Mary Whittle

mary@gwjustice.com / (512) 610-2331 direct

Mary is a seasoned trial lawyer who has tried cases in state and federal court. She provides results-driven advice designed to put her clients in the best position to resolve a dispute on their terms. She has a breadth of experience, having worked as a government lawyer, a private practitioner, and as an attorney for the nation’s premier non-profit environmental law firm.

Mary started her legal career in 2001 as a trial attorney at the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C., where she successfully litigated a variety of complex cases around the country. She worked closely with client agencies to understand how a case might impact their mission and the importance of setting a precedent, receiving multiple commendations, including a nomination for the prestigious John Marshall Award - the highest award offered to government attorneys. In private practice as a partner at Perry & Haas, Mary was one of a team of lawyers who represented families in six of the major cases arising out of the BP Texas City Refinery explosion, achieving substantial settlements for all the clients in only four months from the explosion. Mary established her own solo practice from 2011-2013, partnering with other law firms in complex civil litigation matters and providing expertise in environmental law. In 2013, Mary joined Earthjustice in Philadelphia, where she represented national environmental organizations, tribes, and community groups in precedent-setting matters before various federal district and appellate courts, including in direct enforcement actions against some of the nation’s largest and most powerful utilities and industry groups. After leaving Earthjustice in 2017, Mary founded Guerrero & Whittle PLLC.

Mary enjoys taking on high-stakes cases and sticking with them through trial and appeal when warranted. She is also adept at resolving complex matters, coming up with creative solutions that meet her clients’ needs in negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. Mary was born and raised in Texas, lived and worked in Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, and eventually convinced her husband to move to Austin to raise their three children. She is an advocate for children with special needs and learning differences, having two dyslexic children of her own, and she loves being outdoors with her family and dogs.