Gabrielle L. Stokes
Associate
Gabrielle's practice focuses on public contracting and contested regulatory matters. She assists both governmental bodies and private entities with navigating the complex public procurement process. Specifically, she has worked with public entities to develop and implement procurement programs. This experience includes assisting public entities with the development of a professional services selection matrix and a small business program. It also includes advising on the implementation of alternative delivery method selection criteria, and disadvantage business enterprise (DBE) and minority and women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) programs. She has also represented private firms seeking certification or recertification in small business programs, historically underutilized business (HUB) programs and M/WBE programs. Gabrielle has performed compliance audits on behalf of private entities to ensure continued compliance with small business and M/WBE program certification requirements. She has drafted solicitation documents for public entities and prepared responses to requests for proposals for firms seeking governmental contracting opportunities. She has also represented both governmental entities and private entities in pre- and post-award bid protests.
In her general regulatory practice, Gabrielle represents clients in proceedings before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). This experience includes obtaining favorable outcomes for private landowners impacted by the routing of transmission lines.
For her commitment to pro bono legal services, Gabrielle has been recognized by Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) of Central Texas as a Covington Award honoree.
Representative Experience
Procurement Practice
- Major Texas Municipality — represent on bid protests, assist with the development and implementation of a small business program and qualifications-based-selection matrix, advise on revisions to the City’s DBE Plan, advise on economic development agreements, assist with general procurement matters and issues involving City’s M/WBE program
- Major Florida Municipality — develop new procurement documents for selection of a consultant to perform a disparity study
- Major Insurance Company — provide assistance on ongoing procurement issues
- National Construction Company — represent on pre-award bid protest
- International Domain Registry — assist with submittal of proposal to operate a gTLD (generic top level domain)
- National Demolition Company — prepare proposal to decommission a municipal power plant
- Texas-based Engineering Firm — assist firm with recertification in regional M/WBE program
- Texas-based Services Firm — assist firm with recertification in Texas’ HUB program
- Texas-based Engineering Firm — perform compliance review to ensure firm complies with M/WBE and HUB requirements
Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) Practice
- Trade Association of Industrial Energy Consumers — represent on contested matters before the Public Utility Commission and, on its behalf, draft briefs filed with the Third Court of Appeals and Texas Supreme Court
- Various Texas Landowners — successfully represented several landowners in separate proceedings before the PUC concerned with transmission lines potentially being routed across properties
- Broker/Aggregator — assist company with compliance issues, customer complaints, and negotiations with Retail Electric Providers (REPs)
- Local Government Corporation — assist with negotiations on electric supply agreements with REPs
