Francisco J. Ortega

Shareholder / Chairman

Francisco J. Ortega is the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at ScottHulse, P.C., specializing in complex commercial litigation, appeals, and labor and employment. Since 2017, he has been recognized as a “Best Lawyers in America” and “Texas Super Lawyers” in these practice areas. His practice focuses on shareholder disputes, contract breaches, RICO claims, fraud, deceptive practices, trademark infringement, trade secrets, and construction litigation. Mr. Ortega has represented various political leaders in complex litigation, including the El Paso District Attorney, members of the El Paso City Council, the Mayor of Socorro, and Mexican governors and senators. By appointment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Mexico, Mr. Ortega currently serves as legal counsel to the Consulate General of Mexico as an “Abogado Consultor.” He also serves as general counsel for El Paso Community College and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, one of three Native American tribes in Texas.

While attending law school, Mr. Ortega served as Lead Articles Editor for the Wisconsin Law Review, Note & Comment Editor for the Wisconsin International Law Journal, staff member for the Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society, and a member and team coach of the Wisconsin Moot Court Board. Additionally, Mr. Ortega won First Place Brief and Second Place overall in the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) National Moot Court Competition and was a Midwest Regional Semifinalist in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Ortega served as a judicial law clerk for Justice David M. Medina of the Supreme Court of Texas and Judge Philip R. Martinez of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Miniconcrete Materials, Inc. v. Chacon . First-chair jury trial victory in case involving fraud, conversion, and breach of fiduciary duties.

Rodriguez v. Office of the Attorney General of Texas. Jury trial victory against the Texas Attorney General in case involving the Texas Whistleblower Act.

Mendoza v. Old Republic Insurance Company. First-chair jury trial victory in case involving the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act.

Galvan v. Hunter Warﬁeld. First-chair jury trial victory involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

United States of America v. State of Texas; Gregg Abbott, in his Official Capacity as Governor of Texas; Texas Department of Public Safety; Freeman F. Martin, in his Official Capacity as Director of Texas Department of Public Safety / Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, American Gateways, and County of El Paso, Texas v. Steven C. McCraw, in his Official Capacity as Director of the State of Texas Department of Public Safety, and Bill Hicks, in his Official Capacity as District Attorney for the 34th District, 173 F.4th 659 (5th Circuit 2026). Presented oral argument alongside the Texas Solicitor General in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit regarding the constitutionality of Senate Bill 4, a law that authorized state officials to enforce federal immigration laws).

G4S Secure Solutions (USA) Inc. v. Saenz, 668 Fed. Appx. 611 (5th Cir. 2016). Won appeal after presenting oral argument in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in matter involving qualiﬁed immunity.

Publicaciones E Impresos Paso del Norte, S. de R.L. de C.V. v. Corral, 663 S.W.3d 286 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2023, pet. denied). Won appeal in the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals after oral argument in favor of the Governor of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico on personal jurisdiction in libel/defamation case against Mexican newspaper, which ultimately settled with the retraction of the libelous article on the front page of the newspaper.

In re Publicaciones E Impresos Paso del Norte, S. de R.L. de C.V, 663 S.W.3d 569 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2023, orig. proceeding). Won appeal in the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals after oral argument in favor of the Governor of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico on forum non conveniens issue in libel/defamation case.

In the Matter of the Estate of Sherman A. Hemsley, 460 S.W. 629 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014, pet. denied). Won appeal in the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals after oral argument for the Estate of Sherman Hemsley, the actor of the television show, “The Jeffersons,” in a matter involving testamentary capacity.

Texas Target Logistics, Inc. v. Office of the Attorney General of Texas, 465 S.W.3d 768 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2012, no pet.). Won appeal at the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals in a matter involving constitutional due process rights.

Edmundo Calderon v. City of El Paso, Tommy Gonzalez, Cassandra Hernandez, Karla Nieman, Juan Gonzalez, Deborah Paz, and Jeremy Jordan. Secured dismissal of tortious interference claim filed by City Chief Internal Auditor against member of El Paso City Council based on Anti-SLAPP statute.

Housing Authority for the City of El Paso (former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners by appointment of City Mayor)
Ethics Review Commission for the City of El Paso (Vice-Chairman by appointment of City Council)
El Paso Museum of Art (appointment by City Council)
IDEA Public Schools (Advisory Board)
El Paso Marathon Foundation (Board of Directors)
AVANCE-El Paso (Vice-Chairman)
El Paso Federal Bar Association (Board of Directors)