties
Center for Court Innovation and U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance
Code Book
City of Dallas, Texas
Urban Rehabilitation Standards Board Training Manual
City of Dallas, Texas
Speaking Engagements
Advanced Community Prosecution: Community Prosecution and the Emerging Role of City Attorneys, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
National Advocacy Center
Advanced Community Prosecution: Abating Nuisance Houses, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
National Advocacy Center
Community Prosecution: Getting Started, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
National Advocacy Center
Community Prosecution Symposia, Community Prosecution Symposia, Alexandria, VA
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Community Prosecution: City Attorney + City Codes = Long Term Solutions, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Prosecution: Abating Nuisance Houses, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Prosecution: Getting Started, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Prosecution Symposium, Community Prosecution Symposium, Alexandria, VA
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Team Texas, Project Safe Neighborhoods, Dallas, Texas
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Prosecution: Working with Distinct Communities, 2nd National Community Prosecution Conference, Washington, DC
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Community Prosecution: Getting Started, 2nd National Community Prosecution Conference, Washington, DC
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Community Prosecution in Dallas, Texas, Community Prosecution National Leadership Site Symposium, Minneapolis, MN
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Advisor, Community Prosecution, Executive Office of the United States President, Dallas, Texas
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Prosecution: Getting Started, American Prosecutors Research Institute, Dallas, Texas
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Prosecution Partnerships, American Prosecutors Research Institute, Dallas, Texas
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Courts, Weed and Seed Law Enforcement Coordination Training Workshop, Buffalo, NY
Weed & Seed
Community Prosecution, Boca Raton, FL
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida
Community Prosecution and Strategies to Reduce Gun Crime, Advanced Community Prosecution Workshop, Atlanta, GA
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Community Prosecution, Stop Trashing Texas Seminar, Houston, TX
Keep Texas Beautiful
Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Safe Neighborhoods, Ft. Worth, Texas
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
Community Problem Solving, Consortium on Community Problem Solving, New York, NY
Center for Court Innovation
Community Prosecution, U.S. Attorney's Office Conference, Ft. Worth, Texas
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
Getting Started with Community Prosecution, Advanced Community Prosecution Workshop, Austin, TX
U.S. Department of Justice
Trial Advocacy I, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
U.S. Department of Justice
The Role of Community Courts, Community Capacity Development Office Law Enforcement Conference, Phoenix, AZ
U.S. Department of Justice
Measuring and Sustaining Community Prosecution, 3rd National Community Prosecution Conference, San Diego, CA
U.S. Department of Justice
The Role of Community Courts, U.S. Department of Justice Community Capacity Development Office, Detroit, MI
U.S. Department of Justice
Crime and Safety: The Impact of High Crime Rates on Quality of Life and Neighborhood Wellbeing, The J. McDonald Williams Institute 3rd Annual Conference, Dallas, TX
The J. mcDonald Williams Institute
Creating Safer Communities, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
U.S. Department of Justice
Dealing with Foreclosures and Abandoned Property, Creating Safer Communities through Community Prosecution, Chicago, IL
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Innovative Ideas on How to Address Vacant Structures, Foreclosures: Community Impacts and Collaborative Responses, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Department of Justice
Drafting a Vacant Structure Registration Ordinance: A Survey of Approaches, Code Enforcement Conference 2009, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
International Municipal Lawyers Association
Emerging Issues: Uniform Convenience Store Security Standards Ordinance, Code Enforcement Conference 2009, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
International Municipal Lawyers Association
Getting Grants for Code Enforcement, Code Enforcement Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
International Municipal Lawyers Association
Addressing Vacant Structures, Summit for Texas Code Enforcement Attorneys, Irving, Texas
Planning Committee Member, 24th Annual Suing and Defending Governmental Entities, Austin, Texas
Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
Planning Committee Member, 25th Annual Suing and Defending Governmental Entities, Austin, Texas
Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
Creating Partnerships, 9th National Prosecution Summit, Dallas, Texas
Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
Co-presenter
Awards
National Achievement Award for Exemplary Local Training Program
U.S. Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods
Community Prosecution National Leadership Award
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Prosecutor Iceberg Award
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Community Heart & Soul Award
Old East Dallas Weed & Seed Program
Employee Wall of Honor Award
City of Dallas, Texas
Special Recognition
Dallas County Commissioners Court
Special Recognition
Dallas City Council
Professional Associations
State Bar of Texas  # 00794415
Member
Current
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Texas Municipal League
Affiliate Member
Current
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Texas City Attorneys Association
Member
Current
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International Municipal Lawyers Association
Member
Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Texas
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Fees
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Flat Fees, Hourly Billing and other options.
Practice Areas
Municipal Law
Gov & Administrative Law
Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
Languages
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Legal Answers
Q. Am I allowed to film public town meetings on my cell phone?
A: Under Texas Government Code Section 551.023, a person in attendance may record all or any part of an open meeting by means of a recorder, video camera or other aural or visual reproduction. The governmental body may adopt reasonable rules to maintain order in a meeting including rules relating to (1) the location of recording equipment; and (2) the manner in which the recording is conducted. These rules may not prevent or unreasonably impair a person from exercising their rights to record.
Q. Can I get a speeding ticket when I only have my permit?
A: You must contact the court and enter a plea. You may plea "guilty, no contest, or not guilty". To keep this citation off your driving records, you need to ask the court for deferred adjudication, which will require you to pay a certain amount of money within a specified time period and not commit any other violations. There are serious consequences if you are found guilty and convicted so please try to keep off your record. Here is link to learn more about Texas Driver Responsibility Program:

https://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-103.pdf
Q. I payed a ticket with deferred adjudication two months ago but received a letter about it.
A: You need to immediately contact the Court Clerk and ask them. There may a problem with their court software. Be prepared to show payment proof within the ordered time period to the Court Clerk or the Judge. Do not ignore this notice. If you do not resolve this issue before or on your show cause hearing date, a warrant may be issued.
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Roxann Pais Cotroneo - Municipal Law
Contact & Map
Pais Cotroneo Law - Washington DC (1 block from White House)
1717 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Ste 1025
Washington, DC 20006
Cell: (214) 957-8960
Fax: (972) 619-8802
Pais Cotroneo Law - Forum One, San Antonio TX
8000 IH10 West
Suite 1500
San Antonio, TX 78230
Telephone: (214) 957-8960
Fax: (972) 619-8802
Pais Cotroneo Law - Frost Bank Tower, Austin TX
401 Congress Ave
Suite 1540
Austin, TX 78701
Cell: (214) 957-8960
Fax: (972) 619-8802