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Contact | Careers
Jackson Walker
Dawn S. Holiday

Dawn S. Holiday

Partner, Houston
713.752.4273
dholiday@jw.com
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Practice Experience Recognition & Accolades Publications & Speeches Community Involvement Client Results Attorney News

Practice Areas

  • Labor & Employment
  • Trial & Appellate Litigation

Experience

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Appellate | Labor & Employment
  • Arbitration
  • Discrimination & Harassment Claims
  • Diversity & Inclusion Counseling
  • Employee Whistleblower & Retaliation Claims
  • Employment & Governmental Investigations
  • Employment Policies, Procedures, & Handbooks
  • Hiring, Performance Management, & Termination
  • Labor & Employment Litigation
  • Non-Compete Issues
  • Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets
  • Wage & Hour
  • Workplace Ethics, Compliance, & Investigations
  • Workplace Training

Biography

Dawn Holiday is an experienced litigator and trial attorney representing clients in civil disputes. Dawn’s practice is focused on labor and employment law litigation and she regularly counsels clients on minimizing the risks of costly litigation and develops strategies to obtain prompt dispute resolution. Client’s appreciate Dawn’s understanding of the impact litigation plays on their business strategy and her ability to craft tailor-made solutions to address client needs. While Dawn excels in the courtroom, she understands that trial is not always the most effective way to resolve an issue for her clients, and uses her extensive negotiation experience to settle cases in an appropriate manner when necessary.

In her practice as a trial and appellate lawyer, Dawn has first-chair jury trial experience, and has represented parties in arbitration proceedings, mediations and appeals across the State of Texas.

Dawn is a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. Dawn has personally mentored law students and young lawyers on navigating the complexities faced by diverse lawyers. Internally, Dawn is a member of Jackson Walker’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and externally, she is a frequent speaker on issues related to hiring, retaining and advancing people of color. Dawn is also a Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

Dawn is also passionate about exposing young students in under-served communities to the possibility of choosing a legal career and is a sought-after Career Day presenter for primary and secondary schools. Dawn has volunteered countless hours of her time teaching 5th and 7th grade classes about the Texas civil and criminal court systems and prominent diverse legal leaders through the Houston Bar Association’s Constitution Day and Teach Texas programs. Dawn is a coordinator of Jackson Walker’s annual participation in the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation’s Adopt-An-Angel Program.

In addition to her commitments to diversity, community service and future generations, Dawn brings leadership to her practice. Dawn is a graduate of the Houston Young Lawyers Association’s Leadership Academy and Leadership Montgomery County. Dawn served on the Board of Directors for Northland Christian School.

Education

B.A., magna cum laude, University of Houston
M.A., summa cum laude, Moody Bible Institute
J.D., South Texas College of Law Houston

  • South Texas Law Review, Articles Editor

Diversity and Inclusion Certification, Cornell University

Bar Admissions

Texas

Court Admissions

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Court for Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas

Practice Experience Recognition & Accolades Publications & Speeches Community Involvement Client Results Attorney News

Labor & Employment (Advice and Counsel, Investigations and Litigation)

  • Won AAA arbitration in 2022 on claimant’s wrongful termination claim; prevailed on counter-claim and recovered all costs and attorneys’ fees.
  • Conducted investigation of retaliation and harassment complaints for city police department.
  • Successfully conducted Title IX investigation for community college system.
  • Successfully represented national staffing agency in contractual dispute related to staffing agreements, employee compensation and commissions
  • Obtained dismissal of lawsuit against a national healthcare company in class action suit for unpaid wages under the FLSA
  • Successfully defended Texas school district in FLSA retaliation suit brought by former employee
  • Settled numerous suits against national employers for wrongful termination, harassment, hostile work environment and discrimination based on race, age, disability and gender
  • Counseled and represented employers on issues implicating the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities, Act, Workers’ Compensation, paid/unpaid sick leave, and Families First Coronavirus Response Act
  • Successfully obtained injunctive relief for employers in non-competition litigation involving forensics investigation of computer systems, virtual environments and electronic devices

Trial & Appellate

  • Served as lead appellate counsel for appeals at the state and federal court levels on professional liability matters
  • Successfully defended multi-million claims against intermediate care facilities on Chapter 74 Health Care liability claims for wrongful death and survival, traumatic brain injuries and catastrophic personal injury claims
  • Negotiated settlements in multi-party suits involving professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims against lawyers, accountants, realtors, insurers and healthcare facilities
  • Represented licensed professionals before respective state boards for ethics investigations, disciplinary rule violations, state board rule violations and grievances
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2022
  • The National Black Lawyers Top 100, 2020, 2021
  • H Texas Top Lawyers of Houston, 2020
  • “Top 100,” The National Black Lawyers, 2019, 2021
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 2019-2021
  • AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Selected, Texas Rising Stars, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2012-2018
  • Selected, Who’s Who in Black Houston
  • Selected, International Women’s Leadership Association
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association Leadership Academy Graduate
  • Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2017
  • Selected, National Bar Association’s Top 40 Under 40

Publications

  • “Why Are Diversity & Inclusion Programs Missing the Mark on Meaningful Change?” Texas Lawyer (September 2021)

Speaking Engagements

  • “Leaders of Color: The Changing Landscape,” Centerforce USA’s The Women in Legal & Corporate Leadership Summit: Houston (2020)
  • “Buried Silver: Confidentiality Orders and Issues with Sealed Documents,” Houston Bar Association’s 2019 Civil/Appellate Bench Bar Conference (2019)
  • “Trust Me, I’m A Lawyer: Ethical Considerations of Attorney Marketing,” Texas Minority Attorney Program CLE (2018)
  • Women in Law and Leadership Houston, Speaker (2018)
  • “Confusion Amongst Texas Courts: When Can Insureds Recover Policy Benefits for Statutory Violations?” Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC First Look – Winter Issue 2018
  • “When Lawyers Get Sued, Who’s Got Your Back: The Ends and Outs of Legal Malpractice in Texas,” The Woodlands Bar Association Ethics CLE (2017)
  • How Does the New Texas Open Carry Law Affect Employers? (2016)
  • Texas Supreme Court Examines Liability for Property Owners (2016)
  • Texas Supreme Court Rules that General Contractor is Not a Seller Entitled to Statutory Indemnity (2016)
  • “Enforcing Mediated Settlement Agreements,” Texas State Bar CLE (2014, 2015)
  • “Legal Malpractice in Texas,” Texas State Bar CLE (2014)
  • Don’t Be a Vegan at the Courthouse: Drafting Orders that Stick (2013)
  • The Surveyor’s Guide to Contract Law in Texas (2013)
  • Don’t Let the Data Byte You in the ASCII: Discovering E-Discovery in Texas (2012)
  • The University of Houston Alumni Association Foundation, Board of Directors
  • Houston Bar Association’s Teach Texas, Volunteer
  • Houston Bar Association’s Constitutional Day Reading Program, Volunteer
  • The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce
  • The Woodlands Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association, Minority Opportunities in the Legal Profession Committee
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Class of 2018, Fellow
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association, Lifetime Fellow
  • Northland Christian School (term expires 2021), Board Member
  • South Texas College of Law Black Alumni Chapter, Charter Member
  • Houston Young Lawyers Foundation’s Adopt-An-Angel Program, Coordinator
  • Greater Houston Partnership, Business Resource Group–Talent Resources Group
  • Greater Houston Partnership, Business Resource Group–Women’s Business Alliance
Manny Schoenhuber and Dawn Holiday Lead Representation of German Client in Employment Arbitration Win

June 13, 2022

More Client Results

Dawn Holiday with Jackson Walker logo

March 9, 2023

Attorney News

Dawn Holiday Named Fellow of Houston Bar Foundation

Dawn Holiday has been elected as a fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation, an honor bestowed upon less than 1% of Houston Bar Association members each year.

JW Fast Takes cover art graphic

February 14, 2023

Podcasts

Three Elements of a Successful Diversity & Inclusion Program

JW Fast Takes Podcast | ~5.5 minutes

What factors drive a successful diversity and inclusion program at a company? In this Jackson Walker Fast Takes episode, Houston partner Dawn Holiday shares how well-intentioned D&I programs miss the mark and provides the essential elements for success.

JW Perspectives Newsletter 2022

November 17, 2022

Newsletters

JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – November 2022

View Jackson Walker’s November 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.

Dawn Holiday with Jackson Walker logo

October 7, 2022

Attorney News

Dawn Holiday Joins Board of UH Alumni Association Foundation

Jackson Walker proudly congratulates Dawn S. Holiday on her selection as a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Houston Alumni Association Foundation.

Jackson Walker Labor Employment social image

August 18, 2022

Newsletters

Labor & Employment Dispatch: August 2022

View the August 2022 edition of the Labor & Employment Dispatch.

August 12, 2022

Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates 17 Attorneys Named to 2022 Lawdragon 500 Lists

Jackson Walker announces the selection of 17 attorneys to Lawdragon‘s lists of the 500 leading practitioners in bankruptcy and restructuring law and corporate employment law.

JW Perspectives Newsletter 2022

August 1, 2022

Newsletters

JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2022

View Jackson Walker’s August 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.

Jackson Walker Labor Employment social image

July 7, 2022

Newsletters

Labor & Employment Dispatch: July 2022

View the July 2022 edition of the Labor & Employment Dispatch.

Business meeting table with Jackson Walker logo

June 13, 2022

Client Results

Manny Schoenhuber and Dawn Holiday Lead Representation of German Client in Employment Arbitration Win

Manny Schoenhuber and Dawn Holiday led the representation of a German manufacturer of mobile electrification products as the respondent with a counterclaim in an employment arbitration tribunal by the American Arbitration Association.

JW Perspectives Newsletter 2022

April 21, 2022

Newsletters

JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2022

View Jackson Walker’s April 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.

More Attorney News

Practice Experience

Labor & Employment (Advice and Counsel, Investigations and Litigation)

  • Won AAA arbitration in 2022 on claimant’s wrongful termination claim; prevailed on counter-claim and recovered all costs and attorneys’ fees.
  • Conducted investigation of retaliation and harassment complaints for city police department.
  • Successfully conducted Title IX investigation for community college system.
  • Successfully represented national staffing agency in contractual dispute related to staffing agreements, employee compensation and commissions
  • Obtained dismissal of lawsuit against a national healthcare company in class action suit for unpaid wages under the FLSA
  • Successfully defended Texas school district in FLSA retaliation suit brought by former employee
  • Settled numerous suits against national employers for wrongful termination, harassment, hostile work environment and discrimination based on race, age, disability and gender
  • Counseled and represented employers on issues implicating the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities, Act, Workers’ Compensation, paid/unpaid sick leave, and Families First Coronavirus Response Act
  • Successfully obtained injunctive relief for employers in non-competition litigation involving forensics investigation of computer systems, virtual environments and electronic devices

Trial & Appellate

  • Served as lead appellate counsel for appeals at the state and federal court levels on professional liability matters
  • Successfully defended multi-million claims against intermediate care facilities on Chapter 74 Health Care liability claims for wrongful death and survival, traumatic brain injuries and catastrophic personal injury claims
  • Negotiated settlements in multi-party suits involving professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims against lawyers, accountants, realtors, insurers and healthcare facilities
  • Represented licensed professionals before respective state boards for ethics investigations, disciplinary rule violations, state board rule violations and grievances

Recognition & Accolades

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2022
  • The National Black Lawyers Top 100, 2020, 2021
  • H Texas Top Lawyers of Houston, 2020
  • “Top 100,” The National Black Lawyers, 2019, 2021
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 2019-2021
  • AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Selected, Texas Rising Stars, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2012-2018
  • Selected, Who’s Who in Black Houston
  • Selected, International Women’s Leadership Association
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association Leadership Academy Graduate
  • Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2017
  • Selected, National Bar Association’s Top 40 Under 40

Publications & Speeches

Publications

  • “Why Are Diversity & Inclusion Programs Missing the Mark on Meaningful Change?” Texas Lawyer (September 2021)

Speaking Engagements

  • “Leaders of Color: The Changing Landscape,” Centerforce USA’s The Women in Legal & Corporate Leadership Summit: Houston (2020)
  • “Buried Silver: Confidentiality Orders and Issues with Sealed Documents,” Houston Bar Association’s 2019 Civil/Appellate Bench Bar Conference (2019)
  • “Trust Me, I’m A Lawyer: Ethical Considerations of Attorney Marketing,” Texas Minority Attorney Program CLE (2018)
  • Women in Law and Leadership Houston, Speaker (2018)
  • “Confusion Amongst Texas Courts: When Can Insureds Recover Policy Benefits for Statutory Violations?” Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC First Look – Winter Issue 2018
  • “When Lawyers Get Sued, Who’s Got Your Back: The Ends and Outs of Legal Malpractice in Texas,” The Woodlands Bar Association Ethics CLE (2017)
  • How Does the New Texas Open Carry Law Affect Employers? (2016)
  • Texas Supreme Court Examines Liability for Property Owners (2016)
  • Texas Supreme Court Rules that General Contractor is Not a Seller Entitled to Statutory Indemnity (2016)
  • “Enforcing Mediated Settlement Agreements,” Texas State Bar CLE (2014, 2015)
  • “Legal Malpractice in Texas,” Texas State Bar CLE (2014)
  • Don’t Be a Vegan at the Courthouse: Drafting Orders that Stick (2013)
  • The Surveyor’s Guide to Contract Law in Texas (2013)
  • Don’t Let the Data Byte You in the ASCII: Discovering E-Discovery in Texas (2012)

Community Involvement

  • The University of Houston Alumni Association Foundation, Board of Directors
  • Houston Bar Association’s Teach Texas, Volunteer
  • Houston Bar Association’s Constitutional Day Reading Program, Volunteer
  • The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce
  • The Woodlands Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association, Minority Opportunities in the Legal Profession Committee
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Class of 2018, Fellow
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association, Lifetime Fellow
  • Northland Christian School (term expires 2021), Board Member
  • South Texas College of Law Black Alumni Chapter, Charter Member
  • Houston Young Lawyers Foundation’s Adopt-An-Angel Program, Coordinator
  • Greater Houston Partnership, Business Resource Group–Talent Resources Group
  • Greater Houston Partnership, Business Resource Group–Women’s Business Alliance

Practice Areas

  • Labor & Employment
  • Trial & Appellate Litigation

Experience

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Appellate | Labor & Employment
  • Arbitration
  • Discrimination & Harassment Claims
  • Diversity & Inclusion Counseling
  • Employee Whistleblower & Retaliation Claims
  • Employment & Governmental Investigations
  • Employment Policies, Procedures, & Handbooks
  • Hiring, Performance Management, & Termination
  • Labor & Employment Litigation
  • Non-Compete Issues
  • Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets
  • Wage & Hour
  • Workplace Ethics, Compliance, & Investigations
  • Workplace Training
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