MBMT Law Firm

Attorney Benigno (Trey) Martinez

Mr. Benigno (Trey) Martinez was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. After completing high school at St. Joseph’s Academy in Brownsville, Texas, he had the good fortune of attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He received two majors – one in political science and one in psychology. He then returned to Texas to attend law school at the University of Texas in Austin. While in law school, he was elected class president. After graduation, he went on to be a law clerk for Judge Reynaldo G. Garza on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Upon completing his clerkship, he became an Assistant United States Attorney. At the age of 25 and one of the youngest prosecutors the United States Government had ever hired, he successfully tried a number of cases to juries. He left the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2000 and has since been in private practice doing what he loves best; arguing cases to juries, with his concentration on civil and white-collar criminal cases. He has been very successful in his practice and has now dedicated a lot of time to improve both the practice of law as well as defending the rights of those who cannot defend themselves. He serves on several statewide legal boards and is actively involved in the community. He has been humbled and honored to have received several awards reflecting his many professional and service-oriented accomplishments. He loves spending time with his kids in their various activities and cooking for his family.

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
  • J.D. – May, 1996
  • Honors: Permanent Class President
  • Honors: President, Student Bar Association, Spring 1996
• Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
  • B.A. – May, 1993
  • Major: Political Science and Psychology

Attorney Tomas Tijerina

Tomas F. Tijerina was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and obtained his bachelor’s degree in 2004. In 2006, he attended St. Mary’s University and earned his Jurisprudence in 2009.
Tomas joined the Firm in 2009 and immediately began his career litigating large construction defect cases, including a hospital, county jail, and several hotel chains. Within his first few years of practice, Tomas was an integral part of working up and either litigating or settling several multi-million dollar cases. Within his first few years, he first-chaired a Federal Court construction defect/insurance jury trial and obtained a verdict in excess of $2 million. He has practiced and argued before the 13th Court of Appeals on several appellate issues. Tomas has also resolved cases involving Civil Rights, wrongful death lawsuits, contract disputes, employment issues, and a wide range of general practice areas.
Tomas’ practice encompasses commercial and complex litigation, construction law, insurance law, personal injury, federal and state criminal proceedings, and general civil litigation.

Bar Admissions:

• Texas

Education:

• ST. MARY’S SCHOOL OF LAW, San Antonio, TX
  • J.D., May 2009
  • Selected for the ABA Section of Litigation’s Judicial Internship Program (2007)
• UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, Austin, TX
  • B.A., Government, May, 2004

Attorney Tony Martinez

Tony Martinez brings over 40 years of experience practicing law to MBMT. Tony graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and attended St Mary’s University where he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Over his career, Tony has represented countless individuals in Brownsville and South Texas and prides himself in giving a voice to those in need. 
 
He is well-known for representing 16 families in Brownsville whose children suffered from neural tube defects and eventual death as a result of toxic chemical run-off from Mexican maquilas. The companies filed out of court and awarded millions of dollars to the families. Tony is committed to bringing justice to the people of Brownsville and is not dissuaded from cases that seem untenable. 
 
Along with his vast law experience, Tony served as the Mayor of Brownsville from 2011 to 2019. While serving as mayor he counts among his accomplishments the Resaca restoration, the expansion of the South Padre Island International Airport, the revitalization of Downtown Brownsville, the cultivation of Space X’s presence in Brownsville, to name a few. He brings this “can do” approach to politics to everything he does. 

Bar Admissions:

• Texas
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

Education:

• St. Mary’s University
  • J.D. – May 1970 

Attorney Horacio Barrera-Retired

Horacio Barrera graduated from the University of Texas School of law in 1978.  Since that time he has been practicing law with Tony Martinez and has been integral in the growth of the firm into MBMT.  Over the course of the last 40 plus years, he has tried a number of cases to both Judges and Juries with incredible success.  His verdicts range from civil and criminal defense victories to plaintiff cases wherein juries have awarded him over $100 million.

Bar Admissions:

• Texas Southern District/Bankruptcy Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

Education:

• The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
  • J.D. – May, 1978