Carmen Pratt’s practice focuses on labor and employment law.  She counsels employers on all aspects of employee relations, including conducting internal investigations; training supervisors and managers on compliance with anti-harassment, anti-discrimination and other statutes; facilitating employee disciplines and discharges; administering the FMLA, ADAAA, and worker’s compensation statutes; and updating employee handbooks and policies.

Ms. Pratt has defended numerous employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, employee benefits, and related cases in federal and state courts throughout Texas.  She has represented corporations and municipalities facing the myriad of laws governing employment, including Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Worker’s Compensation Retaliation Act, the Sabine Pilot doctrine, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the statutory restrictions on covenants-not-to-compete.  She has successfully represented her clients through both summary dismissal of employee claims and as lead counsel through jury trials, injunction hearings and appeals.

Ms. Pratt also represents and counsels executives during all phases of the employment process, including contract negotiations through severance agreements.

Internal Investigation. Conducted time-sensitive investigation on behalf of an international energy company into employee’s claims of unlawful retaliation; the investigation included interviewing ten (10) witnesses and synthesizing hundreds of e-mails.

Breach of Non-Compete Agreement Claim. Successsfully represented employer in state court cross-action against former employee for breach of employment agreement.

Breach of Non-Compete Agreement Claim. Successfully defended former employee in state court suit where former employer alleged violations of a non-compete agreement and sought injunctive relief.

Disability Discrimination Claim. Obtained summary judgment for municipality sued under the ADA for alleged discriminatory firing.

Title VII Race Discrimination and Retaliation, Age Discrimination, and § 1981 Claims. Obtained summary judgment for company running state lottery on all claims brought by former sales manager.  The Fifth Circuit affirmed.

Worker’s Compensation Retaliation Claim. Obtained summary judgment for employer sued for wrongful termination under Texas Labor Code.

Sexual Harassment and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims. Successfully represented individual supervisor sued in multi-party case for sexual harassment and other torts under state law.

Texas Labor Code Race Discrimination Claim. Obtained partial summary judgment for employer sued for discrimination under state law.

Title VII Race Discrimination Claim. Obtained summary judgment for Texas City company sued for discrimination.

Overtime Pay Claims. Successfully represented south Texas hospital in action brought by the Department of Labor against multiple parties on behalf of contract nurses for overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Sex Discrimination Claim. Successfully represented medical group in action brought by the EEOC on behalf of former employee.

Speaking Engagements

• "Intersection of Employment and Intellectual Property Law," presented to Osha Liang, LLP
• "Whistleblower/Retaliatory Discharge," presented at the NBI Seminar, Human Resource Law: What You Need to Know Now (October 2011)
• "Employee Discipline and Termination," presented at the NBI Seminar, Human Resource Law: What You Need to Know Now (October 2011)
• "Internal Investigations," presented at the NBI Seminar, Employment Laws Made Simple (March 2013)
• "Sensitive Issues: Substance Abuse and Leaves of Absence," presented at the NBI Seminar, Employment Laws Made Simple (March 2013)