Ernesto Pineda received his law license from the Texas Supreme Court on November 24, 1980, and has been practicing in El Paso ever since. He founded Pineda Law Firm in 1986, making it one of the longer-running independent legal practices in the region. By the time a client walks through the door today, Pineda has more than four decades of Texas law practice behind him, covering business formation, estate planning, probate, and federal tax representation before the U.S. Tax Court.
Overview
Pineda Law Firm, P.C. is a professional corporation based in El Paso, Texas, established in 1986 by Ernesto Pineda. The firm serves individuals and businesses across its three core areas: corporate and business law, estate planning, and real estate. In addition to Texas state practice, Pineda holds admission to the U.S. Tax Court, which allows him to represent clients in federal tax litigation separate from IRS administrative proceedings.
The firm has represented a range of El Paso businesses and organizations over its nearly four decades. Named clients include CQC (Construction Quality Control Testing and Engineering), Helping Hand Adult Care Inc., and Great American Trans-Mountain Inc., reflecting a client base that spans construction, healthcare, and commercial operations. No specific case outcomes are published by the firm.
Ernesto Pineda served as a board member of the El Paso Bar Association from 2003 to 2006 and remains an active member of that association. Staff contact for correspondence is Maricela Vargas, who can be reached at [email protected].
Practice Areas
Pineda Law Firm operates across three primary areas, each of which extends well beyond the most basic services associated with the label.
Corporate law at the firm covers business planning and organization, asset protection strategies, and non-profit formation. The non-profit work includes 501(c)(3) applications and assistance with IRS tax-exempt recognition for religious, educational, and sports organizations. This is a specific and procedurally involved process, and the firm’s history of handling it reflects familiarity with IRS nonprofit compliance requirements.
Estate planning encompasses tax and estate planning designed to minimize taxes, protect wealth from lawsuits and creditors, and eliminate or reduce estate (death) tax exposure. The firm handles probate as well, which is the process of administering an estate after a death. Probate services include probating wills, independent and dependent administrations, determinations of heirship, muniments of title, small estate affidavits, and the preparation of Form 706 Estate Tax Returns. This is a comprehensive list that covers both simple and more complex estate administration scenarios.
Real estate practice at the firm includes sales and purchases of real property, real estate venture organization, and construction financing for commercial properties including office buildings, warehouses, and shopping centers. The commercial real estate component is distinctive, particularly in a border market like El Paso where commercial development ties to cross-border trade and logistics.
In addition to these three areas, the firm offers IRS representation. This covers tax audits, offers in compromise, installment agreements, and other IRS administrative proceedings. Because Ernesto Pineda is also admitted to the U.S. Tax Court, the firm can continue representing clients if a tax dispute escalates to federal litigation. Lottery law is listed as an additional but uncommon practice area.
Attorney Profiles
Ernesto Pineda is the founder and sole identified attorney at the firm. He earned his BA in Business Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1976 and his JD from the University of Houston School of Law in 1980. He was licensed by the Texas Supreme Court on November 24, 1980, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court. He served on the Board of the El Paso Bar Association from 2003 to 2006 and has remained an active association member. Additional attorneys at the firm, if any, are not identified in publicly available sources.
Location and Service Area
The firm’s office is at 11170 La Quinta Place, Suite C, El Paso, TX 79936. The phone number is (915) 598-7726 and the fax number is (915) 593-3896. The primary service area is El Paso and the surrounding region. The firm’s U.S. Tax Court admission extends its reach to federal tax matters on a nationwide basis, as U.S. Tax Court proceedings are not geographically limited to Texas.
Client Focus
Pineda Law Firm serves El Paso individuals and businesses across its practice areas. The non-profit formation work and IRS representation suggest a client base that includes organizations navigating federal compliance in addition to standard business and estate clients.
El Paso’s position on the U.S.-Mexico border is relevant context for the firm’s commercial real estate and business planning work, as many local businesses operate in a cross-border commercial environment. Language capabilities at the firm are not specified on the website, though information about Spanish-language services should be confirmed directly with the firm.
Consultation scheduling is available by phone at (915) 598-7726 or through the contact form on the firm’s website at https://www.pinedalawfirm.com/ Whether initial consultations are offered at no charge is not specified publicly. Correspondence can be directed to Maricela Vargas at [email protected].
FAQ
Is the firm admitted to handle federal tax court cases?
Yes. Ernesto Pineda holds admission to the U.S. Tax Court, which is a federal court with jurisdiction over tax disputes between taxpayers and the IRS. This is separate from IRS administrative representation and allows the firm to continue representing clients if a tax matter proceeds to litigation.
Can the firm help form a non-profit organization?
Yes. The firm handles 501(c)(3) formation and the related IRS process for obtaining tax-exempt recognition. This includes organizations in religious, educational, and sports categories.
What probate services does the firm offer?
The firm handles probating wills, independent and dependent administrations, determinations of heirship, muniments of title, small estate affidavits, and Form 706 Estate Tax Returns.
Does the firm handle commercial real estate transactions?
Yes. In addition to residential real estate sales and purchases, the firm handles commercial real estate venture organization and construction financing for office buildings, warehouses, shopping centers, and other commercial properties.
What IRS matters can the firm handle?
The firm represents clients in IRS audits, offers in compromise, installment agreements, and related administrative proceedings. If a matter escalates to Tax Court, Ernesto Pineda’s Tax Court admission allows continued representation at the federal litigation level.
Closing
Pineda Law Firm has maintained a consistent presence in El Paso’s legal market since 1986, offering a combination of business, estate, and tax services that has proven durable across different economic conditions. The firm’s U.S. Tax Court admission and multi-decade estate planning practice give it depth in two areas where procedural experience is particularly important for clients facing high-stakes outcomes.