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Home > Lawyers
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Sean Becker
Sean Becker
Experience | Education | Activities | Publications
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Biography
Sean advises clients regarding all phases of the employment relationship and represents employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. He is Board Certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has litigated a range of complex matters in venues across the country. His practice includes the defense of employment-related contract, ERISA, discrimination, retaliation, wage, class action, OSHA and labor claims. He has significant experience pursuing and defending actions involving non-competition agreements and in drafting and evaluating restrictive covenants. In addition, Sean regularly provides guidance on internal investigations and compliance with state and federal law. He also drafts and negotiates labor and employment-related agreements and has managed the labor and employment aspects of numerous acquisitions, divestitures, and other transactions.
Sean currently serves as the Hiring Partner of the Houston office.
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Representative Experience
Trial Court and Administrative Litigation
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- Obtained summary judgment in case of first impression addressing applicability of state “mini-WARN” law
- First chair of state court trial in which the application of employer’s drug testing policy was challenged and employee’s requests for reinstatement and damages following positive tests were denied
- Obtained summary judgment on all aspects of Americans with Disabilities Act discrimination, retaliation, and harassment claim brought by staffing services employee against national manufacturer
Restrictive Covenant Litigation
- Obtained successful outcomes in restrictive covenant cases involving the applicability and enforcement of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements
ERISA Litigation
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- Obtained summary judgment and Fifth Circuit affirmation of summary judgment on behalf of international oil company in consolidated ERISA benefits litigation brought by former executive employees
- Obtained dismissal of putative class action ERISA claim on grounds of Railway Labor Act preemption
- Obtained dismissals of ERISA fiduciary duty and equitable relief claims on behalf of international oil company
Transactional Practice
- Coordinated the labor and employment aspects of numerous transactions and assisted with employment matters for over 100 deal teams in the past two years
- Counseled clients regarding various labor and employment-related aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures
- Negotiated and drafted numerous executive employment agreements, confidentiality agreements, severance agreements, consulting agreements, and other contracts
Arbitration
- Obtained directed verdict on former chief executive’s wrongful termination claim and a successful resolution of breach of contract claim after three-day arbitration
- Obtained summary judgment on all aspects of age discrimination, promissory estoppel, and misrepresentation claims in arbitration brought by former employee of international well services company
Appellate Litigation
- Obtained affirmation of favorable trial court decision in case argued before the Iowa Supreme Court
- Assisted in the representation of a teaching hospital and its former physician-in-chief in an appellate proceeding that challenged multi-million dollar judgment on former employee’s invasion of privacy, tortious interference, and implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing claims
Labor Negotiations and Labor Counseling
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- Negotiated clients’ collective bargaining agreements with employee unions
- Counseled clients regarding legal aspects of labor relations
- Successfully defended against allegations of unfair labor practices investigated by NLRB
Client Counseling
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- Advised clients regarding day-to-day labor and employment practices
- Advised clients regarding voluntary and involuntary reductions in force
- Advised clients regarding internal investigations of allegations of employee misconduct, disparate treatment, and harassment
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Education and Professional Background
- Harvard Law School, J.D. cum laude, 1998
- Harvard College, B.A. Government magna cum laude, 1994
- Admitted to practice: Massachusetts,1998; Texas, 2005; United States Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. District of Court for the District of Massachusetts
Activities and Affiliations
- Board Certified, labor and employment law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Member: Employment Rights and Responsibilities and Equal Employment Opportunity committees, Labor and Employment Section, American Bar Association; Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas; Labor and Employment Section, Houston Bar Association
Publications and Presentations
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Full Biography
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First City Tower
1001 Fannin Street
Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002-6760
Tel +1.713.758.2646
Fax +1.713.615.5129
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