Buena Vista Lyons
Buena Vista Lyons is a principal in the Dallas, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She advises employers on workplace law matters and works closely with clients to develop practical strategies that address legal risks while supporting business objectives. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience representing management, she helps employers navigate complex employment issues through proactive counseling and strategic advocacy.
Vista focuses her practice on defending employers in employment litigation and administrative proceedings. She represents companies in federal and state courts and before government agencies in matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, disability accommodation, wage and hour compliance, family and medical leave issues, whistleblower claims, wrongful termination allegations, and contract disputes. Her experience also includes counseling employers regarding employment agreements, restrictive covenants, workplace policies, and other compliance-related matters.
Vista represents employers across a wide range of industries, including aviation, financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and consumer products. She also has experience assisting globally based organizations with international employment matters. By taking the time to understand each client's workforce, operations, and business priorities, Vista provides practical guidance designed to help employers address workplace challenges effectively and confidently.
In addition to her client work, Vista has held significant leadership roles throughout her career, including serving as a managing partner and participating on a firm's Diversity Advisory Board. She is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction that reflects her longstanding commitment to advising and representing employers on complex workplace matters.
Representative Experience
- Successfully obtained post-trial motion for judgment as a matter of law in a discrimination and retaliation case, wiping out the awarded $70M jury verdict and granting motion for new trial (Yarbrough et al v. Glow Networks, Inc.).
- Successfully obtained summary judgment for a large regional airline in an FMLA interference/retaliation and ADA discrimination action.
- Obtained favorable jury verdict for a hospital in a whistleblower/retaliation case filed under the Texas Occupations Code for alleged constructive discharge.
- Obtained dismissal of preliminary injunctive relief sought in a breach of non-solicitation of customers and non-disclosure action (see published opinion at 869 F. Supp. 2d 761.
- Successfully obtained summary judgment for a large regional airline in an ERISA 510 discrimination and defamation action.
- Successfully obtained summary judgment for a local municipality in a race discrimination class action; affirmed on appeal by the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
- Successfully obtained a Federal Rule 12 dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and improper service of process for a national medical services provider and was awarded approximately $30,000 in attorneys' fees in monetary sanctions.
- Successfully defended a large international engineering/research company in a Sarbanes-Oxley retaliatory discharge action before the DOL.
Honors and Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America©, “Employment Law — Management” and “Litigation — Labor and Employment” (2024-present)
- Lawyers of Color, “Power List” (2020)
- Diversity Journal, “Company and Executive Women Worth Watching” (2014)
- Thomson Reuters, “Texas Super Lawyers” (2012-2019)