Kristin Snyder Higgins

Ms. Higgins has extensive experience litigating cases for private and public employers of all sizes and from all industries. She has represented clients against allegations of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, failure to accommodate, defamation, breach of contract, and other violations of state and federal law. Ms. Higgins regularly conducts trainings for managers and hourly employees on employment law issues. Ms. Higgins has additional experience advising employers on employee handbooks, termination and job elimination, and family and medical leave. She represents clients before various administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Texas Workforce Commission, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Fort Worth Human Rights Commission. Ms. Higgins’ experience includes, but is not limited to the following:

Employment Litigation:

Discrimination/Harassment/Retaliation

• Achieved dismissal of retaliation claims brought against international communications company by former attorney.
• Achieved summary judgment against plaintiff who brought claims against a large corporation for age discrimination, disability discrimination and retaliation.
• Achieved summary judgment on retaliation claims brought by plaintiff who filed multiple lawsuits against his current employer.
• Represented large retail client and obtained summary judgment on worker’s compensation retaliation claim and successfully removed the case to Federal Court before favorably settling the remaining claims of age and disability discrimination.
• Defended and obtained numerous favorable settlements for large and small clients accused of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
• Successfully defended residential community client in hearing before Fort Worth Human Rights Commission for violation of fair housing laws.

Arbitration

• Represented a financial services company in obtaining a complete victory including a partial summary judgment and successful three day remote arbitration hearing in 2020 on remaining claims including breach of contract and fraudulent inducement.
• Defended large international banking client and obtained favorable judgment in arbitration where claimant alleged race discrimination.
• Obtained summary judgment on current employee’s discrimination and retaliation claims against large international banking client in FINRA arbitration.
• Successfully defended former employee’s appeal to the Fifth Circuit of order compelling arbitration on claims of pregnancy discrimination, violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and retaliation and then subsequently negotiated a favorable settlement of claims in arbitration.

Miscellaneous

• Successfully appealed numerous unemployment and wage determinations before the Texas Workforce Commission for clients of all sizes.

Education

• J.D., with honors, University of Texas School of Law, 2004
• B.S., magna cum laude, Texas A&M University, 2001

Admission to Practice

• Texas
• U. S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Tenth Circuits

• State Bar of Texas
• Dallas Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)

• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Workplace Strategies Watercooler 2024: Out of Office—Managing a Remote Work Environment” – May 29, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Crisis Management From the C-Suite: Lessons Learned From a Global Pandemic” – Phoenix – May 6, 2022
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Zealous, but Ethical: Ethics Conundrums in Litigation Management ” – Amelia Island – November 12, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “No Stigma: Why Today’s Employees Aren’t Shy About Suing” – Austin – June 24, 2021
• Women’s In House Network – “Vision 2020: An Employment Law Update for the New Decade” – Dallas – February 5, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “Full and Fair Investigation of Sexual Harassment Claims in the #MeToo Era” – Dallas – February 28, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar (Moderator) – “Guns and Weapons in the Workplace—Legal Obligations, Litigation Risks, and Policy Best Practices” – Chicago – May 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Representing the Company Zealously Without Losing Your License (or Soul)” – San Antonio – May 2015
• Women’s In-House Counsel Network – “Employment Law Hot Topics” – Dallas – 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “The Changing Face of Employment Law” – Dallas – 2011

• January 2014 – SHRM Court Report – “Fifth Circuit Revives Claim by Sikh IRS Agent Fired for Bringing Religious Sword to Office”

• June 30, 2021 – Working Mother – “Ogletree Deakins Shareholder Kristin Snyder Higgins Shares How the Firm’s Supportive Culture Helped Guide Her to the Top”

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Labor and Employment (2021-2025)
• Up-and-Coming 50: 2018 Women Texas Rising Stars
• Texas Rising Star (2008 – present)
• Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law