Practice Description

Mr. Birch represents business clients in all aspects of labor and employment law and in commercial litigation. During 33 years of practice, he has assisted businesses in a variety of industries, including outsourcing, information technology, insurance, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail and wholesale, transportation, media, professional services, banking and construction.

In addition to counseling clients on compliance with state and federal labor and employment laws and corporate codes of conduct, Mr. Birch represents employers in court, administrative and arbitration proceedings in individual, class and collective actions. Mr. Birch represents clients in corporate compliance and internal investigation matters. Mr. Birch represents companies regarding the protection of trade secrets and confidential information, including covenants not to compete.   Mr. Birch also represents executives in connection employment contract and separation agreements.

Mr. Birch’s business litigation practice includes shareholder/partner disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, contract, professional liability and business torts.  He also regularly represents companies relating to corporate compliance programs and in regulatory matters.

Areas of Practice

• Labor and Employment
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Corporate Compliance
• Trade Secret and Proprietary Information
• Professional Liability and Ethics

Achievements 

• Best Lawyers ® 2015 edition, Lawyer of the Year — Labor Law – Union
• Best Lawyers ® 2015 edition of The Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Best Lawyers ® 2014 edition of The Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Bankruptcy, and Mergers and Acquisitions
• Best Lawyers® 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation
• Texas Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation – Law & Politics Magazine and Texas Monthly, 2008-2015
• Best Lawyers, Labor and Employment Law – D Magazine, 2011-2015.

Professional/Civic Activities

• State Bar of Texas
  • Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Litigation Section
• American Bar Association
  • Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Litigation Section

Sample Speaking Engagements

• “Update on Whistleblower and Retaliation Law,” Multinational General Counsel Boot Camp, Center for American and International Comparative Legal Studies, 2015
• “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and AML Compliance,” Varel International Management Conference 2014
• “Who is My Client, Loss Prevention for Health Care Lawyers,” Health Law Conference sponsored by the Health Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Hospital Association, 2007
• “Ethical Issues and Malpractice Prevention for Healthcare Lawyers,” University of Houston Health Law Seminar, 2007
• Panelist, “Labor and Employment Law Roundtable-Recent Developments”, sponsored by Texas Lawyer, 2007
• “Traps for the Unwary, Ethical Pitfalls in Tax Practice” Tax Section of Dallas County Bar Association, 2007
• “Legal and Ethical Issues in Electronic Discovery” International Council of Shopping Center Counsel Conference, Orlando, Florida, 2006
• “How to Take and Defend the Executive’s Deposition,” Texas Bar CLE-Webcast, 2005
• “Compliance Programs One Year After the Sentencing Guidelines Amendments,” Panelist, South Texas College of Law, Corporate Compliance Center, 2005
• “Wage & Hour Update, New Developments Under an Old Standby,” Hughes & Luce Client Briefing, Dallas, 2003
• “Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law,” Dallas Baptist University, Masters of Human Resources class, 2003
• “HR Practices to Keep You Out of Jail,” Law@work 2002, Dallas and Austin, Texas, 2002
• “Pick Your Poison: Arbitrate or Litigate,” Law@work 2001: Strategies for Change, Dallas and Austin, Texas, 2001
• “Ethical Dilemmas in Joint Defendant Cases: Who’s Your Buddy?” Law@work 2001: Strategies for Change, Dallas and Austin, Texas, 2001

Representative Cases

• Watson v. Surf-Frac Wellhead Equipment Co., Case No. 4:11-cv-00843 (E.D. Ark. 2013) (Order Decertifying Collective Action and Order Denying Motion for Leave to Add Additional Plaintiffs)
• McCloud v. McClinton Energy, Case No. 5:14-cv-620 XR (W.D. Tex 2014) (Order Granting Motion to Transfer FLSA Collective Action)
• Palasota v. Haggar Clothing Co, 499 F.3d 474, (5th Cir. 2007). (ADEA appeal);
• Bacon v. Electronic Data Systems, 219 Fed.Appx. 355, 2007 WL 625008 (C.A.5 2007) (FMLA Retaliation),
• Raven Services Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board, 315 F.3d 499, No. 01-60976 (5th Cir. 2002) (Appeal of an NLRB bargaining order.)
• Johnson v. SBC Advanced Solutions, Inc., Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2004 WL 1151650 (N.D.Tex.,2004)
• Treadway v. Shanks, 110 S.W.3d 1 (Tex.App.-Dallas,2000.)
• Lyon College v. Melissa Gray, 67 Ark. App. 323, 999 S.W. 2d, 213, 1999 Ark. App., Lexis 605 (Ark. App. 1999) (Breach of contract claim under a collegiate Honor Code.)
• Four T’s, Inc. v. Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, 108 F.3d 909 (1997) (Complex case involving claims under the Airport and Airways Improvement Act, Sherman Act and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.)
• Pace Industries, Inc. d/b/a Precision Ind., Inc., 320 NLRB No. 15, 1996 NLRB Lexis 23 (1996) (Successorship and discrimination case under the National Labor Relations Act)
• Simmons v. Lockhart, 915 F.2d 372 (8th Cir. 1990); Simmons v. Lockhart, 856 F.2d 1144 (8th Cir. 1988); and Simmons v. Lockhart, 709 F. Supp. 1457 (E.D. Ark. 1989) (Death penalty habeas corpus case)
• Monroe v. Guardsmark, Inc., 856 F.2d 1065, 47 F.E.P. Cases 425 (8th Cir. 1988)
• Monroe v. Guardsmark, Inc., 660 F. Supp. 1357, 44 F.E.P. Cases 1232 (W.D. Ark. 1987) (Employment discrimination case.)
• Cobb v. Stringer, 850 F.2d 356, 47 F.E.P. Cases 130 (8th Cir. 1988) (Employment discrimination case)
• Bracamontes v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 840 F.2d 271 (5th Cir. 1988) (Agricultural Worker Protection Act case)
• Thomerson v. Lockhart, 835 F.2d 1257 (1987) (Habeas corpus appeal)
• Mary Baggett v. Program Resources, Inc., 806 F.2d 178, 42 FEP Cases 648 (1986) (Employment discrimination case)
• Donovan v. Rose Law Firm, 768 F.2d 964, 119 L.R.R.M. 3345 (8th Cir. 1985) (Constitutional challenge to the consultant reporting provisions of the LRMDA)
• NLRB v. Monark Boat Co., 713 F.2d 355, 113 L.R.R.M. 3749 (8th Cir. 1983) (Challenge to the NLRB’s certification of election results)
• Davis Forestry v. Smith, 707 F.2d 1325 (11th Cir. 1983) (AWPA appeal)
• Monark Boat Co. v. NLRB, 708 F.2d 1322 (8th Cir. 1983) (Equal Access to Justice Act appeal)
• Williams v. BLM Co., Inc., 731 F. Supp. 231, 52 F.E.P. Cases 459 (N.D. Miss. 1990) (Employment discrimination case)
• Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct v. Muhammed, 291 Ark. 225, 723 S.W. 2d. 828 (1987) (Represented the committee in a contempt proceeding against an attorney)

Practice Description

Mr. Lautin is a commercial litigator representing clients on both sides of the docket. The majority of his practice consists of representing and advising insurance companies and their insureds in a variety of litigation matters, including complex coverage disputes.

Community Involvement, Affiliations and Memberships

Member, Dallas Bar Association

Member, American Bar Association

Member, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers

Practice Description

Ms. Yow represents financial institutions in litigation arising from residential loans and real property transactions.

Representative Experience

Represented financial institutions in various litigation matters involving state and federal debt collection.

Defended financial institutions against a range of claims, including wrongful foreclosure, fraud, breach of contract, and Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations.

Judicial intern, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Austin, Texas, 2006

Staff Assistant, U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC, 2005

Community Involvement, Affiliations and Memberships

Foundation Fellow, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers

Member, Dallas Bar Association

Selected Published Cases

Soin v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., CIV.A. H-14-1861, 2014 WL 4386003 (S.D. Tex. Sept. 4, 2014).

Reece v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass’n, 4:13-CV-982-O, 2014 WL 301022 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 28, 2014), aff’d, 762 F.3d 422 (5th Cir. 2014).

Murray v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass’n, 411 S.W.3d 926 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2013, no pet.).

Clarkson v. Deutsche Bank Nat. Trust Co., 331 S.W.3d 837 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2011).

Practice Description

Mr. Sudbury’s practice involves representation of regional and national clients in financial institution litigation involving residential mortgage loans, including loan repurchase, wrongful foreclosure, debt collection and lien priority matters. He also regularly represents clients in construction litigation, health care litigation and insurance disputes.

Representative Experience

Represented national financial institutions in various litigation matters, including loan repurchase related issues.

Represented national health care providers in various litigation matters, including service contract and employment related issues.

Represented regional financial institution in various litigation matters, including insurance disputes and employment related issues.

Represented insurers and insureds in various insurance coverage disputes.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Classic Home Financial, Inc., 548 Fed.Appx. 205 (5th Cir. 2013)

Home Loan Corp. v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 312 S.W. 3d 199 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.)

Red Rock Properties 2005, Ltd. v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, No. 14-08-00352-CV, 2009 WL 1795037 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] June 25, 2009, no pet.)

Cuauhtli v. Chase Home Finance LLC, 308 Fed. App. 772 (5th Cir. 2009), cert denied 129 S. Ct. 2447 (2009)

Mitchell v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, No. 3:06-CV-2009-K, 2008 WL 623395 (N.D. Tex. March 4, 2008)

Schuhart v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, No. C-05-385, 2006 WL 1897263 (S.D. Tex. July 10, 2006)