
Thomas H. Wilson

Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002





After more than 35 years of experience in employment, labor and safety law, what Tom Wilson has learned is that clients want a lawyer who can handle any problem they may have in their workplaces. As indicated by his experience described below, you will have a hard time stumping Tom with an issue on which he has not already addressed in his practice. For example, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and companies wanted to furlough employees, Tom knew how to do that from his experience with seasonal employment trends in manufacturing related to the construction industry. This broad and deep experience in his practice area is why 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.
Tom is sought after by businesses when they have questions about the social element of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. He is a member of the V&E ESG Taskforce, and provides counsel on human rights matters, including diversity, equity and inclusion considerations, related to operations, projects, and supply chains, as well as working with other members of the V&E ESG Taskforce to create end-to-end solutions for clients navigating their social risks and opportunities. Tom also advises 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
For a U.S. national organization, conduct investigation and advise client on change in leadership following complaint by one senior officer against two other officers and assist in obtaining bankruptcy court approval of reorganization
Investigate for pipeline company complaint by a senior executive against another senior executive, handle related injunction litigation concerning executive’s non-compete agreement
Advise international energy company on retention of third party employees through operations in Singapore for project in Mozambique
Advise on and investigate technical employees and independent contractor arrangements in several countries including The Ukraine and Singapore for social media management firm
Oversee employment and labor issues, negotiate contract terms and advise private equity firm on transaction with employees in China, Mexico, and Singapore
Identify and analyze supply chain issues of company for private equity firm
Due diligence and contract revisions for international manufacturing company related to supply chain matters in Northern Brazil
Advise international oil and gas company on operations and supply chain issues for operations in Mauritania
Advise military housing management company on Davis Bacon wage matters
Advise IT solutions company on collective bargaining matters related to employees working on government contracts
Advise and manage due diligence for private equity firm on transaction targets human rights issues related to supply chains in China and India
Review ESG report for midstream company
Monitor supply chain sustainability issues for international energy company
Conduct compliance review for alternative energy service company
Review and prepare response to activist group related to environmental justice matters
Review and advise offshore drilling company on all aspects of social program elements of ESG including disclosures
Review ESG policy and plan development and address supply contracts in India related to same
Assist in drafting sustainability report for international energy company
Advise independent oil and gas company on development of social aspects of ESG program
Advise engineering consulting firm on development of an ESG program and on diversity and inclusion matters
For energy related private equity firm, review and advise on DOL proposed investment rule
Assist an alternative energy investment firm in creating its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and provide oversight on the same
Identify and analyze supply chain issues of company for private equity firm
Due diligence and contract revisions for international manufacturing company related to supply chain matters in Northern Brazil
Advise international oil and gas company on operations and supply chain issues for operations in Mauritania
Due diligence for private equity firm on target’s supply chains related to mining operations in Africa
Train management team of international construction company on human rights matters related to new project in Colombia
Draft secondment agreements for Japanese auto parts manufacturer for employees outside of Japan
Advise international energy company on retention of third party employees through operations in Singapore for project in Mozambique
Advise on and investigate technical employees and independent contractor arrangements in several countries including The Ukraine and Singapore for social media management firm
Oversee employment and labor issues, negotiate contract terms and advise private equity firm on transaction with employees in China, Mexico, and Singapore
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
Advise military equipment supplier on document retention matters related to government contracts
Review and advise client on matter under review by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General
Advise military housing management company on Davis Bacon wage matters
Advise IT solutions company on collective bargaining matters related to employees working on government contracts
Advise utility company on government contractor status
Advise major performing arts organization on investigation and leadership change following numerous employee complaints
For a U.S. national organization, conduct investigation and advise client on change in leadership following complaint by one senior officer against two other officers and assist in obtaining bankruptcy court approval of reorganization
Investigate for pipeline company complaint by a senior executive against another senior executive, handle related injunction litigation concerning executive’s non-compete agreement
For a North American manufacturer, conduct an investigation of a senior executive’s compliance with financial controls
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
- Lawdragon, 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2021
- Chambers USA, Labor and Employment (Texas), 2006–2021
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), (Houston): Labor and Employment Law–Management, 2003–2006 and 2008–2022; Litigation–Labor and Employment, 2022
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2003–2004, 2006–2020, and 2022
- 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
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 29, 2022
- Deals & CasesMarch 1, 2022
- InsightNovember 30, 2021
- Rankings & AwardsNovember 16, 2021
- InsightNovember 4, 2021
V&E Government Contracts Update
- InsightNovember 1, 2021
V&E Government Contracts Update
- InsightOctober 29, 2021
V&E Government Contracts Update
- Deals & CasesSeptember 30, 2021
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 22, 2021
- InsightSeptember 10, 2021
V&E Government Contracts Update
- InsightSeptember 3, 2021
- Deals & CasesAugust 16, 2021
- InsightAugust 3, 2021
- Deals & CasesAugust 3, 2021
- Deals & CasesJuly 20, 2021
- InsightJune 24, 2021
- InsightJune 17, 2021
- Deals & CasesJune 8, 2021
- InsightMay 27, 2021
- InsightMay 21, 2021
V&E Climate Change Update
- Deals & CasesMay 11, 2021
- InsightApril 28, 2021
V&E Government Contracts Update
- Deals & CasesApril 13, 2021
- Deals & CasesJanuary 28, 2021
- InsightJanuary 26, 2021
- InsightJanuary 13, 2021
- Deals & CasesJanuary 6, 2021
- Deals & CasesJanuary 5, 2021
- InsightDecember 8, 2020
- InsightDecember 2, 2020
- InsightNovember 24, 2020
- InsightNovember 12, 2020
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 19, 2020
- Event RecapSeptember 30, 2020
- InsightSeptember 29, 2020
Published by Practical Law, August 10, 2020
- InsightSeptember 23, 2020
Published in CorpGov, September 24, 2020
- Event RecapSeptember 15, 2020
- InsightSeptember 4, 2020
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 20, 2020
- InsightAugust 4, 2020
- InsightJuly 23, 2020
- Deals & CasesJuly 20, 2020
- InsightJune 2, 2020
- InsightMay 26, 2020
- InsightMay 21, 2020
- Rankings & AwardsApril 23, 2020
- Event RecapApril 8, 2020
- Deals & CasesMarch 30, 2020
- Event RecapMarch 18, 2020
- InsightMarch 17, 2020
- InsightJanuary 7, 2020
- Press ReleaseDecember 6, 2019
- V&E+January 16, 2019
- “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