
Thomas H. Wilson






Tom has more than 35 years of experience counseling clients on employment, labor, and safety matters that impact their business processes and objectives. He is sought after by clients around the world for insight on their U.S. operations and direction on matters related to managing a global workforce. In the U.S., Tom has represented clients before the United States Supreme Court, as well as state and federal courts and agencies. Globally, his representative reach spans Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.
Tom is sought after by businesses when they have questions about the social element of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. Tom also counsels employers regarding union relations and assists them with collective bargaining negotiations, responding to charges of unfair labor practices, and arbitrating union grievances. He has assisted clients in supply chain due diligence and advised them on how to eradicate forced labor when discovered. He has also worked with clients to establish good relations with indigenous people impacted by international projects. Many of Tom’s clients have worked with him for decades and, as one reviewer told Chambers USA, they appreciate the “innovative and creative ways” he approaches problems and his “great judgment and instincts” (2019).
Tom advocated for and was the first chair of the Texas Bar’s International Human Rights Committee. He has also served as the chair of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and as the Communications Director of the Human Rights Law Committee of the International Bar Association.
Experience Highlights
Represented national sales company in suit against two sales representatives for breach of non-compete agreements
Defended pipeline company against claim of fraud and retaliation under Sarbanes-Oxley
Defended international oil company against discrimination and retaliation claims under Sarbanes-Oxley and Title VII
Conducted investigation for international organization and negotiated exit of chief executive
Represented a property management company with agreements and work visas related to the placement of employees in Russia to establish and operate a university campus
Assisted an oil and gas exploration and production company in the UAE with retention of UK-based executives to work in Dubai
Represented a technology and social networking company in negotiating agreements related to employment in Europe and the Middle East
Assisting a U.S. gas producer with union negotiations involving a new workforce in West Virginia
Assisted an oilfield services client in negotiations and strategy related to union relationships in Singapore
Advised an energy client in its initial negotiations with several unions resulting from the purchase of gas terminals in New York and New Jersey
Assisted an offshore oil and gas exploration and production client with relocating operations from Houston, Texas, to Copenhagen, Denmark
Representing a steel manufacturing client in multiple proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, arbitrations under collective bargaining agreements, and union negotiations
Represented a Belgian company sued in Texas state court by a Belgian employee alleging various contract and tort claims relating to stock options in the Belgian company’s U.S. parent; the Texas Supreme Court reversed lower court rulings that the case could proceed in Texas state court and dismissed the case for lack of personal jurisdiction
Advised an international oil company on employment matters involved in disposition of a refinery in Aruba
Advised a U.S. communications company on employment matters in the establishment and reorganization of businesses in India, Austria, and France
Advised a publicly traded offshore drilling company in all aspects of its employment matters and litigation
Advised a large hospital system and other clients regarding the legal issues raised by potential corporate campaigns by unions
Represented a port warehouse and short-haul trucking company on union matters in ports in California, New Jersey, and Ohio
Represented a large supermarket portfolio in litigation related to the unfunded liability of union sponsored, multi-employer pension plans claiming damages of $64 million
Defended a large international cruise line against claims of denial of access by disabled passengers in cases in state and federal court; obtained the dismissal of the class certification petition in state court and eventually won summary judgment for the client in the state court litigation; in federal court, obtained a grant of motion to dismiss; and on appeal, the Court of Appeals chose an alternative reason for granting the motion to dismiss, which was then appealed by the plaintiffs to the United States Supreme Court; the Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals, but effectively greatly limited the claims in the case to exclude any structural changes to the client’s ships
Represented a large petrochemical client on OSHA issues throughout the U.S. following a catastrophic explosion at the client’s plant including handling litigation on the contests of OSHA citations, assisting client with compliance with a settlement agreement, and advising client concerning follow-up OSHA investigations
Recently tried several cases for a large meat packing company for OSHA citations, ranging from machine guarding to lockout requirements in Colorado, Minnesota, and California; obtained OSHA’s withdrawal of all citations before trial following a near fatal stabbing accident, obtained dismissal after trial of fall protection and personal protection equipment citations and citations concerning the availability of bathrooms
Trican Well Service in its definitive agreement with Keane Group, a privately-held, U.S. based well completion services company, for the sale of Trican’s United States pressure pumping fracking business
Sunoco in the $3.3 billion sale of a majority of its convenience stores to 7-Eleven
SemGroup Corporation in its $2.1 billion acquisition of Houston Fuel Oil Terminal Company, one of the largest oil terminals in the U.S., from Alinda Capital Partners
Energy XXI in its $2.3 billion acquisition of EPL Oil & Gas Inc., creating the largest publicly traded independent oil and gas producer on the Gulf of Mexico Shelf
Blackstone in the $2 billion acquisition of Eagle Claw Midstream Ventures from EnCap Flatrock Midstream
Pioneer Natural Resources in the $155 million sale of its Barnett Shale assets
Arc Logistics Partners and Lightfoot Capital Partners in the $422 million sale of the general partner of, and all of the outstanding common units in, Arc Logistics to Zenith Energy Management
Rockpile Energy Holdings, a portfolio company of White Deer Energy, in the $284.5 million sale of RockPile Energy Services to Keane Group
Representing Continental Airlines in the $3.2 billion all-stock merger with United Airlines, creating the world’s largest airline
Advised and negotiated on Labor and employment matters for Plains Pipeline Company in its purchase of pipeline assets in the U.S. and Canada
Advised Duke Energy on employment matters in purchase of Canadian company with assets in the U.S.
Credentials
- University of Tennessee, J.D. with high honors, 1985
- Drake University, B.A. Journalism cum laude, 1982
- Chambers USA, Labor and Employment (Texas), 2006–2020
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), Labor and Employment law, 2003–2006, 2008–2021
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2003–2004, 2006–2020
- Who’s Who Legal (Law Business Research Ltd.), Labor, Employment & Benefits, 2016
- Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law
- Chairman of the International Human Rights Committee of the International Section of the State Bar of Texas
- Secretary of the Executive Council of the International Law Section for the State Bar of Texas
- Co-chair of the Media Law Resource Center (MLRC) Employment Committee
- Editorial Advisory Board Member for the Practical Law Company
- Member: American Bar Association, Committees on International Labor and Employment Law and OSHA, Labor Relations Advisory Committee; American Health Lawyers Association; Interamerican Bar Association
- Elected to the National Executive Board of the U.S. Branch of the International Society for Labor and Social Security Law, 2009
- Texas
- United States Supreme Court
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJanuary 13, 2021
- Deals & CasesJanuary 6, 2021
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 8, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 2, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 24, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 12, 2020
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 19, 2020
- Event RecapSeptember 30, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseSeptember 29, 2020
Published by Practical Law, August 10, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 23, 2020
Published in CorpGov, September 24, 2020
- Event RecapSeptember 15, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 4, 2020
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 20, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 4, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJuly 23, 2020
- Deals & CasesJuly 20, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseJune 2, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseMay 26, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseMay 21, 2020
- Rankings & AwardsApril 23, 2020
- Event RecapApril 8, 2020
- Deals & CasesMarch 30, 2020
- Event RecapMarch 18, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 17, 2020
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJanuary 7, 2020
- Press ReleaseDecember 6, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 3, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 14, 2019
- Event RecapTuesday, December 10, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 22, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 18, 2019
- InsightOctober 14, 2019
- Deals & CasesSeptember 18, 2019
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 11, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 10, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 6, 2019
- Energy EvolutionAugust 29, 2019
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 29, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 22, 2019
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 15, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 6, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJuly 23, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJuly 3, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJune 18, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJune 4, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 16, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 7, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 2, 2019
- Deals & CasesMay 1, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceApril 30, 2019
- Energy EvolutionApril 29, 2019
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- Rankings & AwardsApril 25, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceApril 16, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceApril 2, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 28, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 21, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 7, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJanuary 29, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJanuary 22, 2019
- V&E+January 16, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJanuary 10, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 20, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 18, 2018
- Event RecapDecember 12, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 6, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 29, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 20, 2018
- Deals & CasesNovember 19, 2018
- Deals & CasesNovember 2, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 30, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 25, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 18, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 14, 2018
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 6, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 9, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJuly 5, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJuly 3, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJune 28, 2018
- Deals & CasesJune 18, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 21, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 15, 2018
- Rankings & AwardsMay 9, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 1, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceApril 26, 2018
- InsightApril 9, 2018
V&E Whistleblower Counseling & Defense Update E-communication
- Deals & CasesMarch 29, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 13, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 9, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 1, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceFebruary 27, 2018
- InsightFebruary 22, 2018
V&E Whistleblower Counseling & Defense Update E-communication
- Deals & CasesFebruary 21, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceFebruary 15, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceFebruary 6, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 28, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 21, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 19, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 15, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 7, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 30, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 21, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 10, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 3, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 2, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 5, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 21, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 19, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 13, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 22, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 17, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 15, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJune 27, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 18, 2017
- Deals & CasesMay 15, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 10, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 4, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 2, 2017
- Deals & CasesApril 6, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceApril 4, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 30, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 21, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMarch 2, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceFebruary 23, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceFebruary 14, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceFebruary 8, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJanuary 19, 2017
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 29, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 21, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 15, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 8, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 6, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 1, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 8, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 3, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceNovember 1, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 24, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 10, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 22, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 21, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 20, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 6, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 1, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 25, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 18, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJune 30, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJune 24, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJune 7, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJune 2, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 10, 2016
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceApril 19, 2016
- “ESG Matters – Texas-size Challenges in Managing Supply Chains,” Texas Bar Journal, December 2019 (co-author)
- “International Human Rights Legal Issues: Impact on Texas Lawyers and Their Clients,” The State Bar of Texas International Law Section & International Human Rights Committee, December 10, 2019 (panelist)
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Houston Office, June 12, 2019 (speaker)
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Dallas Office, June 5, 2019 (speaker)
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Austin Office, May 28, 2019 (speaker)
- “The New Governance: Navigating the Rising ESG Tide,” V&E Houston Office, December 12, 2018 (speaker)
- “Seventh Annual Hydraulic Fracturing Symposium,” V&E Houston Office, October 4, 2017 (speaker)
- “The Rule of Labour Law and Conflict with International Human Rights Guidelines,” International Bar Association’s Human Rights Law Committee Newsletter, September 2017 (author)
- “Seventh Annual Hydraulic Fracturing Symposium,” V&E Houston Office, October 4, 2017 (speaker)
- “V&E and ERM Roundtable: How Best to Deliver Business Outcomes in a Safe and Sustainable Manner,” July 20, 2017 (speaker)
- “International Human Rights and Ethical Obligations For Texas Lawyers,” Texas Bar Journal, July 2017 (author)
- “7-Eleven Asset Acquisition,” Corporate Counsel Magazine, July 2017 (co-author)
- “24 Hours: How to Plan for the Day After a Major Workplace Incident,” 30th Annual Environmental, Health & Safety Seminar, June 5-8, 2017 (speaker)
- “ABA 2017 Midyear Meeting of the International Labor & Employment Law Committee,” May 7-11, 2017 (speaker)
- “Society for Corporate Governance: Houston Chapter One-day Conference,” The Houstonian Hotel, January 11, 2017 (speaker)
- “Legal Considerations for U.S. Media Employers Who Send Employees “Into Harm’s Way,” Media Law Resource Center Employment Committee Report, June 2016 (co-author)
- “Modern Slavery Act 2015 – The Impact on Multinational Businesses,” PLC Magazine, April 2016 (co-author)
- “How an Employer Is Organized Can Determine How Vulnerable It Is to Union Organizing,” V&E Employment, Labor and OSHA Update E-communication, August 6, 2014 (co-author)
- “Functional Approaches to Obtaining Non-Compete Protections,” V&E International Labor and Employment Law Update, July 8, 2014 (co-author)
- “Expert Q&A: Executive Actions Affecting Federal Contractors,” Practical Law, May 20, 2014 (co-author)
- “Federal Contractors Impacted By Recent Executive Order and Presidential Memorandum on Equal Pay,” V&E Employment, Labor and OSHA Update E-communication, April 30, 2014 (co-author)
- “Non-Competes in the Broadcast Industry,” MLRC Employment Committee, January 2014 (co-author)
- “Recent and Future Developments in the Energy Work Place,” V&E Employment, Labor and OSHA Update E-communication, March 6, 2013 (co-author)
- “Avoiding the Accidental Employee – how to make sure someone is an independent contractor or supervisor and why it is important,” Texas Labor and Employee Relations Consortium Meeting, February 7, 2013 (presenter)
- “Best Practices for Transferring U.S. Employees Overseas,” Practical Law The Journal, February 12, 2010
- A chapter on Norwegian labor and employment law for the ABA’s International Labor Law Treatise (co-author)
- A chapter on Nigerian labor and employment law for the ABA’s International Labor Law Treatise (co-author)
- ABA OSHA Committee treatise, chapter on specific OSHA standards
- Speaker at the 17th World Congress on Labor and Social Security Law in Montevideo, Uruguay
- Speaker on the future of U.S. Labor Law and on numerous programs, including the American Bar Association Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, American Corporate Counsel Association, International Association of Drilling Contractors, Human Resource Management Association, Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce, and American Dental Association
- Speaker at the American Bar Association Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee meeting on how refineries should prepare for inspections by OSHA under the Agency’s Refinery National Emphasis Program