Yolanda C. Garcia

YOLANDA CORNEJO GARCIA is a co-leader of the firm’s Securities and Shareholder Litigation practice and co-chair of the firm’s Inclusion Committee. She represents corporations, corporate officers, and directors in matters including national class actions, multi-jurisdictional cases, domestic and international arbitrations, securities cases, and internal investigations.

“Yolanda is exceptional. She is a very seasoned litigator who brings insights into the legal risks and helps clients maneuver through difficult conversations.”
Chambers USA 2024

Strong advocacy on behalf of her clients has earned Yolanda acknowledgment in numerous industry publications. Chambers USA ranked Yolanda among the leading lawyers for her work in Litigation: General Commercial in Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds (2022–2025) and Litigation: Securities in Texas (2023–2025). In 2025, she was named to Bloomberg Law’s inaugural 2025 “Unrivaled” list following her three recent trial victories as well as named to Forbes’ 2025 “America’s Top 250 Lawyers” list. In 2024 and 2025, Yolanda was named to D Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in Dallas” list and in 2021 she was named a “Top Latino Lawyer” by Latino Leaders Magazine. Yolanda has been consistently listed as a “Litigation Star” for Securities work by Benchmark Litigation, most recently in its 2026 edition. Benchmark Litigation also recognized her as one of its “Top 250 Women in Litigation” in the United States in 2025, 2022, and 2020. Additionally, Yolanda has been featured by The American Lawyer as “Litigator of the Week” (on September 18, 2020) as well as received “Runners Up” and “Shout Out” honors on numerous occasions for her work on behalf of XRI Investment Holdings, Texas Pacific Land Corporation, and Aspen Insurance, among others. Texas Super Lawyers recognized Yolanda as a “Super Lawyer” in 2013–2015 and as a “Texas Rising Star” every year from 2006 to 2013. In 2009, the Dallas Business Journal honored Yolanda, naming her to their “40 under 40” list.

Yolanda’s representations include:

• Texas Pacific Land Trust, one of Texas’ largest landowners, with over 900,000 acres in the Permian Basin, and its incumbent trustees in a proxy contest and related litigation against a group of dissident shareholders. Achieved a complete trial victory for TPL in the Delaware Chancery Court that was later affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court. Secured the first-ever remedy of specific performance of a voting agreement against dissident shareholders.
• XRI Investment Holdings LLC in winning a trial verdict against a former founder who fraudulently transferred his equity interests in violation of company agreement. Affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court.
• Forterra, Inc. and Lone Star Funds in an arbitration arising from Lone Star’s US$1.4 billion acquisition of Hanson Building Products from affiliates of HeidelbergCement AG.
• Forterra, Inc. in a consolidated Delaware derivative proceeding, resulting in complete dismissal of one case and a voluntary refiling and stay of the other case.
• Forterra, Inc. in the successful resolution of a significant securities class action lawsuit.
• Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited as national counsel in COVID-19-related litigation. Successfully defended Aspen across 24 lawsuits in state and federal courts, including 10 putative class actions. SAExploration Holdings, Inc. in a shareholder derivative action asserting claims of breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, waste of corporate assets, and violations of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
• Ushio America and numerous individual defendants in an adversary proceeding for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty brought in bankruptcy court in Houston, TX.
• An oil and gas company in two high-stakes natural gas arbitrations in front of the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court of Arbitration. In one case, the claimants filed the arbitration and sought to recover $42.5 million in price adjustments. In January 2024, the Tribunal issued an award in the client’s favor and dismissed claimants’ claims in their entirety.
• A private equity firm in connection with its investment in a newly formed joint venture that will own and operate a textile manufacturing plant.

Academic

• Associate Member, Higginbotham Inn of Court (2005–2006)
• Order of the Coif

Public Service and Professional Activities

• Board of Directors, Penrose Foundation (2001–Present)
• Advisory Board, Dallas Hispanic Bar Association (2010–Present)
• Board of Directors, Concilio (2013)
• Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation (2013)
• Member, Leadership Council of Legal Diversity Fellows (2013)
• Member, Dallas Bar Association (2013)
• Dallas Bar Association Mentor/Mentee Program (2011)
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (2010)
• Member, State Bar of Texas Racial Diversity in the Profession Committee (2010)
• Board of Directors, Dallas Women Lawyers Association (2008–2009)
• Member, Hispanic Women’s Network (2004–2012)
• Keynote Speaker at MACE Scholarship — “Seven Seconds: Crossing the Stage at a College Graduation Transforms Individuals and Communities”
• Keynote Speaker at Fort Worth ISD Leadership Conference — “Creating a Vision for Success”