Bob Sheeder
Partner
Camille Leonard
214.758.1609
In private practice since 1976, Bob Sheeder represents clients in all aspects of labor and employment law before federal and state agencies and courts. His practice includes litigation and counseling in areas of discrimination, harassment, collective actions and class actions, union organizing and wage-hour issues.
Mr. Sheeder is a frequent lecturer and writer on labor law issues. He previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Labor Letter. For over five years he has been on the Faculty of the Jury Trials of Employment Claims Course and has participated in the Advanced Course. He is a charter member of the Management and Employment Law Roundtable. He also is a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
Mr. Sheeder served as chair of The University of Texas Law School 2006 Annual Course on Developments in Labor and Employment Law and has frequently spoken at the course.
Representative Matters
Represented Towers Perrin, a third party administrator in Milofsky v. American Airlines, Inc., 404 F.3d 338 (5th Cir. 2005) in which the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of Towers Perrin in an ERISA class action.
Represented the defendants in Shephard v. Worldcom, a nationwide benefits class action in which the United States District Court of the Southern District of Texas granted summary judgment.
Represented a major manufacturer in a multiparty sex discrimination trial in state court in Fort Worth, Texas, in which the court granted a directed verdict for the defendant employer after several weeks of trial.
Negotiated the closing and relocation of a Fortune 500 manufacturer's union represented production facility in Richardson, Texas, and successfully defended multiple related unfair labor practice charges and a prolonged Unit Clarification trial before the National Labor Relations Board.
Successfully defended a Fortune 500 corporation in a race discrimination class action in the Northern District of Texas, in which the Court denied class certification and subsequently granted summary judgment against the named plaintiffs.
Successfully defended one of the first Sarbanes-Oxley cases in Texas.
Publications and Speeches
"Creating your HR Action Plan," 6th Annual Labor and Employment Law Advanced Practices Symposium, Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, CA, April 21-23, 2010.
"Caution: Tight Curves Ahead in Handling Today's Labor & Employment Challenges," Counsel to Counsel Labor Forum, The Joule, Dallas, TX.
"FLSA Collective Actions," 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Update, State Bar of Texas, October 23-24, 2009, Austin, TX.
"Collective Actions Under the Fair Labor Standards Act," University of Texas, May 29, 2009.
"Lilly Ledbetter, Layoffs, and Wage & Hour Issues," Tarrant County Bar Assn 2nd Annual All-Star CLE Program, Tarrant County Bar Association, May 7, 2009.
"Wage and Hour Collective Actions," State Bar of Texas Webcast, Austin, TX, November 27, 2007.
Jury Trial Litigation of Employment Claims, Hilton Head, South Carolina on August 5-7, 2002; San Diego, California on August 22-24, 2002; La Costa, California on August 22-24, 2003; Las Vegas, Nevada on October 14-15, 2004; Napa, California on November 11-12, 2004; Los Angeles, California on June 2-3, 2005; Napa, California November 14-15, 2005; Las Vegas, Nevada December 8-9, 2005; San Antonio, Texas September 21-22, 2006; Las Vegas, Nevada October 4-5, 2007 and December 6-7, 2007.
"Discrimination Law Update," Texas Association of Business 29th Annual Employment Relations Symposium, San Antonio, TX, July 12-13, 2007.
"Retaliation After Burlington Northern," The University of Texas at Austin, May 17-18, 2007.
"Advanced Jury Trials of Employment Claims," Las Vegas, NV, September 7-8, 2006; May 24-25, 2007.
Chairman and Moderator, University of Texas Conference on Labor and Employment Law, Austin, TX, May 18-19, 2006.
"Opening Statements in Jury Trials," State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Employment Law Course, Austin, TX, February 20-21, 2003; "Jury Selection," San Antonio, TX, January 22-23, 2004; Planner and Moderator, Houston, TX, November 3, 2005.
"Hiring and Firing Employees and Controlling Rogue Supervisors," University of Texas Conference on Labor and Employment Law, Austin, TX, May 18-20, 2005.
"Legal Pitfalls in Hiring Employees," The Labor and Employment Law Advanced Practices Symposium, San Diego, CA, November 4-5, 2004.
"Sarbanes Oxley Act Update," University of Texas Annual Conference on Labor and Employment Law, Austin, TX, May 2004.
"Harassment Update," Texas Association of Business 26th Annual Employment Relations Symposium, San Antonio, TX, July 29-30, 2004.
"Expert Witnesses in Employment Litigation," University of Texas Conference on Labor and Employment Law, Austin, TX, May 2003.
"Contingent Workforces: Are Contingent Workers Worth the Risks?" University of Texas Conference on Labor and Employment Law, Austin, TX, May 2002.
"Class Actions in Employment Cases," University of Texas Conference on Labor and Employment Law, Austin, TX, May 2001.
Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Michigan Law School, 1976
B.A., with high honors, University of Virginia, 1973
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
Certifications
Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Affiliations
State Bar of Texas, Labor and Employment and Employment Law Section, Executive Council Labor and Employment Law Section 2002 to present
American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow
Noteworthy
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor & Employment, 2003-2010
Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, 2008 and 2009
Texas Monthly Magazine, Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, 2006 and 2008
Texas Super Lawyers, 2003-2008
Best Lawyers in America, 1999-2010