Russell D. Cawyer
Top rated Employment & Labor attorney in Fort Worth, Texas
Practice Areas:
Employment & Labor
Education Qualification:
Texas Tech University School of Law
Practice Areas:
Employment & labor
201 Main Street, Suite 2500Fort Worth, Texas, 76102
First Admitted: 1995, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.kellyhart.com/attorney/Russell-D-Cawyer
Bar/Professional Activity:
- American Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization 2000-present
- Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Fellow
- State Bar of Texas, Labor and Employment Law Section
- Tarrant County Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section Secretary, 2010-2011
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Spence v. American Airlines, et al., 4:23-CV-0052 (N.D. Tex. Jun. 2024) (lead trial counsel in class action ERISA breach of fiduciary duty case alleging failure to monitor 401k investment managers’ proxy voting practices; decision pending), 2024
- Goesling v. American Airlines, Inc., 342-314565-20, 352nd Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas (May 12, 2022) (obtained defense jury verdict in multi-week sexual assault case filed by flight attendant and seeking $26.5M in damages), 2022
- Michalak v. BNSF Railway Co., 96-299451-18, 96th Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas (Nov. 11, 2021) (obtained defense jury verdict in an age discrimination case filed by former employee seeking $2.2M), 2021
- McIver v. American Eagle Airlines, Inc., 4:08-CV-740-A, In the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (January 19, 2010) (lead trial attorney obtaining a defense verdict in the jury trial of an age discrimination claim filed by former employee), 2010
- Franco v. Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc., 2008 WL 4217848 (C.D. Cal, Sept. 11, 2008) (opinion granting summary judgment in breach of contract and disability discrimination case applying California State law) , 2008
- Rodriguez v. American Eagle Airlines, Inc., Cause No. 2008-541,950, 99th Judicial District Court, Lubbock, County, Texas (July 2, 2009) (Lead trial attorney obtaining defense verdict in jury trial of age, sex and race discrimination and retaliation claims filed by former employee), 2009
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization --Labor and Employment Law
Honors/Awards:
- Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, 2009-2025, Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters
- The Best Lawyers in America®, 2015-2025 Employment Law – Management Labor Law – Management Litigation – Labor & Employment, Best Lawyers in America®, Best Lawyers in America®
- Top Attorney in Labor & Employment Law and Worker's Compensation, 360 West magazine, 2017-2024, Top Attorney in Labor & Employment Law and Worker's Compensation, 360 West magazine
- Selected as a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine, 2004-2024 Labor & Employment, Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine
- Rated AV® by Martindale-Hubbell "Peer Review Rated", Rated AV® by Martindale-Hubbell "Peer Review Rated", Martindale-Hubbell
- Honored as one of Fort Worth's "40 Under 40" by the Fort Worth Business Press, 40 Under 40, Fort Worth Business Press
- Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star in Texas Labor and Employment Law by Thomson Reuters, 2005-2009, Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star, Thomson Reuters
Educational Background:
- University of North Texas, B.S., cum laude, 1992
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Author, "U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Burden of Proof for Employer to Prove Exempt Status," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, January 2025, Author, https://www.texasemploymentlawupdate.com/2025/01/articles/case-summaries/u-s-supreme-court-clarifies-burden-of-proof-for-employer-to-prove-exempt-status/, Texas Employment Law Update, January 2025, 2025
- Author, "U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies When Job Transfers May Violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2024, Author, "U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies When Job Transfers May Violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act", Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2024, 2024
- Author, “DOL Publishes Final Rule Raising Salary Basis Threshold for Many Overtime Exemptions,” Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2024, Author, DOL Publishes Final Rule Raising Salary Basis Threshold for Many Overtime Exemptions, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2024, 2024
- Author, “U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies “Cost” Burden for Employer Showing of Undue Hardship under Title VII,” Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, July 2023, Author, U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies “Cost” Burden for Employer Showing of Undue Hardship under Title VII, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, July 2023, 2023
- Author, “NLRB Finds Nondisparagement and Confidentiality Provisions Found in Many Severance Agreements Unlawful,” Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2023, Author, NLRB Finds Nondisparagement and Confidentiality Provisions Found in Many Severance Agreements Unlawful, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2023, 2023
- Author, “Employers Not Ordinarily Required to Provide Competition-Free Transfers to Disabled Employees as Reasonable Accommodation Absent Special Circumstances Says Fifth Circuit,” Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, March 2023 , Author, Employers Not Ordinarily Required to Provide Competition-Free Transfers to Disabled Employees as Reasonable Accommodation Absent Special Circumstances Says Fifth Circuit, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, March 2023, 2023
- Co-Author, “FTC Proposes Banning Noncompetition Agreements with Employees, ” Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, January 2023, Co-Author, FTC Proposes Banning Noncompetition Agreements with Employees, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, January 2023, 2023
- Author, "Fifth Circuit Remands Title VII Case to Consider if EEOC’s Two Right to Sue Notices Misled Employee," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2023, Author, Fifth Circuit Remands Title VII Case to Consider if EEOC’s Two Right to Sue Notices Misled Employee,, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2023
- Author, "Lack of Employer Signature on Arbitration Agreement Not Necessarily Fatal to Arbitration Enforcement, " Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, January 2023, Author, Lack of Employer Signature on Arbitration Agreement Not Necessarily Fatal to Arbitration Enforcement, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2023
- Author, "Expanded Accommodations for Women with Need to Express Breast Milk at Work," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, January 2023, Author, Expanded Accommodations for Women with Need to Express Breast Milk at Work, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2023
- Author, "Pregnant Employees Get Additional Protections in Congress’ Omnibus Spending Bill," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, December 2022, Author, Pregnant Employees Get Additional Protections in Congress’ Omnibus Spending Bill, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2022
- Author, "The Robots are Coming," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, December 2022, Author, The Robots are Coming, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2022
- Author, "Texas Supreme Court Holds Discovery of Cell Phone Data Limited to Time When Cell Phone Use Could be Contributing Cause of Incident," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, December 2022, Author, Texas Supreme Court Holds Discovery of Cell Phone Data Limited to Time When Cell Phone Use Could be Contributing Cause of Incident, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2022
- "Texas Employees Can Reject Suitable Work and Maintain Unemployment Benefits," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, May, 2020, Author, Texas Employees Can Reject Suitable Work and Maintain Unemployment Benefits, Texas Employment Law Update Blog, 2020
- City of Fort Worth Issues Disaster Declaration Closing all Non-essential Businesses for COVID-19," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, March 2020, Author, City of Fort Worth Issues Disaster Declaration Closing all Non-essential Businesses for COVID-19, Texas Employment Law Update, March 2020, 2020
- Texas Employees Who Refuse to Return to Work May Lose Unemployment Benefits," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2020, Author, Texas Employees Who Refuse to Return to Work May Lose Unemployment Benefits, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update,, 2020
- DOL Issues Temporary Regulations on Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency FMLA Expansion Acts," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, April 2020, Author, DOL Issues Temporary Regulations on Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency FMLA Expansion Acts, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2020
- "CARES Act Establishes Low Interest/Forgivable Loans For Small Businesses to Weather the COVID-19 Crisis," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, March 2020, Author, CARES Act Establishes Low Interest/Forgivable Loans For Small Businesses to Weather the COVID-19 Crisis, Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2020
- "Texas Employees Beware: CBD Oil Remains Illegal in Texas", Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2019, "Texas Employees Beware: CBD Oil Remains Illegal in Texas", Texas Employment Law Update, Blog, 2019
- "U.S. Supreme Court Invalidates Arbitration Agreements of Interstate Truck Drivers", Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2019, Author, "U.S. Supreme Court Invalidates Arbitration Agreements of Interstate Truck Drivers", Texas Employment Law Update, Blog, 2019
- "Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Employer in Transgender Title VII Case", Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2019, "Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Employer in Transgender Title VII Case", Texas Employment Law Update, Blog, 2019
- "San Antonio Passes Ordinance Requiring Private Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave," Blog, Texas Employment Law Update, 2018, "San Antonio Passes Ordinance Requiring Private Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave", Texas Employment Law Update, Blog, 2018
- Cawyer R. and Kuenzi E. Jury Waivers Are Alternatives to Arbitration Agreements. Texas Lawyer. December 3, 2012., Jury Waivers Are Alternatives to Arbitration Agreements, Texas Lawyer
- Cawyer R. and Kuenzi E. Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Drennen. SBOT Corporate Counsel Section Newsletter, Fall 2014., Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Drennen, SBOT Corporate Counsel Section Newsletter
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Mr. Cawyer is the publisher of the Texas Employment Law Update.
Industry Groups:
- Airline
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Transportation
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