Rosina "Nina" Hernandez focuses on complex commercial litigation and entertainment law. She has counseled clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies on general litigation matters in federal and state courts across the nation, to boutique record companies and nonprofit organizations on both litigation matters and contract drafting. Ms. Hernandez is experienced in representing both plaintiffs and defendants and in handling all aspects of litigation, from drafting pleadings through trial. Additionally, she has drafted contracts for her entertainment industry clients.
Ms. Hernandez's labor and employment experience includes representing employers in litigation raising issues of sexual harassment, disability discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She also has counseled clients regarding non-disclosure agreements, non-compete agreements, and various company policies.
Before joining Ballard Spahr in March 2011, Ms. Hernandez worked at an international law firm where she represented a wide array of multinational clients on cases involving antitrust law, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, government contracts, insurance recovery, environmental law, breach of contract, and various California torts.
Ms. Hernandez has experience representing music publishing companies, record companies, and royalty distribution companies. While at her previous law firm, she secured the rights to numerous hit songs for her music publishing client, coordinating all aspects of this litigation. This judgment recently was upheld on appeal. Most recently, she secured dismissal, at the pleading stage, for her music royalty distribution company client.
Pro Bono Experience
Ms. Hernandez is dedicated to serving her community through pro bono work and has devoted hundreds of hours to pro bono service involving civil rights, adoption, and immigration law. In January 2012, her defensive asylum applicant client was granted asylum. The client's application had been pending for eight years. Since 2008, Ms. Hernandez handled all aspects of the case, from conducting direct examination of lay and expert witnesses, to devising case strategy and drafting and filing all documents.
Ms. Hernandez's pro bono work also includes representing foster parents in adoption proceedings and working with the Jenesse Center to help victims of domestic violence. While at her previous firm, she successfully represented an affirmative asylum applicant and worked on a project alongside the American Civil Liberties Union defending Immigration prisoners' rights.
Judicial Externship
Hon. Micaela Alvarez, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas