DALLAS, TX (January 13, 2009) – Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country’s leading workplace law firms, announced today that Dan Hartsfield and Karen E. Griffin have joined the firm’s Dallas, TX office as partners. Both Mr. Hartsfield and Ms. Griffin were formerly partners in the Dallas office of Baker Botts LLP. In February 2008, Teresa S. Valderrama, also a former partner at Baker Botts, joined Jackson Lewis’ Houston office.
Patrick L. Vaccaro, firm-wide managing partner of Jackson Lewis said, “We are honored these two distinguished practitioners joined our Texas team. They have established outstanding reputations throughout the state and will add their considerable talents to our growing Southwest practice and beyond.”
Mr. Hartsfield added, “With a new administration in Washington, we are about to see a considerable uptick in labor and employment law legislation and litigation. This is the perfect opportunity for Karen and me to join forces with Jackson Lewis and introduce our clients to the firm’s extensive national resources.”
Mr. Hartsfield has more than 25 years of experience representing employers on a national basis. For the past 12 years, he chaired the labor and employment practice group at Baker Botts’ Dallas office. Mr. Hartsfield’s practice is devoted to the representation of management in individual, class and collective actions under SOX, Title VII, ADEA, ADA and FLSA. He regularly handles whistleblower, wage and hour and employment litigation, as well as union organizational and decertification issues, labor contract negotiations, strike planning, unfair labor practice cases and labor arbitrations. Mr. Hartsfield is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is recognized as a Texas “Super Lawyer” and listed as one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” in D Magazine. He has been listed in the Chambers USA Guide America’s Leading Business Lawyers since 2004 and The Best Lawyers in America since 2005. Mr. Hartsfield received his B.A., with honors, from The University of Texas in 1979 and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in 1982.
Ms. Griffin has over 10 years of experience representing clients in all major areas of employment law and labor relations. She handles both individual and class action litigation, including various claims of employment discrimination, wage and hour violations, wrongful discharge, whistleblower, breach of contract and breach of confidentiality and noncompetition agreements. Ms. Griffin also conducts EEO and wage and hour compliance audits, as well as internal investigations involving harassment and other workplace complaints. She regularly advises employers with respect to employment/independent contractor contracts, confidentiality and noncompetition agreements, and other employment-related matters. Ms. Griffin was recognized as a “2008 Texas Rising Star” by Law & Politics. She graduated magna cum laude from the College of William and Mary in 1992 and received her J.D., with honors, from The University of Texas in 1996, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif.
Additional information about Jackson Lewis LLP can be found at www.jacksonlewis.com. For more information, please contact: Lara Hamm, Public Relations Manager, Jackson Lewis T: (212) 545-4031, E: hamml@jacksonlewis.com
Christopher C. Wailes, Pierpont Communications T: (713) 627-2223, E: cwailes@piercom.com