Employment Dispute Attorneys in Houston
Helping You Navigate High-Stakes Employer and Employee Matters
Employment disputes can be high-stakes matters for both employers and employees, whether they involve critical business assets like intellectual property, allege fraud or misrepresentation, or arise from claims that contractual terms and obligations have been breached. In order to ensure any dispute is treated with the due diligence it deserves and resolved as swiftly and successfully as possible, proven legal counsel is critical.
On This Page:
Labor & Employment Disputes
At Hendershot Cowart P.C., our Houston employment dispute lawyers have amassed over a century of collective legal experience representing all types of employers and employees in matters that give rise to disputes, legal action, and litigation. Our breadth of experience and insight enable us to tailor enforcement, defense, and resolution strategies to the unique issues of a case, and to protect, mitigate, and recover for our clients through negotiation, arbitration, and mediation – or trial when necessary.
Contractual agreements between employers and employees are designed for their mutual benefit and protection. These agreements outline obligations and expectations of each party, as well as any unique and specific terms or clauses deemed appropriate. They can also provide the grounds for legal action when either party violates their terms.
The saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is incredibly relevant to minimizing the potential for conflict and dispute involving employment arrangements. That means establishing clear and enforceable safeguards which can provide options for legal recourse and remedy, including temporary injunctions that stop an offending action, as well as a recovery of damages.
Our firm has extensive experience helping clients protect their rights and interests with the future in mind by utilizing beneficial legal measures most appropriate to their situations, including:
- Work-for-Hire Agreements
- Non-Compete Agreements, including Physician Non-Competes
- Registration of Trademarks, Copyrights, and Patents
- Licensing Agreements
- Partnership Agreements
- Independent Contractor Agreements
- Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure Agreements
- ADA Litigation Defense
- Defense Against FLSA Claims
Even with these types of measures in place, disputes can still arise – and threaten both employers and employees alike.
- Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets – Employers have a vested interest in protecting their most critical assets, including their intellectual property. Likewise, employees have the right to protect creations of the mind that are solely and truly theirs. While non-competes, work-for-hire agreements, and other employment agreements can help reduce exposure to disputes over the misuse or misappropriation of intellectual property, and provide options for recourse and remedy, many focus on general disagreements over whether or not those assets were developed during work or “off hours,” involved the use of an employer’s resources, or are in the same or similar field.
- Misappropriation of Trade Secrets – Employers can take action when an employee dishonestly or wrongfully obtains, misuses, or provides others with trade secrets and confidential information that hold value for competitors who do not use them. Plaintiffs must meet several requirements, including having taken reasonable measures to protect them, in order to have a valid misappropriation claim under the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (TUTSA) and benefit from injunctive relief and possible damages.
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty – Employees and other fiduciaries have a legal obligation to act in their employer’s best interests, and they can be held liable when any contractual or legal duty is violated. Prevailing in a breach of fiduciary duty claim against an employee, requires proof of several legal elements, including the existence of a fiduciary relationship, the breach of duty, and that the breach resulted in damages, and invalidating such claims demands a thoughtful and compelling defense.
- Breach of Contract – Contractual agreements can be breached in numerous ways when it comes to employment arrangements. Aside from issues involving breach of fiduciary duty and other causes of action, employment disputes based on a contractual breach commonly involve non-compete violations and confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Breach of contract disputes between employers and employees can sometimes escalate into complaints filed with the EEOC or TWC, especially when issues of discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination are alleged. When properly crafted and established, these agreements can provide grounds for legal action, as well as equitable remedies. However, effectively enforcing an agreement, winning a breach of contract case, or defending against one, requires tailored legal strategies and the ability to pursue and prevail in the most favorable means for resolution.
Resolving employment disputes, as with any business dispute or disagreement, requires an extensive depth of legal knowledge, business industry insight, and a multi-disciplinary approach to secure a positive resolution through the most appropriate means.
At Hendershot Cowart P.C., our Houston employment dispute attorneys have a reputation for excelling not only in helping clients reduce risks of disputes through proactive counsel and the drafting, review, and negotiation of vital agreements and protections, but also for helping clients protect their rights and interests responsively when disputes arise – through out-of-court negotiations, mediation, arbitration, and litigation when necessary.
Hendershot Cowart P.C. - Trust Proven Texas Employment Dispute Attorneys
Whether you are looking to enforce an existing agreement, allege or defend against a dispute, or wish to learn more about proactively creating safeguards tailored to your employment situation, you can be confident about placing your trust in Hendershot Cowart P.C.
Call (713) 783-3110 today or contact us online to get started.
To Us, Every Case is Personal
Real Stories, Real Results, Real Advocacy
-
The HC team is exceptional. I worked with Keith, Patrick and Lauren - they were an amazing team and extremely comprehensive. I had 6 total Agreements I was negotiating in the healthcare space that spanned from Operating Agreements, Joint Venture, Development (territory rights and schedule), and a Franchise Agreement, and Managements Service Agreements. Also need to form new entities, and structure investor documents. Their expertise spanned legal, business, and the healthcare regulatory environment. Invaluable to have their counsel. I highly recommend the team at HC Law.- Scott S.
-
I received exceptional legal representation by Hendershot Cowart P.C., and specifically by Brady Dunlop.
Throughout the process, Brady was patient, tireless, and highly strategic in developing a solid defense. His guidance and expertise were invaluable, ultimately leading to a smooth dismissal of the case.
As someone deeply dedicated to the field of medicine, these allegations were personally distressing. I am incredibly grateful to the entire team for protecting my career and resolving this matter so effectively. Thank you.- Jenni B. -
I’m very pleased with the outcome so far with this law firm, from the initial contact with their intake and how polite they were documenting everything that we talked about. The knowledge that they had was just great. Laura Vacker called me within the day to go over everything, She was extremely helpful. She broke down everything and gave me as much information on the law firm that could be provided. Most law firms don’t even do that. She gave me different options, which I am reviewing now. It was a delight to finally get an attorney on the phone that seemed to know the exact steps that we needed to take.- Patrick B.
-
I highly recommend Hendershot Cowart and specifically Philip. He helped us on a very complicated property dispute that ended in our favor. It was clear from the start that he is motivated and genuinely cares about his clients. We will be back for all future legal needs.- Zachary H.
-
I have worked with Trey and the team there multiple times. They are attentive, great to work with, and I'm glad to know I always have top-notch legal representation- Brad B.
-
Great people to work with! Keith helped us through our appeal step by step and was able to get our business up and running again.
-
Anton was my attorney for a ceases desist letter. He was absolutely amazing, responded extremely quickly and the response he wrote for me was phenomenal. Super happy with this law firm!
-
Highly recommend the firm and Philip in particular; I greatly appreciate the firm for the invaluable assistance with the legal matters we engaged it to address. Philip Racusin's expertise, attentiveness, responsiveness, and professionalism have been exceptional, and I don't believe we could have navigated this challenging situation without his support.