Jennifer J. Spencer

EDUCATION

• J.D. University of Texas at Austin (honors, Order of the Coif), 1987
• BBA, Texas A&M University (summa cum laude), 1984
• Certified Public Accountant license, 1987

PRACTICE AREAS

• Employment Litigation, including Trade Secret, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements
• Class Actions
• Business and Complex Commercial Litigation
• Partnership Disputes
• Contract, Negotiation, Preparation and Review

COURT ADMISSIONS

U.S. District Court for the Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; All Texas courts.

American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator, Employment and Commercial Litigation Panels.

• D Magazine “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” 2019, 2021–2022
• Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2009–Present
• America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, 2018
• Client Satisfaction Award (American Institute of Legal Counsel) – 2016, 2017, 2018
• Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), Top 50 Women Attorneys in Texas, 2016, 2017
• The Best Lawyers in America, 2015–Present
• Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (Martindale Hubbell), 2014–2018
• 10 Best Attorneys (American Institute of Legal Counsel, Labor and Employment Law Division), 2017, 2018
• Best Employment Lawyers in Dallas (Expertise Community), 2017, 2018
• D Magazine “Best Lawyers in Dallas Under 40,” (2002)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated, 1997 – Present

Both an experienced trial lawyer and a CPA, Ms. Spencer is known for an aggressive, organized, and highly effective litigation style. She is a champion for the rights of the employee who has been wrongfully terminated, discriminated against, sexually harassed, terminated after whistleblowing, passed over for promotions that they should rightfully have received, or otherwise wrongfully treated in the workplace. In settlement talks, she has crafted strategies for the creative and favorable resolution of lawsuits and other disputes, where a settlement makes sense for the overall strategy of her clients. If a favorable negotiated resolution is not possible, however, then Ms. Spencer fully employs her thirty-one plus years of courtroom experience on her client’s behalf. Ms. Spencer’s accounting background helps her  to provide her clients with the ability to immediately understand complex financial issues so as to assist clients in achieving strategic business objectives during high-stakes disputes and litigation.

Accomplished in handling complex matters, involving amounts in controversy from a few thousand to multimillion-dollar matters, Ms. Spencer is known in Dallas as a lawyer who has successfully litigated commercial cases and employment matters. As a former partner in large, prestigious law firms, Ms Spencer combines big-firm lawyering skills and quality with small firm efficiency and costs.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Represents numerous employees in matters involving: wrongful termination and discrimination on account of disability, race, gender, age, national origin, religion, filing worker’s compensation claims, taking FMLA leave, etc.
• Represents victims of sexual harassment and hostile work environment.
• Represents employees who should have been paid overtime but were not in violation of the FLSA.
• Arbitrator of commercial and employment with the American Arbitration Association
• Represents employees accused of theft of trade secrets and violating non-competes and non-solicitations.
• Represents individuals and companies suing banks or being sued by banks
• Represents employees who have been misclassified as independent contractors
• Represents owner of oil refinery
• Represents physicians in partnership and other commercial disputes.
• Involved in pharmaceutical litigation in commercial and products liability cases

PREVIOUS LAW FIRM EXPERIENCE

• Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP, Partner
• Locke Liddell, LLP Partner (now known as Locke Lord)
• Spencer Crain Cubbage Healy & McNamara, Managing Partner
• Johnson & Gibbs, PC, Associate and Income Shareholder

TESTIMONIAL

Jennifer and her crew at Jackson Spencer Law recently provided me with excellent legal representation in my transition away from my former employer. Her counsel was both sympathetic towards me, and yet firm and assertive with the opposition. She was able to significantly increase the value of the severance package that was offered by my former employer, while avoiding the need for an invasive, lengthy, and expensive jury trial. She has my highest recommendation. — MJA

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

• “Risky Business: Top Ten Legal Risks Facing Small Business owners, ” presentation to Women’s Business Council
•  “Getting Ahead of the Game: Planning for E-Discovery Before Litigation Happens”
• “Litigation Risks and New Developments”, Entrepreneurial Women Presidents of Dallas
• “Class Actions – Recent Developments and Mechanics”, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, speaker and author
• “Mass Torts – Class Action Suits”, Advanced Litigation Course for State Bar of Texas, speaker and author
• “Litigation Risks in Banking”, Approaching Banking Seminar
• “Depth of Experience. Trusted. A Unique Advantage” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, September
• “Secure Your Clients’ Data, ” Scotsman Guide
• “E-Discovery and ESI Management, ” Computer Technology Review
• “Are You Prepared for a Data Privacy Lawsuit, ” Enterprise Management Quarterly
• “E-Discovery Software Can Help You Manage Litigation Costs, ” Scotsman