Luke C. MacDowall represents employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, handling a diverse array of employment law matters.
Luke is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Luke represents and counsels employers in cases arising under federal and state laws, including:
- Discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, religious, sex, age, or disability
- Harassment in the workplace
- Retaliation, including workers' compensation retaliation
- Claims for unemployment insurance benefits
- Wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Unfair competition and trade secrets
He further assists employers with responding to administrative charges of discrimination before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and with abiding by best practices in:
- Reviewing and drafting employee handbooks and policies
- Hiring, performance management, and termination
- Assessing employee accommodation requests to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
While his practice includes advice and counsel work as described above, Luke focuses on litigation matters at the pre-trial and trial stages. Luke has extensive trial and oral advocacy experience, handling single and multi-plaintiff actions in state and federal courts. He also regularly carries matters to conclusion on appeal.
During law school, Luke was an editorial staff member for the Wake Forest Business & Intellectual Property Law Journal. He also competed on the school’s National Moot Court and National Trial teams.
Prior to joining Littler, Luke was an associate in the employment and workers’ compensation practice group of a well-respected firm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Selected Matters
- In 2023, Luke argued before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and prevailed in a case involving claims of disability discrimination, retaliation, and failure-to-accommodate on behalf of an energy sector client.
- In 2023, Luke prevailed in a federal jury trial against the EEOC involving allegations of disability discrimination on behalf of a healthcare client.
- In 2023, Luke achieved complete summary judgment in an arbitration of claims of alleged pregnancy and sex discrimination against an oil and gas drilling company.
- In 2022, Luke achieved complete summary judgment in a case alleging retaliation, disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and breach of contract against a pump, valve, and seal supplier.
- In 2022, Luke achieved complete summary judgment in a case alleging race discrimination and retaliation against a medical supplies manufacturer.
- In 2020, Luke prevailed in a federal jury trial regarding claims of age discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against an energy company and its convenience store subsidiary.
- In 2020, Luke achieved complete summary judgment and dismissal of a case alleging age discrimination with respect to a reduction-in-force decision against a health system client.
- In 2019, Luke achieved complete summary judgment and dismissal of a lawsuit alleging age discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against a healthcare client.
- In 2019, Luke prevailed in the arbitration of a race discrimination, harassment, and retaliation case against an industrial construction services company.
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