Juanita advises on a variety of matters, with a focus on safeguarding and protecting IP rights through trademarks and patents, patent and trade secret litigation, and inter partes review proceedings. In addition, she is skilled in performing IP due diligence for litigation funding transactions.
Juanita also is a member of the team assisting the Special Compliance Coordinator appointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce to monitor, assess and report on the U.S. export control compliance of Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation, of Shenzhen, China, and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd. of Hi-New Shenzhen, China (collectively, ZTE).
Juanita provides technical assistance and legal counsel for various technologies, including LED technologies, semiconductor fabrication, integrated circuits, mobile phones, optical switches, angioplasty technologies and financial services. She is best known for her intelligence when it comes to understanding new technologies and applying the law accordingly.
Notably, Juanita worked as a process engineer at Texas Instruments before becoming a lawyer. Juanita’s frontline experience as an engineer allows her to understand client challenges from their distinct perspective, an advantage to those she serves across many technological disciplines.
Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Juanita worked as an associate at Dentons US LLP and Jones Day. She also served as a judicial law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in 2017.
Professional and Community Involvement
Former board member, High-Tech High Heels North Texas
Former Dallas office pro bono partner, Barnes & Thornburg Pro Bono Committee
Former member, Texas Women’s Foundation, The XIX Society
Former member, Texas Minority Counsel Program Steering Committee
Former planning committee member, UT LAW Advanced Patent Law Institute
Former module chair, The Center for American Intellectual Property (CAIL) IP conference
Honors
Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program Outstanding Midsized Firm Attorney, 2024
J.L. Turner Legal Association’s Dallas Black Women Attorneys’ Charlye O. Farris Trailblazer Award, 2023
The Best Lawyers in America, 2025; Ones to Watch, 2021-2024
The National Black Lawyers Top 100, Texas, 2019-2021
Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2017, 2021-2022
NSBE Hidden Figures of Dallas: Top Ten Women of Color in STEM Award, 2017