Aliaquanda "Alia" Adkins-Derrick
Top rated Employment & Labor attorney in Dallas, Texas
Practice Areas:
General litigation,
Business organizations,
Contracts,
Employment law - employee,
Employment law - employer,
Wage & hour laws,
Whistleblower
Education Qualification:
The University of Texas School of Law
Practice Areas:
General litigation,
Business organizations,
Contracts,
Employment law - employee,
Employment law - employer,
Wage & hour laws,
Whistleblower
2626 Cole Ave, Suite 300Dallas, Texas, 75204
First Admitted: 2007, Texas
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Chair of the 2021 Hemphill Dinner Committee & Executive Committee Member for the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society. , 2021
- Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society. , 2023
- Co-Chair of the Texas Bar Association's Appellate Bar Section Membership Committee.
- Board of Trustees Member of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society & Hemphill Committee Member (2019-Present)
- The N.E.W. Roundtable, 2020
- United States District Courts for the Southern Districts of Texas
- United States District Courts for the Western Districts of Texas
- Houston Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Member
- State Bar of Texas, 2007
- United States District Courts for the Northern Districts of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Member
- J.L. Turner Legal Association
- United States District Courts for the Eastern Districts of Texas
- Houston Lawyers Association
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Successfully defended Texas attorney client as first chair at trial in a multi-party tortious interference with an existing contract dispute that resulted in a take nothing judgment and win for client., 2019
Videos:
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Certified Mediator under Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Alpha & Alpha Youth Organizer, Host, & Coach.
- Founding Member and Executive Committee Member of Dallas’ premier “The N.E.W. Roundtable” group of in-house and private practice women attorneys (Present); former Mentoring & Outreach Committee Chair (2015)
- Urban League of Greater Dallas Young Professionals & Houston Area Urban Leagues Young Professionals Volunteer
- Dallas’ & Houston’s Volunteer Lawyers Program and Legal Lines Pro Bono Attorney
- Rice University: ARUBA Board Member at Large (2015); Alumni MVP Liaison, Admissions Interviewer, & Bush Community Building Award Committee Member
- Volunteer in quarterly Fifth Ward Community Beautification, Clean Up, and Outreach Projects
Honors/Awards:
- Makes History as the First Ever Black American 101 Course Director of the Texas Bar's Civil Appellate Practice 101 CLE Course., Texas Bar CLE, 2023
- 2018 Immigrant Advocate Award Finalist., Immigrant Advocate Award Finalist, 2018
- Recognized by Super Lawyers as a Texas Rising Star five consecutive years, 2016 - 2021. , Texas Rising Star (2016-2021), 2021
- Named to The National Black Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40” Texas Attorneys List two consecutive years., The National Black Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40” Texas Attorneys, 2021
- Selected for inclusion in the “2021 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” List., “2021 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.”., 2021
- 2014 Recognized among the best trained attorneys in Texas
- 2011-2012 Associate Member of the Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court
- 2005 Texas Law Fellowship Recipient (Peer Recognition)
- 2015 Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
- 2013-2014 Elected, from among the top 1/3 of 1% of Texas attorneys
- 2011 State Bar of Texas Leadership SBOT Class
- 2003-04 Outstanding First Year Teacher Award
- 2017 Recognized by D Magazine as a “2017 Best Lawyers in Dallas” for Labor & Employment, Best Lawyers in Dallas, 2017
- 2014 Named to the Lawyers of Color Hot List
- 2013 Jack Sun Walker Award
- 2011 Dallas Bar Foundation Life Fellow
- 2003 Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges & Universities
Educational Background:
- Rice University, Houston, TX, B.A. in History & Spanish; Education Emphasis│Texas Teacher Certification (8-12th Grade History), 2003
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- A historical look back at events leading up to the Texas court martial trial of Jackie Robinson through the lens of Robinson himself and his military and personnel records. , Author, “Trouble & Justice: How Trouble in Texas Led to the Court Martial Trial of America’s Beloved Jackie Robinson”, Fall 2023 Issue of the Journal of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society., 2023
- “I See Working People: Now What Should[n’t] I Do?” a look at Recent Trends in Enforcement of Fair Labor Standards Act at February 2014 assembly of the Houston Chapter of the American Payroll Association
- “2020 Dos & Don'ts of Launching Your Law Practice” at Dallas Bar Association’s Entrepreneurs in Community Lawyering’s ("ECL") 2020 Incubator Program. ECL helps socially conscious lawyers start a financially sustainable solo or small firm practice that maintains a portion of their practice with a sliding fee scale to help “everyday people” or modest means clientele who make too much to qualify for legal aid but can’t afford to pay exorbitant fees for legal help., Speaker, "2020 Dos & Don'ts of Launching Your Law Practice”, 2020
- “C.Y.A. Tips for Taking Care of Your Legal Business During & After COVID-19 Pandemic” at 2020 EmPower DFW Entrepreneur’s Virtual Summit, Texas – June 2020., Presenter, “C.Y.A. Tips for Taking Care of Your Legal Business During & After COVID-19 Pandemic”, 2020
- “Are You Prepared? Health Care Reform Changes” at a 2013 business conference
- “Employment Law Update: Healthcare, 401(k) Plan Fee Disclosures and Fiduciary Responsibilities, and Other Recent Changes” at the Houston Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Foundation’s 2012 CFO/Controller Conference
- “Combating Early Exits: How Effective Mentorship Increases Retention & Diversity” at the 2011 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting's “LeadershipSBOT” Seminar
- “As the Federal Rules World Turns: Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Now Affecting Federal Practice” at a 2011 CLE presentation
- “The High Cost of NDAs in the Age of #MeToo: What Every Employer Must Know About the New Tax Law. – Mar. 2018
- “The High Cost of NDAs in the Age of #MeToo: What Every Employer Must Know About the New Tax Law. – Mar. 2018
- Salaried Today, Hourly Employee Tomorrow: 4 Million Reasons Companies Should Prepare Now for New Overtime Laws & Three Effective Steps to Compliance – 2016
- Divorce-Proofing Your Business: 4 Effective Steps to Help Ensure Your Business Survives In Event of Divorce –published and presented at the DAYL’s 2016 Small Business Symposium – 2016
- Co-authored “Landmines in Settlement, Separation, & Severance Agreements” with Marcia N. Jackson –later presented at the Texas Bar’s 23rd Annual Advanced Employment Law Course – 2015.
- A Tale of Equal Pay Laws to Come? How Two New Executive Actions for Federal Contractors Could Eventually Affect All Employers – 2014
- “Big Deal? How the NLRB’s [(National Labor Relations Board)] Recent Decision Limits the Confidentiality of All Employer HR Investigations” – 2012
- Co-authored “Targeted Advertising: Tracking Online Activity and the Privacy Debate” with Kathleen LaValle which was later presented at the 2009 Texas State Bar Public Utility Law Section Seminar
- Co-authored “2008-09 Banking Law Updates” CLE presentation
- “Taking Care of ^Legal Business: C.Y.A. Tips to Protect Your Thriving Business” at Greenhouse Academy– Mar. 2018
- “Growth Hacks Every Business Owner Should Know to Achieve the Big 3: Success, Profits, & Longevity” at Frost Bank’s Growing Small Businesses Breakfast Seminar – Sept. 2017
- “Asset Today, Liability Tomorrow: Small Business Killers & C.Y.A. Tips to Avoid Legal Ruin” at 2017 Small Business Expo - Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce – Aug. 2017
- “When Opportunity Knocks . . . CYA with NDAs” at Small Business Development Center’s Biz Wake Up Call Series: Legal Workshop Featuring a Panel Discussion– Apr. 2017
- “Asset Today, Liability Tomorrow: Labor & Employment Laws and Developments Every Small Business Needs to Know” at Frost Bank’s 2016 Small Business Workshop Series – Oct. 2016
- “Taking Care of Your Legal Business: What Every Business Needs to Know.” at the SBDT’s 2016 Success in Business Seminar – June 2016
- Divorce-Proofing Your Business: 4 Effective Steps to Help Ensure Your Business Survives In Event of Divorce –at the DAYL’s 2016 Small Business Symposium – June 2016
- “5 Tips Every Business Owner Needs to Know to Avoid Legal & Financial Ruin! at Small Business Power Hours – April & May 2016
- “Employ, Train, & Retain Your Next Rockstar: Legally” at Grove Dallas’ Speaker Series – Nov. 2015
- “Legal Landmines: Tips to Protect Your Business From Legal Ruin.” at the SBDT’s 2015 Success in Business Seminar – Oct. 2015
- “Know Your Rights: Tips for Tenants, Homeowners, & Potential Homebuyers” at UNIDOS Townhall Meeting – May 2015
- US Supreme Court Update – spoke on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and Its Impact on Employee Health Insurance at July 2014 CLE presentation.
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Immigrant Advocate Award Finalist, 2018
Industry Groups:
- Coaching
- Construction
- Healthcare Providers
- Staffing
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