Biography
Jay has more than 30 years of experience representing management clients in all types of employment litigation and serving as a trusted advisor to clients in dealing with employee issues. Jay’s proactive approach often enables clients to anticipate and resolve employment issues before they end up in court; however, when litigation is unavoidable, Jay is a skilled and zealous advocate for his clients with a track record for achieving results.
Jay’s litigation experience includes having successfully represented clients in labor issues such as labor arbitration, collective bargaining issues and defense of unfair labor practice charges, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, civil rights, and other employment related matters, such as hiring and disciplining employees, compensation, employee benefit plans, insurance benefits disputes, management training, employment handbooks, employment contracts, independent contractor agreements, reductions in force, covenants not-to-compete and the protection of confidential and proprietary information. In his advisory role, Jay counsels clients on all aspects of personnel and employment policies and practices and all matters affecting the employer-employee relationship and compliance with all state and federal employment laws and regulations, including:
- Discrimination and wrongful termination laws
- The Fair Labor Standards Act
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- The Americans With Disabilities Act
- The Family and Medical Leave Act
- All other state and federal labor and employment statutes
- Union Issues
Jay is the Managing Partner of the Fort Worth Office and the Chair of the Labor and Employment practice group for Jackson Walker. He previously served as Co-Chair from 2014-2021 and was the hiring partner for the Fort Worth office from 2013-2018.
Education
B.S., Texas Tech University
J.D., The University of Texas School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas, 1988
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
Board Certifications
Labor and Employment Law
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2010-2023
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas/Fort Worth, Labor Law – Management, 2021-2022
- Employment Law – Management, 2011-2019, 2021-2023
- Labor Law – Management, 2011-2019, 2023
- Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2020-2023
- Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2022
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2004, 2006-2022
- The 400: Fort Worth’s Most Influential People, Fort Worth Magazine, 2020-2021
- “Top Attorneys” List – Labor & Employment – Employer, Fort Worth Magazine, 2001-2017, 2019-2020
- “Top Attorneys” List – Labor and Employment, 360 West, 2018-2021
- Chairman’s Award, Texas Association of Business, 2016
- Law “Good Scout” Award, Longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 2016
- AV Preeminent Peer-Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Power Attorney, Fort Worth Business Press, 2011
- BTI Client Service All Star, 2010
- President’s Award, Camp Fire USA First Texas Council, 2003
- “40 Under 40” List, Fort Worth Business Press, 2002
- John Collier Award, Camp Fire USA First Texas Council, 2002
- Who’s Who in American Law, 2002
- “Effect of Sarbanes-Oxley on Employment Law”
- “Basic Sexual Harassment Training and Guidelines”
- “Employee Privacy: Monitoring and Controlling Employee Conduct”
- “Employment At Will”
- “Employment Issues for the Cattle Raiser”
- “Employment Law”
- “Fair Credit Reporting Act”
- “Fair Labor Standard Act”
- “Harassment is a Form of Discrimination”
- “Headline News: The Latest in Law Developments”
- “Hiring the Right Employee Legally”
- “Interplay Among the ADA, FMLA and Worker’s Compensation Statute”
- “Joint Employment Relationship and the EEOC”
- “Keeping Your Company Out of the Courthouse”
- “Managing Your Employee Issues for Your Business”
- “Performance Evaluation”
- “Performance Evaluations: Documenting Employee Discharge”
- “Reductions In Force: Here We Go Again”
- “Responding to EEOC and TWCCRD Charges of Discrimination”
- “Sarbanes Oxley – If they Whistle While They Work”
- “Sexual Harassment – A Refresher and Developments”
- “Texas Headline News”
- “The Alphabet Soup of Employment Law”
- “The Hiring Process: Hiring Do’s and Don’ts”
- “The Latest Employment Developments”
- “Things To Know About the Hiring Process, Documenting Employee Performance & Participating in the Disciplinary Process”
- “Top Ten Things to Know Before You Fire an Employee”
- “Understanding the Law and the Status of the At-Will Employee”
- “Update On Recent Employment Changes and Trends”
- “Update on Recent Employment Law Changes and Trends”
- “Worst Things to See on Your Performance Evaluation”
Professional
- Texas Association of Business
- General Counsel, 2015-Present
- Statewide Chair, 2007
- Tarrant County Chapter, Chairman, 1999
- Lecturer
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Labor & Employment Advisory Council, 2019
- Labor & Employment Exam Commission, Examiner, 2014
- State Bar of Texas, Labor and Employment Section
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Labor and Employment Law Section, Chairman, 2003-2004
- Past Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Chairman, and Chairman
Community
- Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), Board Member, 2019
- Texas Aspires (formerly known as Texas Institute for Education Reform)
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Director, 2015
- The Texas Lyceum
- Chairman, 2010
- Past President, 2009
- Vice President of Finance
- Executive and Nominating Committees
- Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail
- Board of Directors, 1996
- Past-Chairman of the Board
- Former member, Executive Committee
- Past Vice President
- Past Secretary/Treasurer
- First Texas Council of Campfire USA
- Administration
- Past Chair, Board Member, and Vice Chairman
- Leadership Fort Worth, Class of 2000
- Lorman Business Institute, Lecturer
Jackson Walker Advises Freedom Powersports in Sale to RumbleON
November 19, 2021
October 3, 2022
Attorney NewsAndy Keetch Joins Jackson Walker’s Fort Worth Litigation Team
Jackson Walker announces the arrival of Andy Keetch as a partner in the Fort Worth office’s Trial & Appellate Litigation practice. Andy brings more than 25 years of significant experience focused on construction litigation and complex business disputes.
September 27, 2022
Client ResultsJackson Walker Represents Novaria Group in Completing Six Acquisitions in Seven Months
Novaria Group, a leading manufacturer of specialty hardware, components, and coatings for the aerospace and defense industries, recently completed its acquisition of STROCO Manufacturing, Inc. This deal marks the sixth acquisition Novaria has announced from December of 2021 through July of 2022, taking place after its successful acquisitions of FMi Chemical, Hohman Plating, Advanced Coating, Hydro Fitting, and GK Mechanical Systems.
September 21, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 64 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2022
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 18, 2022
NewslettersLabor & 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 NewsJackson 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.
March 30, 2022
NewslettersLabor & Employment Dispatch: April 2022
View the April 2022 edition of the Labor & Employment Dispatch.
February 14, 2022
Attorney NewsJay Rutherford Elevated to Office Managing Partner, and Jesse S. Lotay and Christian Triantaphyllis Named Firmwide Practice Leaders
Congratulations to Jay Rutherford on his appointment as managing partner of the Fort Worth office. In addition, Jesse S. Lotay and Christian Triantaphyllis now serve as firmwide chairs of the Energy and Business Immigration & Compliance practices, respectively.
November 19, 2021
Client ResultsJackson Walker Advises Freedom Powersports in Sale to RumbleON
A Jackson Walker team led by recent Fort Worth additions Evan Malloy, Kayla Matus, and Taylor Cummins represented Freedom Powersports in the sale of its business to Dallas-based RumbleON, Inc., the largest U.S. retailer of powersports vehicles. The transaction was announced on November 9, 2021, and is expected to close in late 2021 or the first quarter of 2022.
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.