For more than 50 years, Jackson Lewis has placed a high premium on preventive strategies and positive solutions in the practice of workplace law. We partner with employers to devise policies and procedures promoting constructive employee relations and limiting disputes. We are proud to say that in one of the most challenging and competitive fields of legal practice, Jackson Lewis is often the "go to" law firm when businesses are faced with difficult and complex employment issues. Our 550+ attorneys — located in 40+ offices across the U.S. — combine a national perspective with an awareness of local business environments to help clients achieve their goals and guide them toward a favorable outcome.

When complaints arise, we work with clients to take incisive action to effect solutions that minimize costs and maximize results. Over the past five years alone, our employment litigators have defended more than 8,000+ individual lawsuits and 600+ class actions in every conceivable cause of action relating to the workplace. Whether we are counseling on legal compliance or litigating a complex case, we offer our clients significant resources, a commitment to service and effective representation.

Statement of Practice

Employment, Labor, Benefits, Immigration Law and Other Related Litigation, On Behalf of Management Exclusively.

Address

Wedge International Tower
1415 Louisiana, Suite 3325
Houston, TX 77002-7332, (Ft. Bend, Harris & Montgomery Cos.)

Phone

Phone: 713-650-0404
Fax: 713-650-0405

Website

http://www.jacksonlewis.com

Firm/Affiliate Offices

PARTNERS

Kathleen R. Barrow (Partner) born 1956; admitted to bar, 1992, Oklahoma and U.S. District Court, Western and Northern Districts of Oklahoma; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Tenth Circuits; 2002, Texas, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas and U.S. Tax Court. Education: Nazareth College of Rochester (B.S., with high honors, 1978); University of Oklahoma College of Law (J.D., with honors, 1992); Oklahoma City University (M.B.A., with highest honors, 2001). Named "One of the Fifty Women of the Year in Oklahoma 2001," Journal Record, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Member: Oklahoma Bar Association (Employment Law Section); American Bar Association (Tax Committee); State Bar of Texas; Southwest Benefits Association; Houston ERISA Group; Houston Bar Association; Luther Bohanon American Inn of Court XXIII. Practice Areas: Disabilities; Employee Benefits; Litigation.Email: Kathleen R. Barrow

Joseph G. (Chip) Galagaza (Partner) born 1955; admitted to bar, 1981, Texas; U.S. District Court, Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th and 11th Circuits and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Kenyon College (A.B., cum laude, 1977); Southern Methodist University (J.D., 1980). Resident Manager, Jackson Lewis LLP, Houston Office. Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). (Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Joseph G. (Chip) Galagaza

Teresa S. Valderrama (Partner) admitted to bar, 1988, Texas; 1989, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1992, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 1994, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; 2005, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Rice University (B.A., 1983); University of Houston (J.D., summa cum laude, 1988). Order of the Coif; Order of the Barons. Named by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics as one of the "Top 50 Female Super Lawyers" in Texas, 2003 and 2006, and a "Texas Super Lawyer," 2003—. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 1999—. Listed in Chambers USA Guide America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2004—. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. (Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment; Litigation; Whistleblower Litigation; Noncompete Litigation; Trade Secrets; Breach of Contract.Email: Teresa S. Valderrama

OF COUNSEL

Pamela B. Linberg (Of Counsel) born 1966; admitted to bar, 1995, Texas; 1999, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.S., 1988); University of Houston (J.D., with honors, 1995). Articles Editor, Houston Law Review, 1994-1995. Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Texas Women Lawyers Association (Board Member, 2005—). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Pamela B. Linberg

Virginia Mixon Swindell (Of Counsel) born 1970; admitted to bar, 1995, Texas; 2001, Massachusetts and U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts; 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2002, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit. Education: The University of Texas (B.A., with high honors, 1992); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., summa cum laude, 1995). Order of the Coif. Articles Editor, Houston Law Review, 1994-1995. Judicial Intern, Honorable Lee H. Rosenthal, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1993. Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Carolyn Dineen King, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1995-1996. Author, "Children's Participation in Custodial and Parental Right Determination," Houston Law Review, Volume 31, Issue 2, Summer 1994. Member: Houston Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section); State Bar of Texas (Labor and Employment Section). Practice Areas: Class Actions; Disability Benefits; E-Discovery; Litigation; Trade Secrets; Wage and Hour Law.Email: Virginia Mixon Swindell

ASSOCIATES

Jeffrey W. Barnes (Associate) born 1978; admitted to bar, 2004, Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2008, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Education: Washington & Lee (B.A., magna cum laude, 2001); University of Virginia (J.D., 2004). Named "Texas Rising Star" by Texas Monthly and Law and Politics, 2007 and 2008. Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Jeffrey W. Barnes

Meredith R. Leitner (Associate) born 1980; admitted to bar, 2006, Texas; 2007, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Education: Texas A & M University (B.B.A., magna cum laude, 2002); University of Houston School of Law (J.D., 2006). Member: Houston Bar Association (Labor and Employment and Litigation Sections); State Bar of Texas (Labor and Employment Section); Texas Women Lawyers. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Meredith R. Leitner

Heather C. Panick (Associate) born 1978; admitted to bar, 2007, Oklahoma and U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma; 2008, Texas. Education: University of Central Oklahoma (B.S., 2003); Oklahoma City University School of Law (J.D., 2007). Member: Oklahoma Bar Association; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Executive Compensation; ERISA; Employee Benefits.Email: Heather C. Panick

Montere R. Wuensche (Associate) born 1968; admitted to bar, 1999, Texas; 2005, U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1994); University of Houston (J.D., cum laude, 1999). Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Montere R. Wuensche