"This year’s team motto All In. All Out. All Year. reflects how we approach every client relationship, every engagement, and every decision we make." 

All In. All Out. All Year. 

As we enter 2026, our focus at Bertolino LLP is simple and unwavering: delivering consistent, dependable excellence for the clients who trust us with their work. 

This year’s team motto All In. All Out. All Year. reflects how we approach every client relationship, every engagement, and every decision we make. 

Being All In means fully understanding our clients’ goals, industries, and challenges. It means approaching our work with intention, foresight, and a deep sense of responsibility. We don’t just respond. We anticipate, advise, and align our services to support long-term success. 

Being All Out speaks to how we execute. It’s the rigor behind our processes, the precision in our work, and the responsiveness our clients experience every day. It’s a commitment to quality, follow-through, and solutions that stand up under scrutiny. All Out means our clients can rely on us to deliver, not just meet expectations. 

And All Year is what truly defines our approach. 

Our clients don’t operate on a quarterly cycle, and neither do we. They need partners who perform consistently, not just during peak moments or urgent situations. All Year means sustained focus, proactive service, and operational stability that supports our clients through every phase of their business. 

From an operational standpoint, this commitment drives how we invest in systems, talent, and process improvement. The result is efficiency, clarity, and confidence for our clients in every interaction. It also means continually refining how we serve, ensuring our standards evolve alongside the needs of those we support. 

As Chief Operating Officer, my responsibility is to ensure that our firm operates with the discipline, structure, and foresight necessary to earn and keep our clients’ trust … today and throughout the year ahead. 

In 2026, All In. All Out. All Year. is our promise to our clients: unwavering commitment, consistent execution, and a partnership built to last. 

Blue Cross Blue Shield v. BT


Facts: Our client, BT, hired us to assist in defending against a decision to terminate insurance credentials.



Outcome:   The Firm analyzed the facts and applicable termination policy. It was determined that BCBS lacked grounds to terminate his credentials.     The Firm crafted a robust advocacy response in support of overturning the decision and represented BT during the appeal. BCBS overturned the decision to terminate BT’s credentials.  Since the Firm successfully defended BT’s livelihood, career, and reputation,  BT can continue to serve the patients in his community.  

Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board v. PL

Facts: PL hired Bertolino LLP to defend him against a complaint filed with the Board by Fannie Mae. The complainant made accusations that PL had violated state law, the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), and Board rules in connection with his appraisal of a residential property in a mortgage finance transaction that Fannie Mae had purchased. These allegations threatened to harm PL’s professional reputation and exposed him to risk of disciplinary sanctions from the Board. 

Outcome: Bertolino LLP evaluated the complaint accusations and assessed the applicable law. We compiled the necessary documents, crafted compelling arguments and assembled evidence to fight back against Fannie Mae’s false accusations. The goal was to show the Board this complaint was invalid and PL’s complaint needed to be dismissed. Bertolino LLP’s legal team developed a solid written response supporting dismissal of all the accusations. The Board considered our submission and agreed to dismiss the charges in full. The Board took no action against our client. This allowed PL to focus on his appraisal practice and take care of his clients without dealing with this unsupported complaint and the risk of disciplinary action by the Board. 

Most people try to meet the obligations of their professional or occupational license. People want to do the right thing and work hard to be ethical, competent and diligent in their work for clients, patients and users of their services and products. However, life is busy and people are often tied up with work, family obligations and commitments. It’s easy to lose sight of some of the more mundane, periodic requirements people must satisfy as a license holder. 

As a license defense attorney and a former regulator myself, I can say that there are certain things people overlook which can lead to problems with your regulatory agency. Often, it’s not until an otherwise groundless complaint gets filed and the government investigates your practice that they notice one of these shortcomings. What would ordinarily have been a straightforward dismissal of a groundless complaint from an unreasonable client, patient or consumer now may turn into a legitimate complaint with disciplinary action due to your failure to comply with the law. 

These common seven oversights are worth paying close attention to and investing some time and resources into so that you don’t end up facing a complaint or receiving disciplinary action from your regulator. 

• Records Deficiencies – Many license holders forget their records obligations. The law prescribes specific documentation you are required to keep in your file for each patient, client, consumer or services / transaction. Sometimes, it can involve obligations to retain records for a certain period or to destroy them in a safe and appropriate manner to protect confidential information. Other times it has to do with data breach / security issues and the obligation to notify clients, patients or consumers when that occurs. Regardless of the particulars, records deficiencies are a very common issue where license holders can get tripped up and receive discipline from their regulator. Staying on top of your records obligations is key to staying out of trouble and having those records available is also critical to successfully challenging groundless allegations made against you. Consult a lawyer before problems arise to stay on top of your records obligations and protect your business, your license, and your livelihood.

• Unlicensed Activity – Its easy to be busy with work, family and other obligations and loose sight of the practice boundaries your license provides. Before you know it, you could be practicing beyond the scope of your license limitations. This is a violation of the law, and in many instances can even be treated as a crime. Rmembering the bounds of your license and when you need to consult with another license holder who has the appropriate license, knowledge and competence is crucial if you want to avoid problems with your regulator. If you are considering starting a new business or expanding your services and products offered, you need legal advice to determine whether a new, additional or upgraded license, registration or permit needs to be acquired from the government first. Asking for it afterwards is typically not going to prevent the government from coming after you, so its important to get legal advice about these boundaries to protect you from disciplinary consequences harming your business, your livelihood and your reputation. 

• Failure to Renew Your License Timely – Many people hold licenses in multiple jurisdictions or have a sudden growth in their business and it’s easy to forget about renewing your license timely. If you don’t, most state agencies will treat that as practicing without a license. You could face disciplinary action, pay late fees and face other legal risks connected to practicing when you do not have an active and valid license. It is often treated as a crime and can have serious consequences for you professionally such as the inability to rely on your malpractice or errors and omissions insurance, accusations of fraudulent billing (because you didn’t hold a valid license, but you still billed insurance or the government for the services). Employees of your business may forget to renew their license, and those consequences can impact your business too. Having clear, written and well-documented processes for timely license renewal protects you and your business from regulatory liability. Consult a regulatory compliance lawyer to help you proactively address these issues before they cause problems. 

• Incomplete Continuing Education – Most professional or occupational license regulatory agencies require license holders to complete annual or biannual continuing education. Failure to complete these requirements can lead to disciplinary consequences, fines, and suspension or loss of your license. Courses aren’t always readily available, and integrating time into your busy schedule to complete these classes can be challenging. On top of that, you often must report completion of the coursework and submit course completion certificates (or other proof) to your regulator. Many state agencies periodically audit continuing education coursework to make sure people really have completed their obligations. Many times, I’ve seen people forget to complete their coursework in a timely manner, which can lead to regulatory investigations and disciplinary consequences. Having clear, written and well-documented processes for you and your employees to complete their continuing education obligations timely protects everyone from damaging regulatory consequences. Contact a regulatory compliance attorney to help you develop the policies and procedures that keep you, your employees and your business out of legal trouble. 

• Failure to Supervise Other Employees Adequately – Many businesses and professional practices involve a variety of employees who hold different types of licenses needed to provide services to your clients, patients and consumers. However, much of that work comes with supervisory obligations imposed by your regulatory agency. For example, physicians must supervisor physician assistants and nurse practitioners, real estate appraisers must supervise their trainees, licensed professional counselor supervisors must oversee the practice of their licensed professional counselor associates, attorneys must supervisor their legal support staff, and licensed plumbers and electricians must supervise their apprentice level employees. In the busy, fast-paced environment we work in, it’s easy to lose sight of those obligations and forget to check on things. When that happens, you expose yourself to regulatory liability before your licensing agency. This can lead to disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of your license. Knowing what your supervisory obligations are, and having a written process in place that everyone in your business or practice has been trained on is critical to avoiding this significant regulatory consequence. You don’t’ want the first time that you’re addressing this issue to be when you are responding to a complaint made by a client or patient. Get the legal counsel you need up front, put a plan in place and make sure your people are trained properly on their obligations so you and your business stay out of regulatory trouble. 

• Failure to Disclose or Report Matters or Misrepresent Them – When you renew your license or apply to update your license, or obtain a new kind of credential, you may forget about a legal issue that happened years ago, but that your regulator requires you to disclose. It could be a minor criminal matter when you were in college, it could be a civil lawsuit that you settled with the help of your malpractice carrier. It could be something recent that your regulator requires you to disclose within very specific timeframes (even if you may think you were not convicted of anything). Regardless, if you don’t disclose those issues properly and fully, you can face disciplinary action and/or denial of your application for licensure. It’s easy to get confused about what does and does not need to be disclosed. Some records are sealed, some may have been expunged, some involve a confidential settlement agreement and each unique situation requires scrutiny by a trained attorney, so you don’t make a mistake and expose yourself to regulatory consequences that harm your business, your license, your reputation and your livelihood. In fact, if your regulatory agency thinks your oversight was an intentional lie, the regulator can deny your license or even consider referring you to law enforcement for criminal prosecution because making false statements on a license application in Texas can be a crime. Don’t wait -- get the legal help you need to navigate the complicated waters associated with license applications, renewals and self-reporting obligations. 

• Billing / Time Entry Oversights – Sometimes simple billing errors or timecard oversights can lead to huge regulatory problems that threaten your business and your license. Invoices or billing records submitted incorrectly to an insurance company or the government for payment can lead to serious legal liability, including regulatory, civil or even criminal charges. You need to have solid systems, processes and procedures in plan and the appropriate training for your employees so that your business, your license and your livelihood are protected. Don’t wait until the problems arise. Get the regulatory legal advice, guidance and assistance you need to stay out of trouble. 

Things that seem simple and ordinary can have huge regulatory consequences for your license and your business. Invest in legal counsel and guidance to keep your business and your regulated license on the right path that avoids disciplinary consequences which harm your reputation, livelihood and career. Call the Bertolino Law Firm today and we can help you tackle these issues proactively and effectively so you can focus on growing your business and career without worrying that you are out of compliance and exposed to legal consequences. 

12 Days of Compliance

A quick, practical way to protect your license!



Let's start the year by sharing something we truly enjoyed creating as a team. During the holidays, the Bertolino LLP attorneys and staff recorded a short, holiday-themed video series called 12 Days of Compliance. Each day features a different team member sharing one practical tip to help Texas professionals protect their licenses.

Now we are sharing the full playlist with our clients so you can watch all twelve videos at your own pace. In less than 15 minutes total, you will get clear, helpful guidance you can use right now to reduce risk, avoid common missteps, and stay ahead of compliance issues.

These videos are not about reacting to problems. They are about awareness, prevention, and smart habits that help you protect what you have worked hard to earn.

Start with Day One

In the first video, Tony Bertolino, Managing Partner at Bertolino LLP, explains an important reality many professionals do not realize. Texas licensing boards do not need a complaint or phone call to open an investigation. Information can come from employers, mandatory reporters, statewide databases, and national systems.

Understanding how investigations start is the first step to protecting your license.

You can watch all twelve videos in one place on the Know Your Regulator YouTube playlist.

Subscribe to the Know Your Regulator YouTube Channel for more helpful tips and highly knowledgeable quests that can provide all that you might want to know about your license and regulator or board!

It is a fast, approachable way to stay informed and proactive.

-Bertolino LLP Team