Domaines de pratique
- Emploi
- Avantages sociaux et rémunération des dirigeants
- Business Advice and Counsel
- Entertainment & Sports
- Litigation – Trial & Appellate
Bar Admissions
- Texas
- Californie
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
Éducation
- SMU Dedman School of Law; J.D., Cum Laude, 2002
- Rice University; B.A., Political Science, 1999
Jessica has over 20 years of experience litigating and consulting with businesses in a wide range of business and employment areas. Before joining KJ Partners, Jessica was a partner at FisherBroyles LLP and Littler Mendelson, PC, the largest Labor & Employment firm in the U.S.
Jessica has experience litigating all types of employment law matters in state and federal courts, arbitration tribunals, and administrative proceedings before the EEOC, U.S. Department of Labor, and Texas Workforce Commission, including discrimination and retaliation, worker’s compensation, trade secrets, non-competes, and wage & hour disputes.
Jessica regularly advises clients about human resource policies and procedures. She conducts sensitive, internal investigations regarding discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and bullying, including Title IX investigations.
Jessica has proven success in the courtroom. In 2013, she secured a jury verdict in favor of an international manufacturing company accused of race discrimination in the Eastern District of Texas. The Fifth Circuit upheld the verdict. In 2010, she won a $2.4 Million jury verdict in Dallas County for a small business owner who spent his life savings buying a business, where the seller cooked the books and immediately set up a competing business.
Jessica has experience identifying desired results and implementing a strategy to secure it. One size does not fit all. She navigates all aspects of employment law, including payroll deductions, garnishments, discrimination, harassment, disability accommodations, leave, hiring, firing, discipline, job descriptions, wage & hours issues, and exemption classification to find the right solution for each client. She recently spoke on the pitfalls of the FMLA/ ADA, which is one of the most difficult issues for businesses to navigate while maintaining their productivity.
During law school, Jessica had the honor of serving as an extern for the late Chief Judge Jerry Buchmeyer, U.S. Federal District Court Judge for the Northern District of Texas. Immediately following law school, Jessica clerked for the Texas Court of Appeals—Texarkana, learning invaluable appellate skills. Jessica has argued in Texas Court of Appeals, and overturned several district court judgments related to arbitration. She is versed in special appearance and other interlocutory appeal issues, as well as appeals of final judgments.
Jessica has assisted clients in medical, manufacturing, retail, and restaurant industries. In addition, she has also represented music artists and drafted and negotiated recording, publishing, producer and licensing agreements with Universal Records, Warner Chappell, EMI, Hasbro, and MTV.
Jessica was named a “Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyers in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014, an honor given to only 2.3% of lawyers in Texas. In 2005, she was selected as a member of the Dallas Young Lawyers Association Leadership Class. Jessica was one of the co-organizers of the Leadership Class’s project The Big Easy in Big D, a charity concert benefitting Dallas ISD schools that absorbed students following Hurricane Katrina.
Jessica co-founded and developed a premium denim line in 2006. She comes from a family of small business owners. Jessica will take the time to understand your business, as if it were her own.
Jessica also has a track record of success in defending foreign corporations in US litigation. She has been successful in having claims dismissed against corporate parent entities from Germany and France. This saves the foreign corporation significantly, excusing the requirement for them to participate in US litigation, appear for court hearings, and participate in discovery.
