Stephanie specializes in labor and employment law, focusing her practice almost exclusively on representing employers. With nearly thirty years of experience, she advises and defends businesses of all sizes—from start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations—on all aspects of employment law compliance and risk management, and regularly represents employers before administrative agencies and in litigation in state and federal courts.

 

In a narrow and specialized area of her practice, Stephanie also represents individual executives and professionals in employee-mobility matters, including hiring and exit strategies, and defending against non-compete, non-solicitation, and related restrictive covenant claims brought by former employers.

 

Stephanie is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by only 7% of practicing attorneys. She has been recognized by D Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas since 2018 and has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America as a top attorney in Texas for Employment Law–Management since 2017.

 

Throughout her career, Stephanie has represented public and private employers across a wide range of industries, including aeronautics, automotive, energy, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, logistics, manufacturing, media, mortgage, professional services, property management, staffing, real estate, retail, sports, technology, and transportation. Her experience also includes advising municipalities, political subdivisions, non-profit organizations, and closely held enterprises.

 

Stephanie earned her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University School of Law. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fifth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, all U.S. District Courts in Texas, and all Texas state courts. She also collaborates with counsel in other jurisdictions throughout the United States to meet client needs.

 

Stephanie is honored to have served in past leadership roles as President of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association in 2018 and as a Director of the Dallas Bar Association from 2017 to 2018.

 

​​​Practice Areas

• Employee Complaints & Charges of Discrimination

• Employment Class & Collective Actions

• Employment Counseling, Policy Development & Audits

• Employment Law Compliance

• Employment Litigation

• Employment Training

• Government Investigations

• Hiring & Promotion Policies & Practices

• Immigration

• Internal Investigations

• Labor Law

• Labor-Management Relations

• M&A Due Diligence

• Sexual Harassment Training

• Staffing Law

• Trade Secrets & Restrictive Covenants

• Wage & Hour Law

• Whistleblower Claims

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Representative Experience

• Serve as outside employment counsel to private and publicly traded companies, advising on workforce strategy, employee relations, internal investigations, administrative charges, and employment litigation in state and federal courts.

• ​Conduct and oversee internal workplace investigations, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower complaints, and advise on appropriate remedial action.
• Represent employers before administrative agencies, including the EEOC, DOL, NLRB, and state fair employment agencies.
• Defend employers in high-stakes employment litigation, including single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class and collective actions, and manage matters from pre-suit assessment and early resolution through trial and appeal.
• Partner with in-house legal and HR teams to assess risk, develop practical solutions, and align employment strategies with business objectives.
• Advise on complex workforce decisions, including reductions in force, reorganizations, executive separations, and compliance with federal and state employment laws.
• Provide strategic guidance on employee mobility and restrictive covenant matters, including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements and related disputes.
• Monitor and advise on evolving federal and state employment laws and regulations, including wage and hour compliance, employee classification, leave and accommodation obligations, pay equity, employee privacy, and emerging workplace issues.
• Design and deliver targeted training for executives and HR leaders focused on risk mitigation, compliance, and effective workforce management.

 

Education

• J.D., cum laude, Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1997

• B.A., University of Texas at Arlington, Broadcast Communications, 1994​​