Amber L. Buckheister

Counsel

Houston
T +1.713.646.1375
F +1.713.751.1717

Overview

Amber Buckheister manages a robust litigation practice that encompasses wage and hour matters as well as traditional employment law actions. She provides advice and counsel to employers in Texas and around the country on wage disputes and claims of employment discrimination, retaliation, harassment, breach of employment contracts and whistleblower violations in both federal and state courts.

Cognizant of the clients' bottom line, Amber crafts efficient and cost-effective solutions to wage and hour issues while keeping them apprised of upcoming changes that could affect their way of doing business. She credits her more than 10 years as an attorney in the U.S. Air Force for expanding her litigation experience and reinforcing her workplace investigation skills.

Select Experience

  • Defended complex FLSA collective actions in Texas federal courts and throughout the country.
  • Successfully challenged collective certification on constitutional basis which led to precedential decision on standing of proposed class representative.
  • Defended employee classification in Texas state courts and administrative hearings, including unemployment tax audits and workers’ compensation coverage disputes.
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Experience

  • Defended complex FLSA collective actions in Texas federal courts and throughout the country.
  • Successfully challenged collective certification on constitutional basis which led to precedential decision on standing of proposed class representative.
  • Defended employee classification in Texas state courts and administrative hearings, including unemployment tax audits and workers’ compensation coverage disputes.
  • Defended against Department of Labor and Texas Workforce Commission investigations.
  • Conducted workplace investigations and defended employment practices challenged at EEOC and in other administrative forums, including employment discrimination, retaliation/whistleblower lawsuits and other alleged violations of Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA and Sarbanes-Oxley.
  • Key member of trial team which successfully resolved approximately 150 individual FLSA arbitrations with the American Arbitration Association and associated proceedings with the NLRB.
  • Lead and co-counsel in FLSA collective actions alleging wage and hour violations with a particular focus on misclassification of employees and/or failure to pay overtime.
  • Proactively advised employers regarding pay practices and other employer policies.
  • Drafted and defended employment agreements.
  • Litigated general commercial matters in state and federal courts nationwide.
  • Received complete defense victory in hotly contested workers compensation non-subscriber arbitration with $2M+ at risk and multiple testifying experts.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Joint Base San Antonio Outstanding Reserve Judge Advocate of the Year (2012)
  • Air Education and Training Command Outstanding Reserve Judge Advocate of the Year (2012)

Memberships

  • Houston Bar Association

Military Service

  • Major, U.S. Air Force and USAF Reserves, Judge Advocate General Corps (2003 to 2014)

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Texas
  • Florida

Education

  • J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, with honors; Journal of Technology Law and Policy
  • B.S.B.A., Economics, The University of Alabama, magna cum laude