Derek T. Rollins

• Lead attorney in the successful defense in arbitration of a national healthcare services company against former employee’s claims of sexual harassment, age discrimination, and retaliation under both the Texas Commission Human Rights Act and Sabine Pilot
• Obtained summary judgment in the Western District of Texas in favor of a national service contracting firm against claims of retaliation under § 3730(h) of the False Claims Act. Esteban Garcia v. Professional Contract Services, Inc., Civil Action No. 1:15-CV-585-DAE (W.D. Tex. Jan. 18, 2018)
• Obtained defense verdict for a national electrical and mechanical manufacturing provider on former employee’s Title VII claims of race discrimination and retaliation
• Lead lawyer in the defense of an international car rental company against claims of age discrimination and retaliation under the ADEA and Texas Labor Code, resulting in a favorable settlement
• Lead lawyer in the defense of a national advertising firm against claims of Title VII discrimination and retaliation, resulting in a favorable settlement
• Lead lawyer in the defense of an international shipping company against claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, resulting in a favorable settlement
• Second chair for an international oil and gas company in several wage and hour collective action litigations that were resolved favorably
• Second chair for a government contractor in defense against False Claims Act whistleblower and traditional employment allegations
• Regularly advises clients on preparing enforceable covenants not to compete and non-disclosure agreements
• Regularly provides counseling to local and national clients on a variety of employment-related issues, including compliance with Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other traditional state and federal employment statutes

Education

• J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 2006
• B.A., Tulane University, 2002

Admission to Practice

• New Mexico
• U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
• Texas
• U. S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

• Texas Legal (Board of Directors)
• American Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section, fellow)
• Cameron County Young Lawyers Association (President-elect)
• Defense Research Institute (Employment Law Committee, chair; Young Lawyer Liaison)
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel (Board of Directors)
• The Center for Child Protection of Travis County (Board of Directors)

• AHRMA Hot Topics – “Do I Have to Provide Leave For That?” – Austin – April 17, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing 2019 – “Disability Accommodations and the Interactive Process” – Austin – February 20, 2019
• State Bar of Texas Advanced Business Law Course 2018 – “2018 Employment Law Update” – Dallas – November 9, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Reel Ethics 2018 – “The Road To Hell May Be Paved With Good Intentions: The Duty To Preserve Relevant Information, Including ESI” – Austin – September 19, 2018
• Hill Country HRMA 2018 Employment Law Seminar – “Investigating Sexual Harassment Allegations in the #MeToo Era” – San Antonio – June 14, 2018
• AHRMA Credentialing Class – “U.S. Employment Laws and Regulations” – Austin – May 15, 2018
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel Winter Seminar 2018 – “The Weinstein Effect: The New Legal Landscape for Sexual Harassment” – Telluride – February 1, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins 15th Annual Employment Law Update – “Managing Millenials and Combining the Generations for a Productive Workforce” – Austin – October 20, 2017
• Austin Human Resource Management Association – “Bridging the Gap: An Update on Pay Equity” – Austin – July 27, 2017
• The University of Texas 24th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference – “Federal Contractor Update 2017” – Austin – June 12, 2017
• The Consortium of Title IX and Equity Officers in Higher Education – “Federal Contractor Initiatives and What to Expect from the Trump Administration” – Austin – May 9, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing – “How to Avoid Wrongful Termination Claims” – Austin – March 9, 2017
• Practicing Law Institute – “The Life of a Wage and Hour Litigation Claim” – New York City – March 1, 2017
• Austin Bar Association Labor and Employment Section – “Sharpening Your Skills: Updates on Negotiations, Trials & Ethics” – Austin – February 1, 2017
• AHRMA Credentialing Class – “Talent Acquisition & Retention, and Employee Engagement” – Austin – January 31, 2017
• AHRMA Credentialing Class – “U.S. Employment Laws and Regulations” – Austin – November 1, 2016
• Texas Association of Business Annual Symposium – “Getting Paid What You Are Worth: The Effects of Pay Discrimination” – San Antonio – July 22, 2016
• AHRMA Credentialing Class – “Talent Acquisition & Retention, and Employee Engagement” – Austin – February 9, 2016
• BioAustin Seminar – “Hot Legal Issues for Life Science Companies in 2015” – Austin – August 5, 2015
• TADC Summer Seminar – “Social Media and The Trial Lawyer” – Whistler – July 18, 2013
• TADC Annual Meeting – “What Young Lawyers Want and Need to Become Trial Lawyers of the Future” – Montreal – October 1, 2009

• January 15, 2019 – Chambers and Partners, contributing author – “Law and Practice: Texas Labor and Employment”
• Summer 2018 – Texas Association of Defense Counsel – “The New Legal Landscape for Sexual Harassment”
• November 2017 – Practicing Law Institute – “Case Law Update on Employment Status: Independent Contractor, Joint Employers, and Interns/Volunteers”
• November 2016 – Corporate Counsel Review – “Pitfalls in Employment Claim Settlements: An Ethical Standard for Settlement Agreements in Texas”
• 2016 – Texas Bar’s 24th Annual Advanced Employment Law Course, co-author – “Pitfalls in Settlements: An Ethical Standard for Settlement Agreements in Texas”
• February 4, 2015 – Defense Research Institute – “2015 Fifth Circuit Case Law Update”
• April 4, 2013 – Defense Research Institute – “2013 Fifth Circuit Case Law Update”
• January 25, 2012 – 20th Annual Advanced Employment Law – “An Employer’s Response to Being Sued”

• November 1, 2017 – SHRM Online – “Can an Executive Employment Agreement Excuse Bad Behavior?”
• October 26, 2017 – SHRM Online – “Can an Employee Waive the Right to Bring a Sexual Harassment Claim?”

• Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
• Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star (2015-present)