Ashley D. Thomas

Ashley D. Thomas is a trusted legal adviser to business owners, human resources professionals, and in-house counsel on a range of workplace matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and leave and accommodation issues. Ashley helps clients stay current and compliant in an ever-changing legal landscape by providing workplace training and drafting employee handbooks, policies, and employment agreements. She focuses on providing practical advice and counsel that balances both business realities and legal risk to reach clients’ short and long-term goals.

In addition, Ashley maintains an active litigation practice, routinely representing employers in a wide range of employment law matters arising under federal, state, and local laws and before state and federal courts and administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Texas Workforce Commission, and in arbitration and mediation. She defends and counsels clients on issues related to:

• Discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability
• Retaliation under discrimination laws and the Family and Medical Leave Act, including interference issues
• Drafting and reviewing employee handbooks, policies, and agreements, including separation agreements
• Wage and hour issues, including exempt/nonexempt status and contractor/employee status

Her recent representative experience includes:

• Obtaining summary judgment for a large, regional employer in a discrimination suit
• Obtaining dismissals in multiple Charges of Discrimination before agencies
• Negotiating favorable settlements through arbitration, mediation, and informal methods on behalf of clients facing significant exposure
• Advising clients on the complex employment law issues presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, including compliance with state and local orders, employee personal safety concerns, and providing accommodations and emergency sick and family leave for employees

In addition, Ashley’s practice includes conducting internal workplace investigations regarding discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and ethical and policy violations. She also has experience providing advice on compliance with the Texas Public Information Act and other issues specific to public employers. She is a frequent speaker on a variety of employment law topics for employer and industry groups.

Prior to joining Littler, Ashley practiced employment law for several years at an Austin, Texas-based firm with a statewide reach. In law school, Ashley interned for the Hon. Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the D.C. Court of Appeals and was a member of the International Law Review.