Robert E. Sheeder

With more than 50 lawsuits taken to verdict and nearly 100 arbitrations handled, Bob is held in high esteem by market commentators for his impressive record of courtroom success.  Clients describe him as a “go-to employment lawyer” who is a “well trusted adviser.” His service is called “incredibly responsive” and “thorough.” Bob is listed among the top-ranked labor and employment lawyers in Texas by Chambers USA and internationally by Chambers Global, with Chambers USA noting him as “one of the preeminent employment lawyers” in Texas.

Bob is active in industry associations, and currently serves as an emeritus member of the executive council of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, where he previously served as chair. He also served as chair of The University of Texas Law School 2006 Annual Course on Developments in Labor and Employment Law, and continues to speak on labor and employment issues at the annual course.

Bob is a frequent lecturer and writer on labor law issues. He previously served as editor-in-chief of the Texas Labor Letter, and participated on the faculty of the Jury Trials of Employment Claims course for more than five years, also participating in the advanced course. Bob is a charter member of the Management and Employment Law Roundtable and a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

Bob is the labor and employment practice leader for the Dallas office. Before joining Morgan Lewis, Bob was a partner at an international law firm, resident in Dallas, where he served as chair of its labor and employment department.

• Defended a transportation and rig moving company in a lawsuit involving numerous breach of contract and trade secret claims; obtained total dismissal of the lawsuit pursuant to the Texas Citizens Participation Act
• Advised Par Pacific Holdings Inc. in its acquisition of 100 percent of the equity interests in US Oil & Refining Co. and certain affiliated entities for $358 million, including a 42,000 bpd refinery, a marine terminal and associated logistical system in Tacoma, Washington
• Serves as primary outside labor and employment counsel to the largest division of a major defense prime contractor
• Represented an independent storage terminals company in a case involving a nationwide wage and hour collective action, which was ultimately dismissed with prejudice and no class was certified
• Represented a personal care electrical products manufacturer in a highly publicized lawsuit by its former CEO, which was successfully resolved for the client
• Represented Towers Perrin as a third-party administrator in Milofsky v. American Airlines in which the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the dismissal of Towers Perrin in an ERISA class action
• Defended Worldcom in Shephard v. Worldcom, a nationwide benefits class action where the US District Court of the Southern District of Texas granted summary judgment
• Defended a major manufacturer in a multiparty sex discrimination jury trial in state court in Fort Worth, Texas, where the court granted a directed verdict for the defendant employer after several weeks of trial
• Negotiated the closing and relocation, and successfully defended multiple related unfair labor practice charges and a prolonged Unit Clarification trial before the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of a Fortune 500 manufacturer
• Defended a Fortune 500 corporation in a race discrimination class action in the Northern District of Texas, where the court denied class certification and subsequently granted summary judgment against the named plaintiffs
• Represented a major manufacturer in one of the largest FLSA collective actions in the United States
• Defended the Belo Corporation and Dallas Morning News in Powell et.al. v. The Dallas Morning News et.al., a large collective action and multiplaintiff age discrimination case where summary judgment was granted against all 18 plaintiffs; the decision was affirmed by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Represented a major defense contractor in a nationwide wage and hour class action involving employees assigned overseas under foreign labor laws; case was dismissed after it was held that US laws applied