Biography

Gunnar Seaquist focuses his practice in the areas of litigation, employment, and public law. Before joining the firm, he practiced in both the General Litigation and Tax divisions of the Texas Office of the Attorney General. He has extensive experience in litigation, having tried cases to both judges and juries. His experience extends to employment litigation involving Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination and Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Whistleblower Act, as well as the Texas Commission on Human Rights. In addition, he defends governmental entities in personal injury and property damage claims, civil rights actions, constitutional claims, and in challenges to constitutionality and validity of legislative enactments.

Representative Experience

• Represented both private and governmental clients in claims alleging breach of contract and procurement violations
• Defended local and national entities in cases of personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death claims
• Advised both governmental entities and private business on employment matters and has successfully defended claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination and Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Whistleblower Act, as well as the Texas Commission on Human Rights
• Defended various governmental entities from Section 1983 claims alleging constitutional violations under the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution
• Counseled and defended governmental entities in claims asserted under the Voting Rights Act of 1964
• Defended cities in land use and access to governmental services and facilities lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Defended governmental entities in claims alleging violations of the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act

The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2024-2026

Former Assistant Attorney General, General Litigation Division, Office of the Attorney General of Texas (2011-2014)

Former Assistant Attorney General, Taxation Division, Office of the Attorney General of Texas (2008-2010)

Austin Bar Association

State Bar of Texas, Litigation Section; Governmental Section

West Austin Neighborhood Association, Board Member

Lessons Learned from Pasadena: A Voting Rights Update, presented to the Texas City Attorneys Association, 2017

The Intersection of Federal Disability Law and Municipal Zoning, presented to the 20th Annual Land Use Conference (UTCLE), 2016 (Co-presenter) and to the Texas City Attorneys Association Fall Conference, 2016 (Co-presenter)

“The Constitutional Avoidance Canon of Statutory Construction,” published in The Advocate, State Bar Litigation Section Report, Volume 71, Summer 2015

Dobbin Plantersville Water Supply Corp. v. Lake, 108 F.4th 320 (5th Cir. 2024).

Pape Partners, Ltd. v. DRR Family Properties LP, 645 S.W.3d 267 (Tex. 2022).

Besser v. Texas General Land Office, 834 Fed. Appx. 876 (5th Cir. 2020).

Wetherbe v. Smith, 593 Fed. Appx. 323 (5th Cir. 2014) (briefs)

Assignees of Best Buy v. Combs, 395 S.W. 3d 847 (Tex. App.–Austin 2013, pet. denied).

Critical Heath Connection, Inc. v. Texas Workforce Commission, 338 S.W.3d 758 (Tex. App.–Austin 2011, no pet.).

Energy Educ. of Montana v. Tex. Comptroller of Pub. Accounts, no. 03-10-644-CV, 2013 Tex. App. Lexis 5047 (Tex. App–Austin, Apr. 25, 2013, pet. denied.)