Thought Leadership / News
March 2, 2011 
 Press Releases
Gray Reed Expands Employment Practice Group with Three New Hires

Ruth Ann Daniels, Amanda Inabnett and Jonni Walls join Members Brent Dyer and Michael Kelsheimer in Gray Reed's Employment Law practice group in Dallas, expanding Gray Reed's expertise into virtually all areas of Employment Law.

Ruth Ann joins Gray Reed's Dallas office to head up the firm's Employment Law section for both Dallas and Houston. Ruth Ann has been a trial lawyer for more than twenty-five years and focuses on employment litigation for management, defending companies against claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage and hour violations under various federal and state statutes, including Title VII (protecting employees from unlawful employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex and national origin), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Texas Commission on Human Rights Act. Ruth Ann is also experienced in handling wage and hour and other audits by the Department of Labor, and advising employers regarding all manner of employment law issues, including executive compensation agreements, severance agreements, and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.

Amanda likewise focuses her practice on representing employers against claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage and hour violations, and is experienced in handling audits by the Department of Labor. She has also represented employers with unionized workforces in proceedings under collective bargaining agreements. Amanda is experienced in preparing employee handbooks, arbitration agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and severance agreements, and in advising employers regarding myriad issues related to training, investigations, disciplining employees, and layoffs.

Jonni, who is currently a full-time professor at SMU Dedman School of Law, also focuses on employment litigation for management. In addition to handling statutory and common law claims arising in the employment context, Jonni is experienced practicing before administrative agencies and arbitrating disputes arising under employment contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Further, Jonni's areas of practice include management training seminars, contract negotiations, drafting of employment policies and handbooks, enforcement of confidentiality and non-competition agreements, and alternative dispute resolution.

About Gray Reed & McGraw

Founded in 1985, Gray Reed & McGraw is a full-service, Texas based law firm with more than 100 lawyers practicing in Houston, Dallas and Tyler. Gray Reed & McGraw offers a wide range of legal services including business litigation, corporate transactions, oil & gas, tax planning and litigation, real estate, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.