Allison C. Williams
Shareholder
Selected Matters
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals order affirming the district court’s order compelling arbitration of wage and hour claims based on alleged misclassification and confirming that a district court must consider and determine arbitration issue before entertaining arguments on conditional certification in collective action.
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals order affirming the district court’s order granting complete summary judgment of employee’s claims for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on behalf of healthcare and education industry client.
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals order affirming the district court’s order granting complete summary judgment of employee’s claim for breach of contract and denying plaintiff’s motion to file amended complaint for gig economy / platform industry client.
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals order affirming the district court’s order granting motion for judgment on the pleadings dismissing former employee’s claim for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, stalking, and tortious liability for alleged physical injury against national retail industry client.
- Successfully defended employer in bench trial in which plaintiff alleged discrimination and failure to pay “deemed compensation” under USERRA for aviation industry client.
- Obtained complete defense verdicts in seven individual arbitrations that each went to final hearing alleging misclassification (IC) resulting in failure to pay minimum wage and overtime as well as failure to reimburse for business expenses for a gig economy / platform economy client.
- Obtained complete dismissal of claims for breach of contract, failure to pay wages under the FLSA, and various theories of breach of contract against client, with prejudice.
- Obtained complete summary judgment on claims for disability discrimination and failure to accommodate for waste disposal industry client.
- Obtained complete summary judgment on an assault, negligent hiring, negligent retention, negligent supervision, conspiracy, and fraud case for construction industry client.
- Numerous district court orders dismissing state law causes of action pled with claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, whereby the court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction.
- Obtained complete dismissal by the Texas Workforce Commission of claims for failure to pay commissions on behalf of retail industry client.
- Obtained complete dismissal and finding that worker was an independent contractor under the Texas Administrative Code following tax audit by the Texas Workforce Commission for gig economy client.
- Numerous successes in defending against motions for Rule 23 class certification, including obtaining complete denials of certification for contentious wage and hour claims against national beverage client and transportation client.
- Successfully narrowed scope of putative class from alleged nationwide collective to statewide collective, thereby significantly reducing potential exposure.
- Successfully negotiated collective action settlements on behalf of clients in a variety of industries including, the oil and gas industry, energy industry, automotive technology and digitization industry, gig economy industry, and waste disposal industry.
- Multiple successful results following investigations from the Department of Labor – Wage and Hour Division, OSHA, Texas Workforce Commission, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Afiliaciones Profesionales y Comunitarias
Member
Houston Bar Association
Member
Association of Women Attorneys
Member
Texas City – La Marque Chamber of Commerce
Member
Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce – Southwest Chapter
Member
San Diego County Bar Association
News, Analysis & Press
Fifth Circuit Holds Directional Driller is an Independent Contractor Rather than an Employee for FLSA Purposes
ASAP
May 31, 2022
Guidelines for Counsel's Duty of Inquiry Before Joining an FLSA Collective Action
Bloomberg Law
April 22, 2022
Case-by-Case Analysis for the Creative Professional Exemption Applies to All Journalists, Regardless of Employer Size
ASAP
January 21, 2021
Fifth Circuit Announces More Rigorous Standard for Certification of Collective Actions
ASAP
January 13, 2021
Navigating the ADA in the Time of COVID-19: A look at compliance during the pandemic
State Bar of Texas
October 2, 2020
Littler Elevates 28 Attorneys to Shareholder
January 6, 2020
The #MeToo Movement: What we have learned and where we need to go
Texas Bar Journal
December 2018
Speaking Engagements
Employer Actions in a Post-Pandemic Climate
Texas City – La Marque Chamber of Commerce
August 6, 2020
Employer Actions in a Prolonged Pandemic Climate
Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce
July 30, 2020
Effectively Navigating Employment Laws When Operating in Texas and California
Webinar
October 16, 2019
Timely Talk About Wage and Hour Law: Applying Tests and Avoiding Pitfalls When Using a Contingent Workforce
August 29, 2019
DOL’s PAID Program
Texas City - La Marque Chamber of Commerce
March 19, 2019
Insider Education Series – DOL’s PAID Program
Greater Houston Restaurant Association
October 10, 2018
Timely Talk About Wage and Hour Law: Day Rate Issues Impacting Employers
August 28, 2018
Redefining Employment Relationships And Responsibilities In The Gig Economy
2018 Littler Houston Employer Conference
August 8, 2018
Wage and Hour Class Action Avoidance
2017 Littler Houston Employer Conference
August 10, 2017
Educación
- J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 2010
- B.A., Southwestern University, 2007
Cortes
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas