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Labor & Employment

Business-Minded Approaches to Employment Issues

Bracewell has one of the most highly regarded labor and employment practices in the nation. Our team advises clients in multiple industries on a range of matters, which has earned us the reputation as a top practice in Chambers USA and Legal 500 US.

We represent public and private employers across a wide breadth of industries, such as energy, hospitality, manufacturing, education, financial services, healthcare, staffing, media and technology. We also handle industry-specific issues regarding employment and labor matters in the energy sector, including security clearance and NERC background checks. 

Our team brings a business-minded approach to employment-related issues, which enables us to obtain favorable settlements and avoid lengthy trials. We help clients on substantial matters nationwide involving class actions, wage and hour issues, age discrimination and race discrimination. We also handle whistleblower cases, as well as ERISA- and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)-related litigation, collective bargain and union organizing.

Our lawyers regularly advise clients on compliance with state and federal regulations. We work with clients to development response to emerging issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as developments in the law.

In addition, we work alongside other practices within the firm to provide a full spectrum of services to our clients, from major M&A transactions to criminal proceedings involving labor and employment issues.

Recognition for Excellence

Our work on behalf of our clients has earned us top recognitions in some of the leading legal publications.

  • Chambers USA – Texas Labor & Employment
  • Legal 500 US – Immigration
  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers – Houston Employment Law: Management (Tier 1); Houston Labor Law: Management; Houston Labor & Employment Litigation (Tier 1); San Antonio Employment Law: Management (Tier 1); San Antonio Immigration Law; San Antonio Labor Law: Management (Tier 1); San Antonio Labor & Employment Litigation (Tier 1) 

They often think of issues that have not crossed our minds and are very conscious of the real world and practical demands.

Chambers USA, 2023

IMAGE: Group of people around plans on a table

Significant Engagements

Our team represents a range of companies across industries on various labor and employment matters.

  • Aveda Transportation and Energy Services in a lawsuit involving the alleged poaching of employees and theft of proprietary information from a competitor
  • KCI on the preparation of H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, TN and other non-immigrant visas; the preparation of applications for employment and family-based, permanent resident status and citizenship (including permanent resident status based on the EB-1 Outstanding Researcher and EB-1 Multinational Executive categories); and immigration compliance, including the proper completion and retention of Form I-9, E-verify, and DHS I-9 and H-1B audits
  • L-3 Communications Corporation regarding employment-related federal, state and municipal laws and regulations, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and National Labor Relations Act, as well as immigration and non-competition issues
  • LifeCell on the preparation of H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, TN and other non-immigrant visas; the preparation of applications for employment and family-based, permanent resident status and citizenship (including permanent resident status based on the EB-1 Outstanding Researcher and EB-1 Multinational Executive categories); and immigration compliance, including the proper completion and retention of Form I-9, E-verify, and DHS I-9 and H-1B audits
  • LifeCell in an investigation and audit by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), achieving a significantly reduced fine and preservation of federal contractor status
  • Oiltanking Texas City in a nationwide wage and hour collective action for unpaid worktime and overtime claims, achieving a dismissal of the case with project and the defeat of class certification
  • REXAM Beverage Can Americas in approximately 50 union grievances, including settlement negotiations and arbitrations in collective bargaining negotiations
  • Texas TransEastern in obtaining a successful jury verdict on claims that it discriminated, harassed, failed to accommodate and retaliated against a former employee because of a disability, including an advisory verdict from the jury for attorneys’ fees