About

Provided by Haynes and Boone, LLP

Our lawyers handle complex, high-stakes labor and employment matters facing management teams across the U.S., with a keen understanding of the need to balance legal options against company strategy. We also handle high-level executive compensation issues for public companies, hedge funds and private equity firms. Similarly, we play an integral role in major transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, providing advice and counsel, and drafting employment-related provisions or agreements.

We have extensive experience litigating and counseling clients on wage/hour issues; labor/management relations and arbitration; unfair competition/trade secrets; advanced-leave issues; OSHA/workplace disasters; ERISA claims; immigration; and pandemic-related issues.

Our group appeared across the country in wage/hour class actions and throughout Texas in injunctive relief proceedings involving unfair competition and trade secrets. We successfully tried cases involving multimillion-dollar claims and achieved favorable and precedent-setting appellate court rulings. We also assisted clients facing aggressive regulatory enforcement by such agencies as the EEOC, NLRB and Department of Labor. We have been national OSHA counsel for one of the largest U.S. retailers for more than a decade.

Our team represents domestic and international businesses across a range of industries, including energy, technology, retail, healthcare, banking, financial services, real estate, manufacturing, and construction.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Labor & Employment - Texas

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Haynes and Boone, LLP is a comprehensive employment offering with national expertise in the field. The firm is known for its work in OSHA and employment litigation and advice. It handles employment questions relating to corporate transactions, as well as acting in unfair competition and trade secret cases. The firm also offers strengths in handling wage and hour collective actions and discrimination claims. It represents clients in the healthcare and retail industries, among others.

Work Highlights

  • Haynes and Boone, LLP successfully defended Southwest Business Corporation in a putative class and collective action filed by and on behalf of current and former customer service representatives alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Laura E O'Donnell
3
Laura E O'Donnell
3
Band 3
Laura O'Donnell is particularly adept at handling wage and hour class and collective actions, and also assists clients with internal investigations.

Laura is an excellent litigator.

She is extraordinarily responsive.

Matthew T. Deffebach
3
Matthew T. Deffebach
3
Band 3
Matthew Deffebach is especially well versed in workplace safety issues, frequently assisting clients with OSHA inquiries and citations. Additionally, he handles trade secret litigation on behalf of clients. He represents national retailers, among others.
Karen C. Denney
5
Karen C. Denney
5
Band 5
Karen Denney is based in the firm's Fort Worth office. She undertakes the full gamut of employment litigation on behalf of employers.

Karen is knowledgeable, responsive and always finds time to support us. She is solution-oriented and a great adviser.

Karen demonstrates a deep understanding of the law and provides insightful, strategic and tailored advice.

Ranked Lawyers at
Haynes and Boone, LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Texas

Labor & Employment

Laura E O'Donnell
3
Laura E O'Donnell
3
Band 3
Matthew T. Deffebach
3
Matthew T. Deffebach
3
Band 3
Karen C. Denney
5
Karen C. Denney
5
Band 5

Members

Provided by Haynes and Boone, LLP