Jason E. Winford is a partner in the Dallas office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the Labor & Employment and Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practices. As an experienced business, commercial, and employment trial lawyer, Jason zealously represent businesses, executives, and professionals in the courtroom and in negotiations. He is board-certified in labor and employment law and “AV Preeminent” rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Jason has also been named to the “Texas Super Lawyers” by Texas Monthly and the “Best Lawyers Under 40” by D Magazine.

Jason has significant experience litigating business and employment disputes in both state and federal courts, on appeal, at government agencies (EEOC, TWC, DOL, OSHA), and in arbitrations. He has been lead counsel in both jury and bench trials, and in arbitrations. Jason believes in thorough preparation and attention to detail in order to help his clients achieve the best possible outcome. He brings to each case creative legal strategies and clear and effective legal writing and oral advocacy. Some of the cases he has handled include:

• Employment lawsuits and agency proceedings involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, breach of employment agreement, and disputes overcompensation, bonuses, commissions, and benefits.
• Unfair competition cases, including lawsuits for damages and injunctive relief over noncompete, nonsolicit, and nondisclosure agreements, trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and tortious interference.
• Wage and hour claims under the FLSA, including both individual and collective actions, as well as DOL audits.
• Business lawsuits involving a wide range of commercial disputes, including business breakups, purchase agreements, contract disputes, business torts, fiduciary breaches, real estate transactions, and insurance coverage.
• Served as Texas counsel for a national legal defense foundation in multiple cases challenging compulsory unionism.

Jason also works with clients to minimize the risks of lawsuits. He regularly advises businesses on complying with employment laws and regulations and in handling difficult employment issues. He also help clients negotiate and draft business contracts and employment agreements, noncompete and nondisclosure agreements, severance agreements, and employment policies.

Jason is a native Texan and attended college and law school at the University of Texas. He is also honored to serve on the Board of Trustees of Good Shepherd Episcopal School, where his two youngest daughters attend school. When not practicing law, he enjoys cheering on his kids (and sometimes coaching them) in basketball, soccer, wrestling, and rock climbing, and spending time outdoors in the mountains with his family.

Publications

Certifications

Pro Bono & Philanthropy

Professional Presentations

• Wage and Hour Litigation: How to Avoid and Defend FLSA Claims, Advanced Employment Law for Employers and Employment Lawyers
• Expert Witnesses in Employment Litigation, State Bar of Texas Labor & Employment Law Council Annual Update/Skills Seminar
• Burdens of Proof and Standards of Causation in Discrimination and Retaliation Cases Post-"Desert Palace" and "Rachid," 14th Annual Advanced Employment Law Course
• Enforcement and Litigation Issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Overtime Requirements and Exemptions Seminar
• Best Practices for Avoiding Liability During and After Termination, Council on Education in Management
• Workplace Privacy Issues, Personnel Law Update
• Recent Developments in Labor Law in the Health Care Industry

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • Texas
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
• United States Courts of Appeals
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Associations

• State Bar of Texas
• American Bar Association
• Dallas Bar Association
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Barrister, William "Mac" Taylor, Jr. American Inn of Court (alumnus)
• Texas Bar College
• Dallas Human Resource Management Association (DallasHR)
• World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth

Awards & Honors

• "AV Preeminent" Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected as a Texas "Super Lawyer" for Labor & Employment Law, Texas Monthly Magazine
• Selected for The Best Lawyers Under 40, D Magazine

Education

The University of Texas School of Law

Juris Doctor, 1993

The University of Texas at Austin

B.B.A. Finance, 1990

Representative Matters

• Defended medical practice in lawsuit by former office employee for age discrimination and harassment, and obtained summary judgment dismissing all claims.
• Represented oilfield service technician in claims for overtime and retaliation under the FLSA. As lead counsel, obtained jury verdict and final judgment back pay and liquidated damages, plus attorney’s fees.
• Defended staffing company and regional vice president in two lawsuits against claims by recruiting company for breach of contract, tortious interference, fraud, conversion, and unjust enrichment, and obtained dismissal of both lawsuits for lack of jurisdiction.
• Defended trucking company and owner in lawsuit by former manager alleging discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and breach of employment agreement. Obtained partial dismissal of claims and reached favorable settlement of remaining claims.
• Represented trucking company in lawsuit against used truck dealer for breach of contract to purchase fleet of trucks, and obtained summary judgment for damages.