Business & Administrative Law Attorney
Graciela G. “Gracie” Saenz

Member

Areas of Concentration:
Administrative Law, Commercial & International Business Transactions

Licensed to Practice:
State of Texas

Education:
University of Houston (B.A. Spanish 1978)
University of Houston Law Center (J.D. – 1986)
Universidad Panamericana, Mexico, D.F. (Mexican Legal Studies Program 1984)

Background:
Harris County District Attorney's Office (Assistant D.A., 1986-1990)
Burkhardt & Saenz, Houston, Texas (1990-1992)
Houston City Councilmember At Large Position 1 (1992-1997)
Of Counsel, Broocks, Baker & Lange, L.L.P. (1992-2000)
Oppel & Goldberg, P.L.L.C. (2000-present)

Former Member:
Houston City Council
Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Houston, Texas (January 1992 through December 1997)

Organizations:
American Leadership Forum, Class XIII, Board Member
Drug Awareness and Resistance Education (DARE), Board Member
Eastwood Civic Club
Estereo Latino Foundation, Board Member
Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
Greater Houston Hispanic Coalition, Board Member
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Board Member
Hispanic Women in Leadership, Member
Houston Bar Association
Houston International Initiatives, Board Member
Houston Promise (Vice Chair of Safe Places Committee)
Jefferson Davis High School Alumni Organization
Junior League of Houston (Community Advisory Committee)
Laredo National Bank, Advisory Board Member (Houston Branch) 1999
Latina Pac, Member
LULAC Council 643, President
Memorial/Hermann Foundation, Board Member
Mexican American Bar Association
Oaklawn Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Women in the Church (PRESWIC)
Sam Houston Area Council - Boy Scouts of America, Board of Directors
University of Houston Law Center Alumni Organization
University of St. Thomas, Board Member (1998 to present)

Awards and Honors:
1986 Distinguished Service Award, University of Houston, College of Law Faculty
1993 Alumnus of the Year Award, University of Houston Law Alumni Association
1995 International Service Award, Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce
1996 Outstanding Citizen award from the Boy Scouts
1996 Hispanic Woman of the Year Award, The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation
1996 Hispanic Women in Leadership - Hall of Fame

Past City Council Committees:
Aviation
Business and Tourism
Competitive Bidding
Council Rules, Chairman
Environmental Concerns
Ethics, Chairman
Fiscal Affairs
International Trade
Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise, Chairman
Parks
Public Health
Sexually Oriented Business Ordinance Revision
Youth Violence and Gangs

Former Board Memberships:
Leadership Houston
Alley Theater
Houston Grand Opera
YMCA
NALEO
United Way
PrimePro (For- Profit arm of Hispanic Chamber)

Languages:
Spanish

E-mail:
gsaenz@ogs-law.com

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in any area of law.