Jay K. Rutherford
Practice Areas
Experience
- Affirmative Action & Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- 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
“I donât know what success would look like without Jay Rutherford. He has been a highly valued member of the leadership team for the extremely influential lead Texas business association and state chamber.”
— Sara Tays, Texas Association of Business, Chairman 2016
“No one ever wants to need an attorney. However, when you do, you want one who is at the top of their game, steady, smart, cost effective, and above all, makes you feel comfortable with the vision, strategy and the path forward. Jay Rutherford is all of those in one attorney.”
— Eric V. Fox, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.
Biography
Jay has more than 35 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. Jayâs 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
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
Professional Certifications
Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2010-2025
- Lawyer of the Year â Dallas/Fort Worth, Labor Law â Management, 2021-2022
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas/Fort Worth, Litigation â Labor and Employment, 2024
- Employment Law â Management, 2011-2019, 2021-2025
- Labor Law â Management, 2011-2019, 2023-2025
- Litigation â Labor and Employment, 2020-2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2024
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2004, 2006-2024
- The 400: Fort Worth’s Most Influential People, Fort Worth Magazine, 2020-2021
- “Top Attorneys” List â Labor & Employment â Employer and Civil Law & Litigation, Fort Worth Magazine, 2001-2017, 2019-2020, 2022-2023
- “Top Attorneys” List â Labor and Employment, 360 West Magazine, 2018-2022
- 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
- Presidentâs 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
- Whoâs 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 Workerâs 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 Doâs and Donâts”
- “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
September 23, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 12 Attorneys Named to âLawdragon 500 Corporate Employment Lawyersâ List
Jackson Walker announces the selection of 12 attorneys to Lawdragon‘s lists of the 500 leading practitioners in corporate employment law.
September 17, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its âTexas Super Lawyersâ of 2024
Jackson Walker proudly announces the selection of 71 attorneys to Thomson Reutersâ 2024 âTexas Super Lawyersâ list.
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 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 yearâs 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.
December 12, 2023
Attorney News
‘Fort Worth Magazine’ Lists 16 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among the “Top Attorneys” of 2023
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 16 Fort Worth-based attorneys to Fort Worth Magazineâs âTop Attorneysâ list for 2023. To be selected for inclusion, attorneys with an active license and who practice within the Tarrant County area must be nominated by their peers within the region. The list of nominees then goes through a ârigorous panel review to assure the highest of quality is met.â
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.
September 19, 2023
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2023
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 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 yearâs 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.
February 1, 2023
Attorney News
‘Fort Worth Magazine’ Lists 16 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among the “Top Attorneys” of 2022
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 16 Fort Worth-based attorneys to Fort Worth Magazineâs âTop Attorneysâ list for 2022.
October 3, 2022
Attorney News
Andy Keetch Joins Jackson Walker’s Fort Worth Litigation Team
Jackson Walker announces the arrival of Andy Keetch as a partner in the Fort Worth officeâs Trial & Appellate Litigation practice. Andy brings more than 25 years of significant experience focused on construction litigation and complex business disputes.
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2010-2025
- Lawyer of the Year â Dallas/Fort Worth, Labor Law â Management, 2021-2022
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas/Fort Worth, Litigation â Labor and Employment, 2024
- Employment Law â Management, 2011-2019, 2021-2025
- Labor Law â Management, 2011-2019, 2023-2025
- Litigation â Labor and Employment, 2020-2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2024
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2004, 2006-2024
- The 400: Fort Worth’s Most Influential People, Fort Worth Magazine, 2020-2021
- “Top Attorneys” List â Labor & Employment â Employer and Civil Law & Litigation, Fort Worth Magazine, 2001-2017, 2019-2020, 2022-2023
- “Top Attorneys” List â Labor and Employment, 360 West Magazine, 2018-2022
- 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
- Presidentâs 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
- Whoâs Who in American Law, 2002
Publications & Speeches
- “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 Workerâs 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 Doâs and Donâts”
- “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”
Community Involvement
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
Practice Areas
Experience
- Affirmative Action & Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- 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