Andrews & Kurth Expands Labor and Employment Practice

DALLAS -- Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. has expanded its labor and employment practice with the addition of partner Bennee B. Jones, and associates Buena Vista Lyons and associate Terry L. Higham.

Jones' practice includes multi-state litigation defending employers against employment-related claims, including race, color, sex, national origin, and religious discrimination under Title VII and state employment rights laws; age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and state age discrimination laws; coverage and retaliation under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act; violations of ERISA; violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and state disability discrimination laws; violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws; unemployment compensation; wrongful discharge; constructive discharge; breach of employment contract; torts relating to the employment relationship such as defamation, interference with contract and with business relations, negligent hiring and supervision; breach of noncompete and confidentiality agreements in various business contexts.

Lyons' practice focuses on representing employers in multi-state employment litigation matters and on counseling management as to multi-state and international employment practice issues. Her litigation experience includes defending employers against state and federal employment-related claims involving alleged violations of Title VII, FMLA, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, and ERISA; retaliatory discharge; breach of employment/non-compete agreements, and employment-related torts such as assault and battery, defamation, interference with contract and with business relations, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent hiring, supervision and retention. Ms. Lyons has handled appellate matters in both federal and state courts and has participated in mediation and binding arbitration proceedings. The employment counseling aspect of her practice involves developing and/or analyzing preventive measures to minimize the risk of litigation.

Higham's practice focuses on general labor and employment issues with an emphasis on: representing employers and management before administrative, trial and appellate tribunals, both state and federal; and advising management and employers on a wide range of issues, including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Worker's Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

Jones and Lyons will practice in the firm's Dallas office and Higham in the Los Angeles office.

Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. was founded in Houston in 1902 and today has 250 lawyers in offices in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, London, New York, The Woodlands and Washington D.C. The firm's practice areas include bankruptcy, business transactions, energy, environmental, corporate and securities, labor and employment, litigatino, project finance, real estate and tax law for U.S. and international clients.