W. Gary Fowler
Partner, Dallas
gfowler@jw.com
Practice Areas
Practice Areas
Experience
- Labor & Employment Litigation
- Affirmative Action & Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Appellate | Labor & Employment
- Background Checks
- Discrimination & Harassment Claims
- Employee Whistleblower & Retaliation Claims
- Employment Policies, Procedures, & Handbooks
- Employment Practice Audits
- Governmental Investigations
- Hiring, Performance Management, & Termination
- Labor Management & Traditional Labor Relations
- Non-Compete Issues
- Staffing, Independent Contractors, & Contingent Workers
- Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets
- Wage & Hour
- Workplace Ethics, Compliance, & Investigations
- Workplace Safety & Health
- Workplace Training
Biography
Gary advises and defends his clients on labor and employment matters. His particular interests include executive compensation and contracts, covenants not to compete, and disability law. He provides emergency, “on the spot” advice for clients on employment crises requiring immediate attention. He represents employers in nationwide collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Gary is recognized for his experience in the Americans with Disabilities Act and for his knowledge of covenants not to compete, which are particularly complex under Texas law. His clients include media companies, financial institutions, entertainment, healthcare companies, retailers, and insurance companies.
Gary is a frequent speaker on non-competition issues and employment law. He advises clients in specific difficult workplace situations, provides preventative services in employee handbooks, documentation, and in-house seminars, and prepares and analyzes employment contracts and related documents to protect his client’s interests. He has defended employers in discrimination, covenant not to compete, and employment contract cases. He defends clients in actions before the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Education
B.A., summa cum laude, Texas Christian University
J.D., Yale Law School
- Law Clerk, Hon. Sam D. Johnson, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1984-86
Bar Admissions
Texas, 1984
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
Board Certifications
Practice Experience
Recognition & Accolades
Community Involvement
Client Results
Practice Experience
Experienced in labor and employment issues, including:
- Executive contracts
- Covenants not to compete
- Arbitration
- Disability discrimination and public accommodations
- Employment discrimination
- Harassment and retaliation claims
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Wage and hour
Representative Appellate and Published District Court Cases
- Roberson v. Game Stop/Babbage’s, 152 Fed.Appx. 356, 2005 WL 2622977 (5th 2005)
- Parkerson v. Orix Financial Services, Inc., 2007 WL 1667279 (11th 2007)
- Thomas v. LTV Corp., 39 F.3d 611 (5th 1994)(preemption under LMRA)
- Federal Exp. Corp. v. Dutschmann, 846 S.W.2d 282 (Tex.1993)
- E.O.C. v. Boeing Services Intern., 968 F.2d 549 (5th Cir. 1992)
- Oldham v. ORIX Financial Services, Inc., 2007 WL 530202 (N.D.Tex., February 21, 2007)
- Hinds v. Orix Capital Markets, L.L.C., 2003 WL 22132791 (N.D.Tex., Sept. 11, 2003)
- Prudential Ins. Co. of America v. Neal, 768 F.Supp. 195 (W.D.Tex.1991)
- Burnet County Appraisal Dist. v. J.M. Huber Corp., 808 S.W.2d 613 (Tex.App. – Austin 1991, writ denied)
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.)
- Employment Law – Management, 2006-2020
- Labor Law – Management, 2006-2020
- Litigation – Labor & Employment
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas, Employment Law – Management, 2017
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas, Labor Law – Management, 2020
- Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2019
- Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2008-2009, 2011-2013, 2018
- Harry S. Truman Scholar for the State of Texas, 1979
- Director, Community Service Fund Board, Dallas Bar Association
- Employment Matters, Certified Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association
- Media Law Resource Committee
- Board of Governors, Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra
- Former Chair
- Former Director
— Attorney News
‘D Magazine’ Lists 33 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among Best Lawyers in Dallas
2018/08/10 7:00:25 PM
— Attorney News
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 98 Jackson Walker Attorneys
2018/08/15 2:30:01 PM
— Attorney News
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Elects Gary Fowler to Fellowship
2018/08/16 6:39:29 PM
— Attorney News
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 94 Jackson Walker Attorneys
2018/06/15 5:35:25 PM
— Attorney News
53 Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to 2017 ‘Texas Super Lawyers’ List
2018/06/15 6:25:16 PM
— Insights
New Tax Act Affects Settlements of Sexual Harassment Suits
2018/08/31 8:53:04 PM
— Insights
A Slap at Employment Law? A Look at the Impact of Texas Citizens Participation Act in 2017
2018/08/31 9:05:05 PM
— Spotlight
Jackson Walker Receives Champion of Justice Law Firm Award for Seventh Consecutive Year
2018/11/13 11:17:56 PM
— Insights
Continuing Challenges in Enforcing Covenants Not to Compete Under Texas Law
2019/01/04 8:15:36 PM
— Attorney News
Scott Fiddler Boosts Jackson Walker’s Labor and Employment Litigation Practice in Houston
2019/02/01 4:54:29 PM
— Attorney News
'The Best Lawyers in America' Honors 109 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2020 Edition, With Eight Named "Lawyers of the Year"
2019/08/14 8:55:34 PM
— Attorney News
52 Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to 2019 'Texas Super Lawyers' List by Thomson Reuters
2019/09/04 8:23:33 PM
Practice Experience
Practice Experience
Experienced in labor and employment issues, including:
- Executive contracts
- Covenants not to compete
- Arbitration
- Disability discrimination and public accommodations
- Employment discrimination
- Harassment and retaliation claims
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Wage and hour
Representative Appellate and Published District Court Cases
- Roberson v. Game Stop/Babbage’s, 152 Fed.Appx. 356, 2005 WL 2622977 (5th 2005)
- Parkerson v. Orix Financial Services, Inc., 2007 WL 1667279 (11th 2007)
- Thomas v. LTV Corp., 39 F.3d 611 (5th 1994)(preemption under LMRA)
- Federal Exp. Corp. v. Dutschmann, 846 S.W.2d 282 (Tex.1993)
- E.O.C. v. Boeing Services Intern., 968 F.2d 549 (5th Cir. 1992)
- Oldham v. ORIX Financial Services, Inc., 2007 WL 530202 (N.D.Tex., February 21, 2007)
- Hinds v. Orix Capital Markets, L.L.C., 2003 WL 22132791 (N.D.Tex., Sept. 11, 2003)
- Prudential Ins. Co. of America v. Neal, 768 F.Supp. 195 (W.D.Tex.1991)
- Burnet County Appraisal Dist. v. J.M. Huber Corp., 808 S.W.2d 613 (Tex.App. – Austin 1991, writ denied)
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.)
- Employment Law – Management, 2006-2020
- Labor Law – Management, 2006-2020
- Litigation – Labor & Employment
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas, Employment Law – Management, 2017
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas, Labor Law – Management, 2020
- Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2019
- Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2008-2009, 2011-2013, 2018
- Harry S. Truman Scholar for the State of Texas, 1979
Community Involvement
- Director, Community Service Fund Board, Dallas Bar Association
- Employment Matters, Certified Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association
- Media Law Resource Committee
- Board of Governors, Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra
- Former Chair
- Former Director
Practice Areas
Experience
- Labor & Employment Litigation
- Affirmative Action & Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Appellate | Labor & Employment
- Background Checks
- Discrimination & Harassment Claims
- Employee Whistleblower & Retaliation Claims
- Employment Policies, Procedures, & Handbooks
- Employment Practice Audits
- Governmental Investigations
- Hiring, Performance Management, & Termination
- Labor Management & Traditional Labor Relations
- Non-Compete Issues
- Staffing, Independent Contractors, & Contingent Workers
- Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets
- Wage & Hour
- Workplace Ethics, Compliance, & Investigations
- Workplace Safety & Health
- Workplace Training
recent
‘D Magazine’ Lists 33 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among Best Lawyers in Dallas
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 98 Jackson Walker Attorneys
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Elects Gary Fowler to Fellowship
JW Media | VIA ePostcard – January 2018
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 94 Jackson Walker Attorneys
53 Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to 2017 ‘Texas Super Lawyers’ List
New Tax Act Affects Settlements of Sexual Harassment Suits
A Slap at Employment Law? A Look at the Impact of Texas Citizens Participation Act in 2017
Labor & Employment Dispatch: September 2018
Labor & Employment Dispatch: October 2018
Jackson Walker Receives Champion of Justice Law Firm Award for Seventh Consecutive Year
Continuing Challenges in Enforcing Covenants Not to Compete Under Texas Law
Labor & Employment Dispatch: January 2019
Scott Fiddler Boosts Jackson Walker’s Labor and Employment Litigation Practice in Houston
'The Best Lawyers in America' Honors 109 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2020 Edition, With Eight Named "Lawyers of the Year"
Labor & Employment Dispatch: August 2019
52 Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to 2019 'Texas Super Lawyers' List by Thomson Reuters
READ MORE