Taylor Appling is an associate in Foley & Lardner LLP’s Houston office and a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice. Her experience includes defending large and mid-sized employers in state and federal court, working directly with general counsel, executive-level management, and human resources (HR) professionals to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations, and developing proactive tools for preventing employment-related litigation.
Taylor takes a preventative approach to her practice; however, when employers are faced with litigation or other workplace disputes, Taylor provides a strong, immediate, and comprehensive legal defense.
Taylor’s experience includes defending employers in litigation matters and related matters, such as representing them in investigations by federal and state government agencies. Specifically, her experience includes:
-
Defending claims of unlawful discrimination, pay disparity, hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and equivalent state laws and regulations
-
Defending corporations against competitors’ claims of trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference with business relations, and conspiracy to commit a breach of fiduciary duty
-
Drafting executive employment agreements, severance and release agreements, covenants not to compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, staffing contracts, independent contractor agreements, and arbitration provisions
-
Counseling and defending employers against federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations, whistleblower complaints, and wage and hour disputes
-
Conducting training sessions for management, HR, and hourly employees on topics related to ADA, FMLA, reasonable accommodation procedures, lawful hiring, and promotions practices, discrimination and, harassment
-
Creating, reviewing, and updating employment policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations