Paul M. Knettel

Associate

Houston
T +1.713.646.1313
F +1.713.751.1717

Overview

Paul Knettel has a broad employment law practice, litigating and advising clients on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. Paul’s experience includes issues related to discrimination, harassment and retaliation, wage and hour laws, non-competes and other restrictive covenants, misappropriation of trade secrets, occupational safety and health, employee privacy, and paid and unpaid leave.

Paul represents employers in individual and class action lawsuits and before administrative agencies such as the EEOC. He guides clients through each stage of the litigation process, including pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation and alternative dispute resolution. He also works closely with clients to develop solutions to various employee relations matters that arise outside of the litigation arena.

Select Experience

  • Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal for energy industry staffing company on former senior executive’s claims for breach of contract and fraud.
  • On behalf of an automotive company, obtained summary judgment on employee’s overtime claim alleging improper job classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal for senior executive of North American energy infrastructure company on former employee’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
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Experience

  • Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal for energy industry staffing company on former senior executive’s claims for breach of contract and fraud.
  • On behalf of an automotive company, obtained summary judgment on employee’s overtime claim alleging improper job classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal for senior executive of North American energy infrastructure company on former employee’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
  • Obtained complete summary judgment for an energy company on a former employee’s lawsuit for age discrimination in Texas state court.
  • Achieved favorable outcome for client in FLSA collective action alleging that satellite dish installers were misclassified as independent contractors instead of employees, and therefore owed overtime compensation.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of an international analytical testing company in a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by former employee alleging he was terminated due to a purported disability.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Washington University School of Law: Mary Collier Hitchcock Prize for Outstanding Writing (2016)

Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas

Community

  • K-9 Angels Rescue: Volunteer

Pro Bono

  • Assisted Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Houston in protecting children's rights and well-being in immigration matters.

Prior Positions

  • The Honorable David R. Herndon, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois: Judicial Clerk
  • U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division: Law Clerk

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
  • Texas

Education

  • J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, 2016, magna cum laude; Washington University Law Review, Executive Editor
  • B.B.A., Abilene Christian University, 2010, summa cum laude

Blog

In The Blogs

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Employment Law Spotlight
Sharply Divided En Banc 5th Circuit Opines on Salary Basis Requirement for Day Rate Employees Under the FLSA
By Paul M. Knettel, Peter J. Stuhldreher
September 13, 2021
In a 12-6 split decision, the en banc 5th Circuit Thursday evening released its ruling in Hewitt v. Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc., Case No. 19-20023, addressing the issue of when an employee paid a daily rate can qualify for the...
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Employment Law Spotlight
Texas Court Affirms Employers' Freedom to Require COVID-19 Vaccine for Employees
By Paul M. Knettel, Peter J. Stuhldreher
June 14, 2021
COVID-19 has presented no shortage of legal questions for employers, from shutdowns and layoffs to when and how to reopen. And with COVID-19 vaccines now broadly available in the United States, some companies (especially those in high-risk...
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