Barham Lewis, a shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, focuses his practice on employment-related litigation before state and federal courts and other civil litigation. Mr. Lewis has tried to jury verdict cases ranging from sexual assault/sexual harassment, retaliation/wrongful discharge claims to commercial disputes and wrongful death causes of action. He also represents companies in arbitrations including discharge/discipline cases and contract interpretation disputes.
Mr. Lewis is board certified in both labor and employment law and personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been regularly listed as a Texas Monthly ‘Super Lawyer’ in employment litigation. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Lewis counsels employers on a broad range of labor and employment matters.
Mr. Lewis is also a frequent speaker at industry and bar-related activities on matters from e-discovery to labor and employment law.
Prior to going into private practice, Mr. Lewis was the Director of Labor Relations at Continental Airlines.
Experience
- Represented large grocery retailer in series of disputes and lawsuits, obtaining no liability findings and summary judgment dismissals
- Tried case for regional retailer and obtained a no liability jury verdict in lawsuit involving allegations of sexual assault/sexual harassment of a minor female employee by a store manager
- Represented food processing company in a series of donning and doffing collective action lawsuits. Employees claimed they were not paid for all time worked and time spent putting on/taking off uniforms and safety apparel
- Retained by trucking company to retry a commercial case in which the jury returned a substantial award against a trucking company on the opposing party’s counter-claim. In the new trial, jury returned verdict for the trucking company on its claim and found no liability on the other party’s counterclaim. The jury verdict in re-trial was a complete turnaround from the prior jury verdict.
- Tried to no liability jury verdict, as first chair and co-counsel, wrongful death cases arising from accidents
- Arbitrated disputes for oil and petrochemical companies, resulting in decisions upholding the companies’ position in a variety of disputes including discharge cases, enforcement of alcohol/drug policies and various contract interpretation matters
Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Education and Honors
- Board Certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Labor & Employment
- Fellow Texas Bar Foundation
- Texas Monthly “Super Lawyer” in Employment Litigation
Professional Activities
- Transportation Lawyer Association (TLA) (Chair, Labor and Human Resources Committee)
- Member and speaker at Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) programs
- Transportation Lawyers Association Annual Conference - "Three-Hot Topics in Employment Law" - Hilton Head - May 2010
- Associated General Contractors (AGC) – Houston Chapter Continuing Education Series - "The Leaves Are Changing" - Houston - March 2010
- Houston Bar Association –Litigation Section - "The Best Employment Cases to Take and Those to Avoid" - Houston - January 2009
- International Liquid Terminal Association (ILTA) Regional Conference - "Two Developing Employment Law Issues: E-Verify and Fluctuating Workweek" - Houston - October 2008
- East Texas Counsel of Trucking Professionals - "Electronic Discovery is H.E.R.E., plus How to Avoid Sanctions Relating to E-Discovery" - Tyler - July 2007
- International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) 27th Annual International Operating Conference and Trade Show - "Retaining Documents and E-mails: and Avoiding Legal Traps" - Houston - July 2007
- Truckload Carriers Association Regional Conference - "Electronic Discovery" - Indianapolis - May 2007
- Texas Motor Transit Association (TMTA) Safety Management Conference - "Discovery of Electronically-Stored Information: Federal and State Implications" - Austin - May 2007
- Associated General Contractors (AGC) – Houston Chapter Brown Bag Briefing - "Wage & Hour Law: Pitfalls and Traps" - Houston - January 2007
- Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) Annual Seminar - "Electronic Discovery In The Office and On The Road" - Memphis - August 2006
- International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) 26th Annual International Operating Conference and Trade Show - "Employment Law Update and a Few Practical Tips" - Houston - June 2006