Brian Glenn Patterson

Partner

Areas of Focus

Brian Glenn Patterson

Partner

bpatterson@akingump.com

Areas of Focus

Save as PDF

Share This Biography

Biography
  • Represents employers in all types of employment-related matters, including litigation.
  • Won a landmark decision in favor of the Guatemalan government.

Brian Patterson focuses on representing employers in a wide range of employment-related matters, including noncompetition agreements, wage and hour claims, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement actions, whistleblower issues, executive employment contracts and employment discrimination. His litigation experience extends to class action cases brought under Title VII and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and employment-related claims brought in state and federal courts.

Brian has represented clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Department of Labor, OSHA and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He has counseled employers on numerous other employment matters, including the Family Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, Civil Rights laws, OSHA compliance, employee disciplinary actions and terminations, severance agreements, executive compensation packages and covenants not to compete.

In 2017, Brian secured a landmark decision in favor of the Guatemalan government in the first-ever labor case brought by the United States under a trade agreement. The suit alleged that Guatemala had failed to adequately enforce its labor laws as required by the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement.

Brian is a native Houstonian and is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in labor and employment law. He works proactively with clients to minimize potential litigation risks in current employment practices while providing flexibility and efficiency for management to run their businesses successfully. This work includes designing and implementing criterion-validated hiring and promotion practices, training on a variety of employment matters, and providing counsel during acquisitions or divestitures. Brian has handled traditional labor matters, advised clients during certification and decertification elections and collective bargaining agreements, defended unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB and advised companies on successorship and unfunded plan liability.

Before joining Akin Gump, Brian served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Judge John Donovan of the 61st District Court of Texas and as a volunteer intern at the EEOC in Dallas, Texas.

Representative Work
  • Representing an oil and gas industry supplier in a wage-and-hour lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas filed by Field Service Representatives, claiming that they were misclassified as exempt from the overtime requirements of the FLSA.
  • Representing a logistics and freight management solutions provider in a regulatory investigation and enforcement litigation involving OSHA citations in several states.
  • Pursuing injunction actions against former employees of an energy construction company who started a competing business and attempted to poach clients.
  • Assisting an oil and gas industry supplier with structuring reductions-in-force and implementing a voluntary termination program.
  • Representing an oilfield services company in connection with a whistleblower retaliation complaint filed with OSHA.
  • Defending an oilfield services company against various single-plaintiff discrimination suits alleging national origin, race and age discrimination, and retaliation claims.

Education
  • J.D., Southern Methodist University School of Law, 2006

  • B.A., University of Richmond, 2002

Bar Admissions
  • Texas

Recognitions
  • The Legal 500 US, Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense, 2020.
  • Akin Gump’s labor and employment practice named as Law360 Employment Practice Group of the Year four times in seven years: 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
  • Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2014-2018.
Affiliations and Public Service
  • Member, Junior VolunTIRR, the TIRR Foundation’s organization for young professionals.
  • Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Speeches and Publications
  • “Integrating Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) in Corporate Practices: The Role of Counsel,” Association of Corporate Counsel Houston, (Webinar, January 12, 2021).
  • “The Evolving Interpretation of Title VII and What It Means for Your LGBT Employees,” Akin Gump In-House Counsel CLE Series, Dallas, June 2018.

Insights and Achievements

          Related Content

          People

          Distinguished by our areas of focus, as a cohesive and integrated firm, we are defined by the caliber of our work, the responsiveness of our service and a culture that is rooted in collaboration and forward-thinking.

          We Also Recommend

          Loading...
          Loading...
          Loading...
          Loading...