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Jay Aldis

Aldis, Jay

Partner

P 713.221.1381
F 713.222.3276
jay.aldis@bgllp.com

Assistant

Betsy Haas
713.223.2300 x2879

Jay Aldis represents and counsels employers in the litigation of matters arising in all areas of employment and civil rights. These cases include claims of age, disability, gender and race discrimination; sexual harassment matters; occupational health and safety; and retaliation and whistleblower suits. He defends employers against due process, equal protection, false arrest, excessive force and First Amendment claims. He also litigates numerous covenants not to compete cases. A seasoned trial lawyer, Mr. Aldis is admitted to practice in the federal and state appellate courts, and has made several arguments in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

On the administrative side of his practice, Mr. Aldis represents employers before federal, state and regional government agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation and the Texas Workforce Commission.

Prior to joining Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, Mr. Aldis served as the Deputy Division Chief of the Labor and Employment Division of the Harris County Attorney's Office.

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Representative Matters

Nationwide Recovery Systems v. HHT, Ltd., et al., $4.3 million jury verdict obtained against three former employees and their new employer in non-solicitation, unfair competition, conspiracy and misuse of confidential information lawsuit.

Baker Petrolite. Temporary restraining orders, temporary injunctions and permanent injunctions obtained against former employees in multiple lawsuits due to the employees' violations of their restrictive covenants, unfair competition and violations of the Texas Theft Liability Act.

Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co. Temporary restraining orders, temporary injunctions and permanent injunctions obtained against former employees in multiple lawsuits due to the employees' violations of their restrictive covenants and unfair competition.

Michals, et al. v. American Electric Power, 287 Fed. Appx. 335 (5th Cir. 2008). Gender discrimination, retaliation and Equal Pay Act lawsuit filed by three former employees who claimed they were excluded from a lucrative bonus program due to their gender.  Summary judgment for AEP was affirmed.

EEOC v. Harris County, Texas. Age discrimination lawsuit pursued by the EEOC on behalf of 90 lawyers who unsuccessfully applied for assistant district attorney positions. The EEOC, which ultimately dismissed the suit, alleged the Harris County District Attorney's Office did not hire the applicants as prosecutors because the applicants were 40 years of age or older.

Carol Burns v. Harris County Bail Bond Board, 139 F.3d 513 ( 5th Cir. 1998). Equal protection and due process lawsuit in which summary judgment for the Bail Bond Board was affirmed.

Jennifer Waymire v. Harris County, 86 F.3d 424 (5th Cir. 1996). Sexual harassment lawsuit against the Harris County Sheriff's Department. The plaintiff, a female deputy, alleged a male deputy ordered an inmate to draw a pornographic picture of the female and then passed the picture around at roll call.  Judgment as a matter of law for the Sheriff's Department was affirmed.

Speeches and Publications

“Managing the Pregnant Employee,” South Texas College of Law Employment Law conference, 2011.

“Handling Employment Matters in the State Courts of Appeals,” Houston Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section, 2011.

"Employment Law Update," Texas District and County Attorneys Association ("TDCAA") Civil Law Seminar, 2011.

"The Evolution of Covenants Not to Compete in Texas," Houston Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section, 2010.

"Employment Law Update for Public Employers," South Texas College of Law Employment Law Conference, 2010.

"Employment Law Update," TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 2010.

"Employment Law Update for Public Employers," South Texas College of Law Employment Law Conference, 2009.

"Employment Law Update – Issues Affecting Public Sector Employers in Texas," TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 2009.

"Employment Law Update," Houston Federal Bar Association, 2009.

"The Aging Workforce and the Upturn in Age Discrimination Claims – From Termination to Termination and RIFs," University of Houston Law Foundation Advanced Employment Law Conference, 2009.

"Employment Law Q&A," Texas Business Report, Nov. 2008. 

"Employment Law Update," Texas Apartment Association Executive Issues Forum, 2008.

"Employment Law Q&A," TEXAS BUSINESS REPORT, November 2008.

"Public Employers: Public Entities are in Their Own Employment Law Universe. Don't Venture Out Without a Guide," South Texas College of Law, 21st Annual Employment Law Conference, 2008.

"Employment Law Update," TDCAA, Civil Law Seminar, 2008.

"Cutting-Edge Employment Law Strategies:  From Policies to Litigation," Texas Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2007.

"Employment Law Update for Public Employers," South Texas College of Law Employment Law Conference, 2007.

"Hot Topics in Regional Employment Cases," TDCAA, Civil Law Seminar, 2007.

"Litigating Wrongful Discharge Cases: The Defendant's Perspective," University of Houston Law Center Advanced Employment Law Seminar, 2007.

"The Electronic Workplace," Bracewell Labor and Employment Section Annual Conference, 2006.

Texas Lawyer, Employment Law Roundtable, 2006.

"When Disaster Strikes: The Legal and Human Resources Response," South Texas College of Law Employment Law Conference, 2006.

"The Rules Governing Depositions in State and Federal Court," University of Houston Law Center Deposition Practice Course, 2005.

"Top Ten Issues in Protecting Your Company from Unfair Competition," Bracewell Labor and Employment Section Annual Conference, 2005.

"Termination Practices and Procedures," EEOC Technical Assistance Program, 2005.

"Legal Developments Regarding Employee Leaves of Absence," Bracewell Labor and Employment Section Annual Conference, 2004.

"Employment Law Update," Texas Apartment Association, 2004.

"Title VII Update," Houston Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section, 2004.

"What's New in Employment Law," Houston Management Lawyers Forum, 2004.

"Employment Law Update," Bracewell Labor and Employment Section Client Conference, 2004.

"Religious and National Origin Discrimination," Bracewell Labor and Employment Section Client Conference, 2004.

"National Origin Discrimination," South Texas College of Law Employment Law Course, 2003.

"The Sarbanes-Oxley Act," HR Houston Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues, 2003.

"Labor and Employment Law Update," TDCAA Civil and Criminal Law Update, 2003.

"Focus on...Employment Documents: Limit Your Liability," TEX. PROSECUTOR, Jan./Feb. 2003.

"Liability for Alleged Police Misconduct," Lorman Education Services Police Liability in Texas Seminar, 2002.

"Public Sector Employment Issues," South Texas College of Law Labor and Employment Law Course, 2002.

"Hello, Goodbye: Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law," TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 2002.

"Texas Workers' Compensation Fraud," TSIL Risk Control Workshop, 2002.

"Avoiding Retaliation Claims," Bracewell Corpus Christi Client Conference on Developments in Labor and Employment Law, 2002.

"Texas Workers Compensation: Overview, Update and Discussion of Disability and Contractor Issues," Texas Employment Law Council Educational Conference, 2001.

"Unemployment Claims: What You Can Do to Keep Your Costs Down," Lorman Education Services Texas Unemployment Compensation Seminar, 2001.

"Preventing Employee Retaliation Claims," Council on Education and Management Labor and Employment Law Seminar, 2001.

"Section 1983 Primer and Update," TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 2001.

"Equitable Employee Evaluations," TEX. PROSECUTOR, May/June 2001.

"Prosecutor Liability and Immunity," TDCAA Elected Prosecutors Conference, 2000.

"Liability of Texas District and County Attorney Investigators," TDCAA Annual Criminal and Civil Law Update, 2000.

"Investigating Employee Harassment Claims," Bracewell Houston Client Conference on Developments in Labor and Employment Law, 2000.

"The First Amendment and the Public Employer," Texas Association of State University Attorneys Annual Meeting, 2000.

"First Amendment Issues for Public and Private Employers," South Texas College of Law Labor and Employment Law Course, 2000.

"Legal Aspects of Emergency Driving," Harris County Sheriff's Department Academy, 2000.

"Section 1983 Update," Civil Law Seminar, 2000.

"Working With the EEOC: The Litigation Stage," TEX. PROSECUTOR, November/December 1999.

"Civil Legislative Update," TDCAA Annual Criminal and Civil Law Update, 1999.

"Equitable Employee Evaluations," Harris County Hospital District Managerial Board, 1999.

"He Touched Me: Section 1983 Litigation," TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 1999.

"No Packin' Heat Where God's People Meet," National Association of Church Business Administration Meeting, 1999.

"The New Deposition Practice," Harris County Attorney Civil Discovery Update, 1999.

"Section 1983 Update," State Bar Convention Government Section Meeting, 1998.

"Section 1983 Litigation," TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 1998.

"What Your Mother Never Told You About SOBs (Sexually Oriented Businesses)," TEX. PROSECUTOR, March/April 1998; Houston Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 1997.

"Sex, Drugs and County Control," TEX. PROSECUTOR, January/February 1998.

"This State is Full of SOBs (Sexually Oriented Businesses)," TEX. PROSECUTOR, November/December 1997.

"Avoiding the Costly Landmines: The Latest on Prosecutor Liability and Immunity," TDCAA Annual Criminal & Civil Law Update, 1997.

"Strategies in Combating Inmate Attempts to 'Monopolize' the Courts," TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 1997.

"Qualified Immunity: How 'Qualified' Is It?" TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 1996.

"Strategies in Combating Recreational Civil Rights Litigants," TDCAA Civil Law Seminar, 1995. Chosen by the TDCAA as its Outstanding CLE Article in 1995 and selected by the College of the State Bar of Texas as one of the top three CLE Articles in the state in 1995.

Education

J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1992
B.J., with high honors, The University of Texas at Austin, 1989

Bar Admissions

Texas

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
U.S. Supreme Court

Certifications

Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Affiliations

Texas District and County Attorneys Association
Texas Association of Business
Greater Houston Partnership, Local Relations Committee
Houston Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
Past Chairman of the Board, First United Methodist Church of Houston
Board of Trustees, First United Methodist Church of Houston

Noteworthy

Best Lawyers in America, 2009-2011
Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, 2009-2011
Texas Super Lawyers, 2008-2011
Texas Rising Star, 2005-2007