Meghaan Madriz

Meghaan C. Madriz advises employers of all sizes on their employment-related matters and zealously defends them against employee claims in court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings.

With experience representing employers before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, federal district courts across the country, Texas state courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Texas Workforce Commission, Meghaan has the experience and, more importantly, the passion to handle companies’ employment law needs.

While Meghaan represents employers in a variety of employment-related matters, she has developed a primary focus on wage and hour issues. Meghaan has handled Department of Labor investigations, internal wage and hour audits, and multiple wage and hour lawsuits.  She is also certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in labor and employment law.

Meghaan frequently advises clients on wage and hour compliance issues regarding compensable time, regular rate calculations, employee classifications, and overtime compensation.

Meghaan has obtained multiple victories in her wage and hour practice, including the decertification of a nationwide Fair Labor Standards Act collective action in an exempt misclassification case and summary judgment of off-the-clock claims.

In addition to her robust wage and hour practice, Meghaan regularly defends clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in court for claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, among other federal employment statutes.

Meghaan also represents companies in both the prosecution and defense of unfair competition claims, such as breach of non-compete and misappropriation of trade secret claims.

Meghaan also advises and counsels employers on their employment and human resources matters, drafts employment, separation, and restrictive covenant agreements, provides due diligence for employment matters in corporate deals, and reviews employee handbooks and other workplace policies.

With a keen awareness to developing employment law issues in today’s workplace, Meghaan strives to keep clients abreast of the law and to find ways to minimize liability.

EXPERIENCE :

• Represented multinational internet service provider in FLSA collective action and obtained decertification of nationwide collective action and favorable settlements of subsequent splinter actions filed across U.S.
• Represented hospital district in single plaintiff FLSA action and obtained summary judgment of off-the-clock-claims.
• Represented restaurant group in FLSA misclassification case and obtained favorable settlement of plaintiff’s claims.
• Obtained summary disposition for restaurant chain on age discrimination and retaliation claims in arbitration filed before JAMS.
• Obtained summary judgment on multiple plaintiffs’ race and national origin discrimination claims under the TCHRA in case filed in Texas state court.
• Successfully defended restaurant chain against a discrimination charge filed with the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practice.
• Obtained a temporary injunction in Texas state court for former employer against multiple employees for misappropriating confidential information and trade secrets.

Education :

• William & Mary Law School, JD, Order of the Coif, Member, William & Mary Law Review, 2009
• Tulane University, BA, History and Political Science, Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude, Dean’s list, 2006

Admissions :

• Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas

Affiliations :

• Board member, Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse
• Counsel member, Houston Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, 2016-2018