Bruce Griggs manages Ogletree’s Labor and Employment practice in Austin. Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1996, Mr. Griggs’ practice focuses on all aspects of labor and employment law, including:
- Defending employers in complex employment litigation in state and federal courts across Texas. Mr. Griggs has defended employers in class actions, FLSA collective actions, ERISA actions, non-compete and other business-related litigation, and has conducted numerous jury and non-jury trials involving claims under federal and/or state discrimination statutes.
- Representing and counseling employers in union avoidance, collective bargaining and arbitrations, and defending employers in unfair labor practice proceedings before the NLRB. Mr. Griggs also routinely represents employers in non-labor arbitration proceedings, including the arbitration of occupational injury claims and discrimination claims of all types.
- Counseling clients regarding discipline and discharge issues, wage and hour, internal investigations, employee handbooks/manuals, employment agreements, as well as other issues arising in the human resources context. Mr. Griggs also conducts training for employers on these and similar issues.
Education:
- J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1989
- B.S., with honors, University of Arkansas, 1986
Admitted to Practice:
- Texas
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Experience
Mr. Griggs has tried numerous cases on behalf of companies in both federal and state courts across Texas over the past 25 years. Representative recent cases include a favorable negotiated resolution following jury selection in a pregnancy discrimination case in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin (2014), two defense jury verdicts in FMLA cases tried in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin (2013 and 2012), a favorable negotiated resolution at the beginning of jury selection in an age discrimination and retaliation case in state district court in Ector County (Odessa) Texas (2012), a favorable negotiated resolution following an age discrimination jury trial in state district court in El Paso (2011), a defense jury verdict in a Whistleblower case in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin (2008), and a defense jury verdict in a breach of contract/non-competition/misappropriation case tried in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin (2006).
In addition to jury and non-jury trial experience, Mr. Griggs has extensive experience in both employment and labor arbitrations, including multi-plaintiff arbitrations.
Representative recent experience includes the favorable negotiated resolution of a disability discrimination employment case tried before an arbitrator in Austin (2013); a defense arbitration award in an ERISA and non-subscriber Occupational Injury case tried before an arbitrator in El Paso (2011), a defense arbitration award in a disability and age discrimination case tried before an arbitrator in San Antonio (2010), a defense arbitration award in a three plaintiff age discrimination case tried before an arbitrator in San Antonio (2010), and a defense arbitration award in a non-subscriber Occupational Injury case tried before an arbitrator in Austin (2009).
Mr. Griggs regularly advises clients on the enforceability of restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements in Texas, and has substantial experience in drafting enforceable agreements and related documents.
Mr. Griggs also litigates non-competition cases on behalf of companies, including cases that involve claims for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breaches of duties of loyalty.
Recent experience includes obtaining a Temporary Restraining Order and Temporary Injunction in state district court in Austin to prohibit staffing services employees from soliciting their former employer’s clients in violation of the former employees’ non-solicitation agreements (2014), and obtaining a Temporary Restraining Order, Temporary Injunction, and Permanent Injunction in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, against a former senior level banking industry executive.
Mr. Griggs provides FLSA compliance advice and representation to companies, including full wage and hour audits and review of the exempt status of single or multiple job positions. Mr. Griggs also represents companies in single or multi-plaintiff FLSA cases, including collective actions.
Recent experience includes defense of two separate collective actions in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, challenging the tip pool policies of restaurant establishments with multiple locations, and the defense of a collective action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, challenging the exempt status of dialysis nurses working for an acute care clinical company with multiple locations throughout the U.S.
Professional Activities:
- American Bar Association
- Texas Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Travis County Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Austin Human Resource Management Association (VP of Legislative Action, 2007)
- North Dallas Chamber of Commerce (Legal Counsel 1997-1998)
Cost
Rate : $$$