Experience

Clouse Dunn LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Partner

  • 2011 - Present

  Partner Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization •Emphasis on commercial and employment litigation •First-chair plaintiff's and defendant's counsel in multiple trials •Prosecution of $60,000,000.00 midstream natural gas dispute in West Texas •Defense of $40,000,000.00 offshore natural gas dispute •Counsel and advise clients on various employment-related statutes, including FLSA, Title VII, FMLA, Covenant Not to Compete Act, and ERISA •Draft employment-related policies for clients •Draft and review all types of business contracts for clients •Conduct internal investigations on behalf of clients and advise as to next steps •Second-chair defense counsel in $2,000,000 tortious interference with non-compete jury trial; ended in mistrial favorable to defendant •Second-chair plaintiff’s counsel in $1,500,000 negligence and fraud jury trial •Second-chair plaintiff's counsel in $12,000,000 patent jury trial •Dallas Court of Appeals oral argument on issue of first impression in dispute regarding ex-AM Law 100 attorney’s claim of sexual discrimination in failure to promote to equity partner Show less



Southwest Airlines

• Airlines and Aviation
• 700 & Above Employee

• Attorney

  • 2010 - 2011

  Corporate Counsel •Managed diverse caseload, including patent, contract, tort, and employment litigation, from pre-litigation through trial, appeal, and possible settlement •Counseled, advised, and educated internal clients on various topics, including, employment, criminal, intellectual property and contractual issues •Counseled and advised marketing department regarding privacy and libel issues for online content, including Facebook and Twitter postings/forums •Researched and implemented policies/decisions based on the Railway Labor Act and various union contracts on a daily basis •Interfaced with governmental entities regarding criminal issues, including warrants and subpoenas •Researched and opined on various regulatory and corporate compliance matters, including tax, employment status, FAA, and NTSB issues •Directed and supervised subpoena department regarding complicated and burdensome subpoena issues •Directed and supervised paralegals regarding document retention and preservation requirements •Principally involved in company’s mission to protect intellectual property, proprietary information, and customer data from data-scrapers (and any other unauthorized use) •Successfully re-negotiated and drafted a high-value services contract with an outside vendor •Successfully negotiated with bankruptcy trustee to settle debtor’s negligence claim •Regularly research regulations and revise corporate by-laws for corporate compliance •General Counsel member of company’s emergency “Go Team” in the event of an aircraft incident/accident Show less



Figari + Davenport, LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Attorney

  • Sep 2003 - Jul 2010

  Senior Associate Attorney •Emphasis on commercial and employment litigation •Counseled clients on day-to-day employment and general litigation issues •Researched and drafted multiple opinion letters regarding regulatory compliance issues, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, HIPAA, and ERISA •Drafted and negotiated purchase and service business contracts and employment agreements, including executive compensation, commission, non-competition, and severance agreements •Successfully argued and obtained multiple TROs and temporary injunctions •First-chaired three bench trials obtaining complete defense verdicts •Argued 25-30 hearings on issues ranging from motions for summary judgment to simple discovery disputes •Drafted 5-10 appellate briefs in state and federal court; argued before the Dallas Court of Appeals •Represented clients in mediations and settlement conferences, successfully negotiated and resolved numerous matters, often before litigation ensued Show less



U.S. District Courts

• Administration of Justice
• 700 & Above Employee

• Judicial Law Clerk for Honorable Richard Schell

  • Aug 2002 - Aug 2003

  Law Clerk •Researched and drafted opinions, memoranda, and orders for the Court’s review, including Title VII, patent, commercial, class action, and antitrust matters •Assisted the Court in all facets of trial preparation and evidentiary rulings •Significantly interacted with counsel on behalf of the Court Law Clerk •Researched and drafted opinions, memoranda, and orders for the Court’s review, including Title VII, patent, commercial, class action, and antitrust matters •Assisted the Court in all facets of trial preparation and evidentiary rulings •Significantly interacted with counsel on behalf of the Court