David Gregory represents employers in disputes involving claims of wrongful termination, age, sex, disability and race discrimination and retaliation, breach of employment contracts, wage and hour issues, anti-competition covenants, unfair competition, and misappropriation of trade secrets. Board Certified in Labor and Employment law, David serves clients in both federal and state trial courts and various federal and state agencies. His practice also involves counseling clients in how to comply with employment laws and regulations, respond to issues raised by their current employees, how to remain competitive by hiring competitively and protecting company assets and information from being improperly disclosed and used by former employees and competitors. He represented a government unit before the United States Supreme Court in a case involving an alleged violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's provisions on the required use of compensatory time. In another case, he helped a major manufacturer obtain summary judgment in the Southern District Court of Texas in a case involving alleged violations of Title VII standards on race discrimination and retaliation and a state law claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
David Gregory represents employers in disputes involving claims of wrongful termination, age, sex, disability and race discrimination and retaliation, breach of employment contracts, wage and hour issues, anti-competition covenants, unfair competition, and misappropriation of trade secrets. Board Certified in Labor and Employment law, David serves clients in both federal and state trial courts and various federal and state agencies. His practice also involves counseling clients in how to comply with employment laws and regulations, respond to issues raised by their current employees, how to remain competitive by hiring competitively and protecting company assets and information from being improperly disclosed and used by former employees and competitors. He represented a government unit before the United States Supreme Court in a case involving an alleged violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's provisions on the required use of compensatory time. In another case, he helped a major manufacturer obtain summary judgment in the Southern District Court of Texas in a case involving alleged violations of Title VII standards on race discrimination and retaliation and a state law claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Some of his recent achievements include the following: David represented an oilfield services company in a trade secret lawsuit against a competitor and obtained a multimillion dollar jury verdict. He also obtained temporary and permanent injunctive relief from a Delaware court for a national client in a lawsuit involving claims for breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets. Additionally, David was recognized by Texas Lawyer in its Top Texas Verdicts of 2010.
David is well versed in the numerous issues stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, such as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), stay-at-home and related orders, and all of their impacts on employers, employees and independent contractors, including critical infrastructure and essential services determinations, paid and unpaid leave, layoffs, pay reductions, reduced hours, furloughs, downsizings, expanded unemployment, and their interaction with numerous local, state and federal laws and regulations. Many of these issues have significant interactions with employee benefits, tax, Small Business Administration, and other issues, where we collaborate closely with our colleagues experienced in those practice areas.
Representative Experience
- Represented a governmental unit in front of the United States Supreme Court regarding an alleged violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act concerning the required use of compensatory time.
- Represented an oilfield services company in a misappropriation of trade secrets case and obtained jury verdict in its favor.
- Represented national client to seek and obtain injunctive relief to enforce noncompete agreement.
- Represent an insurance brokerage company to protect its confidential information from misuse by a former employee and competitor.
- Represented and defended against the certification of a class of approximately 400 former employees seeking unpaid wages and commissions.
- Represented a manufacturer of oilfield products and obtained a summary judgment in Texas state court against a claim of age discrimination by a former employee.
- Represented oilfield services company and obtained a summary judgment in the Eastern District of Texas against claims alleging violations of the American with Disabilities Act.
- Represented a major manufacturer and obtained summary judgment in the Southern District of Texas regarding alleged violations of Title VII for race discrimination and retaliation and state law claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Defended telemarketing company in a temporary injunction for an alleged unlawful hiring of a senior manager due to a covenant not to compete.
- Represented a premier distributor of beverages and obtained a motion to dismiss in the Southern District of Texas for alleged violations of Title VII for race and gender discrimination and retaliation.
Professional History
- Partner, Locke Lord LLP
- Brief Attorney, Fourteenth Court of Appeals (1998)
Professional Affiliations and Recognitions
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Houston Bar Association
- Member, Texas Young Lawyers Association
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2016-2021) and Employment Law - Management (2020-2021)
- Named, Texas Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly (2012-2019)
- Named, Texas Rising Star, Texas Monthly (2008-2011)
Community Leadership
- Executive Board Member, Houston Texas Exes
- Member, Chapelwood United Methodist Church
Board Certifications
- Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization