Gary L. Ingram
Practice Areas
Experience
- Affirmative Action & Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Arbitration
- Background Checks
- Discrimination & Harassment Claims
- Employee Whistleblower & Retaliation Claims
- Employment & Governmental Investigations
- Employment Policies, Procedures, & Handbooks
- Employment Practice Audits
- Hiring, Performance Management, & Termination
- Labor & Employment Appellate
- Labor & Employment Litigation
- Labor Management & Traditional Labor Relations
- Non-Compete Issues
- Staffing, Independent Contractors, & Contingent Workers
- Trade Secrets
- Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets
- Wage & Hour
- Workplace Ethics, Compliance, & Investigations
- Workplace Safety & Health
- Workplace Training
“An extremely knowledgeable and thorough attorney that will represent your firm as if it were his own. He analyzes the case from all aspects and prepares his arguments very well for your defense. He has won all cases that he has represented us on. We have been using Gary Ingram since 2009 and is our lawyer of choice.”
— Phil O’Connor, CEO, M7 Staffing
Biography
Gary Ingram is a board certified attorney with more than 45 years of experience in successfully handling labor and employment law issues, civil rights litigation, personal injury litigation, and Texas non-subscriber litigation. Gary has repeatedly received peer recognition as being among the “best,” “top,” and “super” attorneys in the state in his areas of practice and has received personal accolades from trial judges before whom he has appeared. For more than twenty years, Gary served as the statewide leader of his law firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, which has grown to include L&E lawyers in six offices. In addition to being recognized for his legal skills and qualifications, Gary has been honored for maintaining high levels of ethical standards, professionalism and legal scholarship.
Gary has extensive experience in traditional labor relations issues arising under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and has handled numerous workplace accident and safety-related citation contests under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act (OSHA). He regularly assists employers responding to EEOC investigations and related litigation involving discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and other workplace protection statutes and regulations. Successfully defending large wage and hour collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Equal Pay Act are among his many accomplishments. Gary’s experience extends into the public sector, having defended civil rights and whistleblower suits, negotiating labor agreements with police associations, and successfully resolving department-wide wage and benefits claims with law enforcement and firefighting associations. Gary’s advocacy skills in the courtroom have benefited his clients in non-subscriber injury claim arbitrations, in obtaining or resisting enforcement of non-compete agreements, and in presenting briefs and oral arguments to appellate tribunals.
Education
B.A., Hendrix College
J.D., SMU Dedman School of Law
- Post-graduate courses, Labor & Employment Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits
United States District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
Professional Certifications
Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law
- Prevailed in labor arbitration proceeding brought by union seeking reinstatement and back pay for employee discharged for suspected forgery of union membership cards
- Obtained defense verdict for a major defense contractor in a nation-wide class action discrimination case brought by the EEOC
- Defeated class certification for a major telecommunications company in an Equal Pay Act case brought on behalf of 1,000+ female technicians claiming gender-based pay discrimination
- In a widely-reported case, obtained summary judgment dismissal of reverse discrimination claims filed against a large municipality by a group of firefighters who allegedly were denied promotions to higher-ranking positions
- Successfully defended large defense contractor, including appeal to the NLRB in Washington D.C., in an unfair labor practice complaint seeking a recovery of back pay and benefits for large groups of employees
- Negotiated complete dismissals of OSHA citations and monetary penalties levied against oil and gas well service providers
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2006-2025
- Lawyer of the Year, Labor & Employment Litigation, 2015, 2019
- Arbitration, 2023
- Employment Law – Management, 2011-2025
- Labor Law – Management, 2011-2025
- Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2011-2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2024
- Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2020
- “Top Attorneys” List, 360 West, 2018
- Labor and Employment
- “Top Attorneys” List, Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, 2005-2016
- Labor & Employment Law
- Power Attorney, Fort Worth Business Press, 2015
- AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
- America’s Most Honored Professionals, Top 1 Percent, The American Registry
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow, Tarrant County Bar Foundation
- Member, Texas Bar College
- Attended American Arbitration Association’s Educational Services Program Re: “The Nuts and Bolts of an Arbitration Hearing: Procedure, Evidence and Practicalities” and “Drafting Arbitration Clauses: The Basics and Beyond” (2016)
- Attended American Arbitration Association’s Educational Services Program Re: “Mediation Advocacy” (2016)
- Completed Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service’s Skills Development Training Re: Interest-Based Problem Solving
- Texas Bar Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Fifth Circuit Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Society of Human Resource Management
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Tarrant County Bar Foundation
- Texas Bar College
September 23, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 12 Attorneys Named to ‘Lawdragon 500 Corporate Employment Lawyers’ List
Jackson Walker announces the selection of 12 attorneys to Lawdragon‘s lists of the 500 leading practitioners in corporate employment law.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
October 18, 2023
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 13 Attorneys Named to 2024 Lawdragon 500 Lists
Jackson Walker announces the selection of 13 attorneys to Lawdragon‘s lists of the 500 leading practitioners in corporate employment law.
August 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
August 18, 2022
Newsletters
Labor & Employment Dispatch: August 2022
View the August 2022 edition of the Labor & Employment Dispatch.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
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.
November 16, 2021
Attorney News
‘Lawdragon’ Lists 15 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among 500 Leading Lawyers in Environmental, Energy, and Employment Law
Jackson Walker announces the selection of 15 attorneys to Lawdragon‘s list of the 500 leading practitioners in environmental and energy law and corporate employment law.
September 3, 2021
Newsletters
Labor & Employment Dispatch: September 2021
View the September 2021 edition of the Labor & Employment Dispatch.
August 19, 2021
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
Labor Relations
- Negotiation of collective bargaining agreements in the private sector and “meet and confer” agreements in the public sector
- Advising clients in connection with union organizing campaigns and labor strikes
- Counselling clients regarding union grievances and related arbitration proceedings
- Representing clients involved in unfair labor practice proceedings and related NLRB investigations
- Mediating unresolved labor relations issues at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Safety and Health Law Compliance
- Representing clients in connection with OSHA investigations and related citations
- Negotiating favorable OSHA citations and monetary penalties with OSHA Area Directors and attorneys in the Office of the Solicitor of Labor
- Representing and advising clients seeking to appeal OSHA citations and penalties at the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
- Advising clients responding to retaliation and whistleblower complaints
Employee Compensation
- Advising and representing private sector and public entities in connection with large collective actions involving claims for unpaid overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act and claims of gender-based pay discrimination under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
- Advising and representing federal contractors facing “glass ceiling” and pay discrimination investigations conducted by the OFCCP
- Advising restaurant and hospitality industry clients regarding tip pooling/sharing arrangements and child labor issues
- Advising clients responding to Department of Labor wage-hour investigations and field audits and assisting in the negotiation of favorable settlements and claim dismissals
Other
- Assists clients in the retail, hospitality, and restaurant industries with litigation and arbitration of non-subscriber on-the-job injury claims
- Assists clients with enforcing and resisting non-compete agreements, trade secret agreements, non-solicitation agreements, and confidentiality (non-disclosure) restrictions
- Proactively advises clients on the ever-evolving legal issues regarding employee social media policies, e-mail policies, drug and alcohol policies, and the Texas “open carry” and “concealed carry” gun control laws
- Represents clients in connection with claims of workplace discrimination and retaliation and related investigations conducted by federal, state, and local agencies
- Represents governmental employers in connection with claims of excessive force, retaliation, whistle-blowing, and other alleged civil rights violations
- Retail (nationwide retail store chains)
- Hospitality (restaurants and hotels)
- Trucking (nationwide/local delivery services)
- Baking (nationwide bakery/supplier)
- Aerospace (large defense contractor and military aircraft maintenance)
- Temporary Labor Service (local/nationwide staffing providers)
- Engineering (large accrediting service and professional civil engineering firm)
- Banking (regional banks)
- Manufacturing (defense, auto, diesel engines, coffee, cabinets, etc.)
- Healthcare (hospital and physician networks)
- Security (airports, private facilities, armored vehicles)
- Oil and Gas (well service companies)
- Publishing (major yearbook publisher)
- Public Utility (electric and water co-operatives)
- Entertainment (motion picture production companies)
- Telecommunications (technology and telephone service providers)
- Food Processing (meat processing and restaurant suppliers)
- Insurance (casualty, EPLI, health/life insurers)
- Governmental (municipalities, county government agencies, correctional facilities)
Practice Experience
- Prevailed in labor arbitration proceeding brought by union seeking reinstatement and back pay for employee discharged for suspected forgery of union membership cards
- Obtained defense verdict for a major defense contractor in a nation-wide class action discrimination case brought by the EEOC
- Defeated class certification for a major telecommunications company in an Equal Pay Act case brought on behalf of 1,000+ female technicians claiming gender-based pay discrimination
- In a widely-reported case, obtained summary judgment dismissal of reverse discrimination claims filed against a large municipality by a group of firefighters who allegedly were denied promotions to higher-ranking positions
- Successfully defended large defense contractor, including appeal to the NLRB in Washington D.C., in an unfair labor practice complaint seeking a recovery of back pay and benefits for large groups of employees
- Negotiated complete dismissals of OSHA citations and monetary penalties levied against oil and gas well service providers
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2006-2025
- Lawyer of the Year, Labor & Employment Litigation, 2015, 2019
- Arbitration, 2023
- Employment Law – Management, 2011-2025
- Labor Law – Management, 2011-2025
- Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2011-2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2024
- Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2020
- “Top Attorneys” List, 360 West, 2018
- Labor and Employment
- “Top Attorneys” List, Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, 2005-2016
- Labor & Employment Law
- Power Attorney, Fort Worth Business Press, 2015
- AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
- America’s Most Honored Professionals, Top 1 Percent, The American Registry
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow, Tarrant County Bar Foundation
- Member, Texas Bar College
- Attended American Arbitration Association’s Educational Services Program Re: “The Nuts and Bolts of an Arbitration Hearing: Procedure, Evidence and Practicalities” and “Drafting Arbitration Clauses: The Basics and Beyond” (2016)
- Attended American Arbitration Association’s Educational Services Program Re: “Mediation Advocacy” (2016)
- Completed Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service’s Skills Development Training Re: Interest-Based Problem Solving
Community Involvement
- Texas Bar Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Fifth Circuit Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Society of Human Resource Management
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Tarrant County Bar Foundation
- Texas Bar College
Areas of Focus
Labor Relations
- Negotiation of collective bargaining agreements in the private sector and “meet and confer” agreements in the public sector
- Advising clients in connection with union organizing campaigns and labor strikes
- Counselling clients regarding union grievances and related arbitration proceedings
- Representing clients involved in unfair labor practice proceedings and related NLRB investigations
- Mediating unresolved labor relations issues at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Safety and Health Law Compliance
- Representing clients in connection with OSHA investigations and related citations
- Negotiating favorable OSHA citations and monetary penalties with OSHA Area Directors and attorneys in the Office of the Solicitor of Labor
- Representing and advising clients seeking to appeal OSHA citations and penalties at the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
- Advising clients responding to retaliation and whistleblower complaints
Employee Compensation
- Advising and representing private sector and public entities in connection with large collective actions involving claims for unpaid overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act and claims of gender-based pay discrimination under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
- Advising and representing federal contractors facing “glass ceiling” and pay discrimination investigations conducted by the OFCCP
- Advising restaurant and hospitality industry clients regarding tip pooling/sharing arrangements and child labor issues
- Advising clients responding to Department of Labor wage-hour investigations and field audits and assisting in the negotiation of favorable settlements and claim dismissals
Other
- Assists clients in the retail, hospitality, and restaurant industries with litigation and arbitration of non-subscriber on-the-job injury claims
- Assists clients with enforcing and resisting non-compete agreements, trade secret agreements, non-solicitation agreements, and confidentiality (non-disclosure) restrictions
- Proactively advises clients on the ever-evolving legal issues regarding employee social media policies, e-mail policies, drug and alcohol policies, and the Texas “open carry” and “concealed carry” gun control laws
- Represents clients in connection with claims of workplace discrimination and retaliation and related investigations conducted by federal, state, and local agencies
- Represents governmental employers in connection with claims of excessive force, retaliation, whistle-blowing, and other alleged civil rights violations
- Retail (nationwide retail store chains)
- Hospitality (restaurants and hotels)
- Trucking (nationwide/local delivery services)
- Baking (nationwide bakery/supplier)
- Aerospace (large defense contractor and military aircraft maintenance)
- Temporary Labor Service (local/nationwide staffing providers)
- Engineering (large accrediting service and professional civil engineering firm)
- Banking (regional banks)
- Manufacturing (defense, auto, diesel engines, coffee, cabinets, etc.)
- Healthcare (hospital and physician networks)
- Security (airports, private facilities, armored vehicles)
- Oil and Gas (well service companies)
- Publishing (major yearbook publisher)
- Public Utility (electric and water co-operatives)
- Entertainment (motion picture production companies)
- Telecommunications (technology and telephone service providers)
- Food Processing (meat processing and restaurant suppliers)
- Insurance (casualty, EPLI, health/life insurers)
- Governmental (municipalities, county government agencies, correctional facilities)
Practice Areas
Experience
- Affirmative Action & Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Arbitration
- Background Checks
- Discrimination & Harassment Claims
- Employee Whistleblower & Retaliation Claims
- Employment & Governmental Investigations
- Employment Policies, Procedures, & Handbooks
- Employment Practice Audits
- Hiring, Performance Management, & Termination
- Labor & Employment Appellate
- Labor & Employment Litigation
- Labor Management & Traditional Labor Relations
- Non-Compete Issues
- Staffing, Independent Contractors, & Contingent Workers
- Trade Secrets
- Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets
- Wage & Hour
- Workplace Ethics, Compliance, & Investigations
- Workplace Safety & Health
- Workplace Training