Sean has been Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law since 2006, and was named one of the Best Lawyers in America in 2021, 2022, and 2023 for Litigation – Labor and Employment. He regularly advises and trains managers, HR professionals, and in-house counsel regarding compliance with state and federal employment laws and numerous workplace issues, including harassment prevention and internal investigations, family and medical leave, military leave and reinstatement rights, and overtime pay. Sean frequently assists clients in preparing employment policies and handbooks, and he has considerable experience in drafting non-competition agreements and evaluating their enforceability.
Sean also defends employers against single and multi-plaintiff lawsuits and arbitrations involving claims of harassment and discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, national origin, disability, and religion, workers’ compensation retaliation claims, and common law claims for wrongful discharge, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault, and negligent hiring, retention, and supervision. Sean has broad experience representing both employers and employees in disputes arising from covenants not to compete, non-solicitation agreements, and covenants prohibiting the disclosure of trade secrets and confidential information.
In addition to his first-chair litigation and arbitration experience, Sean assists employers in responding to employee complaints filed with various state and federal agencies, including the Texas Workforce Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Labor.
Sean is co-creator, along with Adam Dougherty, of “Monthly Conversations with Adam and Sean,” an interactive employment law briefing held regularly in Dallas for legal and human resources professionals. The briefings are also broadcast live via Webex to a national and international audience. See recent topics and other presentations in “Speeches” below.
Sean’s experience includes, by way of example:
- Take nothing jury verdict in reverse-race discrimination case in federal court, and defeated plaintiff’s appeals to the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court
- Take nothing jury verdict in multi-plaintiff malicious prosecution and defamation case in Texas state court
- Defense verdict in federal court bench trial at which former employee asserted claim of race discrimination
- Obtained immediate dismissal of lawsuit against employer in which former employee asserted claims of age and disability discrimination and retaliation
- Obtained immediate dismissal of lawsuit against employer in which former employee claimed sexual harassment, age and disability discrimination, and retaliation
- Obtained complete summary judgment in favor of new employer and its employee where former employer claimed tortious interference with contract and breach of a post-employment restrictive covenant, respectively
- Obtained numerous temporary restraining orders and permanent injunctions against clients’ former employees to prevent disclosure of confidential information and trade secrets
- Following a two-day evidentiary hearing, fully defeated former employer’s attempt to obtain any injunctive relief against individuals and their new, competing business
- Favorable, early resolutions of numerous complaints and lawsuits against employers for discrimination, retaliation, and alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, Federal Labor Standards Act, and other state and federal statutes
- Obtained prompt dismissal of numerous complaints filed by former and current employees with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Texas Workforce Commission, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and other federal, state, and local agencies
Sean received his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Political Science and Business from Baylor University and was chosen as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Sean received his law degree from Baylor Law School, where he was inducted into the Order of Barristers and the Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society.
