LORI CARR
Of Counsel
Direct Dial: 214.599.4004
lcarr@estesthorne.com

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Lori Carr likes freedom. The freedom to put her clients at the center of her practice. The freedom to staff a case the way she knows it should be staffed. The freedom to establish fee arrangements that work for both the client and the firm. And frankly, the freedom to play the occasional round of golf. So, when the opportunity to team up with other talented women and start their own firm presented itself, Lori didn’t need a lot of convincing. “I never looked back,” she says.

Although originally studying to be a tax lawyer, Lori gravitated to labor and employment law while clerking for a federal judge after graduating law school. She’s board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and she represents employers in both state and federal courts, arbitration proceedings, and before government agencies. She has experience in many areas, including litigation defense, risk management, training, consultation, investigations, and representation during government audits or enforcement proceedings. One thing that sets Lori apart from other labor and employment attorneys is her vast experience and specialty in representing employers against OSHA. She is also frequently trusted with conducting investigations involving sensitive issues and involving complaints against high-level company executives.

Among her other accolades, Lori is also an accomplished golfer. In fact, she’s made two holes-in-one. If that wasn’t enough, Lori frequently lectures on employment policies, management training and compliance with state and federal employment laws.

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on sex, national origin, religion, color, and race)
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (age discrimination)
  • Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) (disability accommodation and discrimination)
  • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage and overtime issues)
  • Covenants not to compete and other restrictive covenants
  • Misappropriation of trade secrets
  • ERISA litigation (benefits claims, interference with protected rights, violation of statutory and common-law duties)
  • Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
  • Executive Order 11246 (affirmative-action planning and audit defense)
  • Sarbanes-Oxley Act (whistleblower protection)
  • Workers compensation retaliation
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Employment contracts
  • Employment policies and procedures
  • Whistleblower actions, including “Sabine Pilot” actions
  • Pregnancy discrimination
  • Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
  • Article 21 of the Texas Labor Code
  • Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)
  • Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

Counseling and Training

A significant portion of Lori’s practice is focused on counseling employers on a daily basis on various employment issues, such as:

  • Employee discipline
  • Sexual harassment investigations
  • Termination decisions
  • Ethics point investigations
  • Employee theft investigations
  • Policies and procedures
  • Workplace violence
  • Family leave
  • Accommodation of disabilities
  • Proper classification of employees
  • Employment contracts
  • Payment of wages

She also conducts formal training, including the following:

  • Training managers and supervisors on how to recognize and deal with employment law issues
  • Sexual harassment education – for managers and employees
  • Best practices in employment policies and procedures, including hiring, discipline and termination
  • ADA compliance and coordination with workers’ compensation and family leave laws
  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of the District of Columbia
  • Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • Member, State Bar of Texas
    • Labor & Employment Section
  • Fellow, Dallas Bar Association
    • Labor & Employment Section
  • Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Member, Dallas Women Lawyers Association
  • Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
  • Member, NAMWOLF (National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms)
  • Member, National Association of Women Lawyers

 

  • Owner/Founder, The Carr Law Firm, P.C., Dallas (2006-2008) labor & employment defense
  • Partner, Gardere Wynne Sewell, Dallas (1997-2006) labor & employment defense
  • Associate, Gardere & Wynne, Dallas (1991-1997) labor & employment defense
  • Associate, Johnson & Gibbs, Washington, D.C. (1990-1991) tax, real estate and labor Sections
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Eldon B. Mahon, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas (1988-1990)
  • Recognized, Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, as published in Texas Monthly (2006-2008, 2014-2023)
  • Recognized, The Best Lawyers in America®, BL Rankings LLC, Litigation – Labor & Employment (2012-2024)
  • Recognized, The Best Lawyers in America®, BL Rankings LLC, Labor Law – Union (2012-2024)
  • Recognized, The Best Lawyers in America®, BL Rankings LLC, Employment Law – Management (2019-2024)
  • Recognized, Best Lawyers in Dallas in Labor & Employment, as published in D Magazine (2011-2019, 2022)
  • Recognized, Best Women Lawyers in Dallas in Labor & Employment, as published in D Magazine (2010)
  • Recognized, AV Preeminent-Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Martindale-Hubbell
  • NAWL Conference 2018 – #METOO. WHY NOW? WHAT’S NEXT? – Panelist