Taylor Appling is a litigation associate in the firm’s Houston office and a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group. She litigates trade secret, noncompete, unfair competition, and employment claims. Taylor is also a member of the Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Team.
In addition to regularly defending large and mid-sized companies in state and federal court, Taylor works directly with general counsel, executive-level management, and human resources professionals to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations and develop proactive tools for preventing employment-related litigation.
Representative Experience
- Defending companies and their employees at jury trial and expedited injunction hearings based on claims of trade secret misappropriation, covenants not to compete, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and tortious interference with business relations.
- Defending claims of unlawful discrimination, pay disparity, hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and equivalent state laws and regulations.
- Drafting executive employment agreements, severance and release agreements, covenants not to compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, staffing contracts, independent contractor agreements, and arbitration provisions.
- Counseling and defending employers against federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations, whistleblower complaints, and wage and hour disputes.
- Conducting training sessions for management, HR, and hourly employees on topics related to ADA, FMLA, reasonable accommodation procedures, lawful hiring and promotions practices, discrimination, and harassment.
- Creating, reviewing, and updating employment policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Awards and Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America© Ones to Watch (2021-2024)
- Super Lawyers Texas Rising Stars (2022-2023)
Affiliations
- Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2019-Present)
- Member of the Houston Bar Association
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
- Labor and Employment Section
- Member of the Houston Association of Women Attorneys
- Member of the Houston Young Lawyers Association
Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America
Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
EEOC’S Proposed Regulations Interpret the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces the PWFA, and it began accepting Charges of Discrimination under the PWFA on June 27, 2023 — the day the law became effective.
BYOD to E-Discovery: What Happens When Employees “Scan” and Send Chats of Company Documents Using Their Phones?
We recently cautioned employers about their confidential information showing up in selfies posted online, but social media is not the only reason employees are taking photos at work.
Messaging Apps Bring Tough Data Questions For Employers
In the modern workforce, employees are increasingly utilizing private messaging apps such as WhatsApp Messenger, GroupMe, Signal and Telegram Messenger, as well as interoffice apps such as Skype, Microsoft Teams and Slack, to discuss business transactions and operations.
Foley Attorneys Named to 2023 Texas Rising Stars List
Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that 10 attorneys from the firm’s Dallas and Houston offices have been named to the 2023 Texas Rising Stars list.
Foley Defeats $42 Million Jury Demand in Texas Trade Secrets Case
Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that it has secured a favorable outcome for its clients in a Texas Uniform Trade Secret Act (TUTSA) case, precluding a bid for $42 million in damages by the plaintiff.