Lisa H. Pennington
Ms. Pennington is the Managing Partner of the Houston office. She previously served on the firm’s Policy Committee and for six years served as the Coordinator of the Houston Labor and Employment practice.
Ms. Pennington was named to Best Lawyers in America in 2008. She has been recognized as a “Texas Super Lawyer,” as one of the “Top 50 Female Lawyers in Texas,” as well as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in Houston” by Law & Politics and Texas Monthly magazine. She has also been named one of the “Best Lawyers in Houston” by H Texas magazine.
Ms. Pennington has tried numerous cases in state and federal courts and has handled appeals to state appellate courts, the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. The focus of her practice has been representing management in employment cases involving wrongful termination, sexual harassment and employee wrongdoing, employee benefits and discrimination (age, race, sex and disability). She also has significant experience in OSHA matters, wage and hour laws, collective bargaining, matters before the NLRB and covenant not to compete litigation.
Ms. Pennington’s cases included a multimillion-dollar jury trial for a large computer corporation, involving allegations of race and sex discrimination. In two other cases, she won judgments in an age discrimination case and a disabilities discrimination case, with an award of lawyers' fees and sanctions against the plaintiffs. Ms. Pennington also successfully handled the appeal of a class action involving claims of more than $1 billion against a major heavy equipment manufacturer.
Ms. Pennington is a frequent speaker and writer on a number of litigation and employment topics.
Ms. Pennington is a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way and is a member of the Texas and Houston Bar Foundations, where she previously served on the Board of Directors and as Vice-Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation. She has received the HBA President's Award for outstanding service as Chair of the Adopt-a-School Committee. She has also served as Chair of the HBA’s Membership Committee and on the Board of Directors for the HBA's Lawyer Referral Service. Ms. Pennington is also a past member of the Corporate Counsel Board for the Alley Theatre and the Leukemia Society's Board of Directors.
Ms. Pennington is a member of the American, Texas and Houston Bar Associations, and serves on the Employee Rights and Responsibilities Subcommittee of the ABA’s Labor Section.