John Harper Returns to Haynes and Boone

by Jessica Huseman, Staff Writer

HOUSTON – After seven years at Morgan Lewis, John Harper III is returning to Haynes and Boone as of counsel in the Labor and Employment Practice Group.

Harper was a summer associate at Haynes and Boone in 2000, and then associate from 2001 to 2004 in the Dallas office before moving his practice to Morgan Lewis in Houston.

“I am a native Houstonian,” said Harper. “After graduating from SMU law school and working at Haynes and Boone in Dallas, an opportunity to move back to Houston arose and I took it.”

He decided to move back to Haynes and Boone because, after spending times at firms with offices outside of Texas, he believes Texas-based Haynes and Boone is “well positioned to take advantage of the third coasts’ – and especially Houston’s – strong business environment.”

Harper represents employers in a wide range of labor relations and employment law matters. He has handled a Fair Labor Standards Act class action suit involving substantial potential liability for a company’s alleged failure to pay overtime, along with a retaliation claim asserted by an individual. He also defended a malicious prosecution case in which the plaintiffs alleged that a company had wrongfully pressed criminal charges against them.

“These cases were important to my clients not only because of the possible damages involved, but also because of the principles at stake–principles which were ultimately vindicated by the outcomes,” Harper said.

Melissa Goodman, who chairs Haynes and Boone’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, said Harper’s “knowledge and industry experience will not only complement our current practice, but enhance our services to clients.”

Jessica Huseman is a staff writer for the Texas Law Book. She can be reached at jessica.huseman@texaslawbook.com