Linda C.Schoonmaker
Partner
Labor & Employment
lschoonmaker@seyfarth.com
Linda partners with clients to manage the employer-employee relationship in a manner that reduces the risk of employee litigation and government agency scrutiny.
More About Linda
Employers facing all forms of discrimination, wage-and-hour, pay equity, #MeToo, whistleblower, and retaliation claims require experienced, trusted counsel in handling such bet-the-company matters. Linda has defended employers for more than three decades in lawsuits, arbitrations, and administrative charges brought by employees and governmental agencies throughout the country.
In addition to employment litigation defense, Linda provides counseling and training to employers regarding employment policies, and state and federal laws impacting the employment relationship; manages OSHA, EEOC, and internal investigations; and prosecutes and defends noncompetition/trade secrets litigation.
Linda has practiced law at Seyfarth in the Houston office for nearly two decades. She is a member of Seyfarth's Pay Equity team, which was created in response to the growing number of claims made under the Equal Pay Act and newly enacted state laws addressing alleged discrimination in pay. Throughout her career, and even more so since the advent of the #MeToo movement, Linda has defended a significant number of sexual harassment claims, lawsuits, and arbitrations, including those in which senior managers were the subject of the allegations.
Linda has served on the Seyfarth Shaw Women's National Leadership Team, and in March 2013, the Texas Women Lawyers honored her with its Pathfinder Award for her contributions to the legal profession.
In addition to employment litigation defense, Linda provides counseling and training to employers regarding employment policies, and state and federal laws impacting the employment relationship; manages OSHA, EEOC, and internal investigations; and prosecutes and defends noncompetition/trade secrets litigation.
Linda has practiced law at Seyfarth in the Houston office for nearly two decades. She is a member of Seyfarth's Pay Equity team, which was created in response to the growing number of claims made under the Equal Pay Act and newly enacted state laws addressing alleged discrimination in pay. Throughout her career, and even more so since the advent of the #MeToo movement, Linda has defended a significant number of sexual harassment claims, lawsuits, and arbitrations, including those in which senior managers were the subject of the allegations.
Linda has served on the Seyfarth Shaw Women's National Leadership Team, and in March 2013, the Texas Women Lawyers honored her with its Pathfinder Award for her contributions to the legal profession.
- JD, University of Houston Law Center
Cum laude
The Order of the Coif
Publications Editor, Houston Law Review - BA, Syracuse University
- Vassar College
- Texas
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Western District of New York
- US District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
- US District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- US District Court, Northern District of Texas
- US District Court, Southern District of Texas
- US District Court, Western District of Texas
Related Services
- Appellate
- Background Checking & Drug Testing
- Class & Collective Actions
- Complex Discrimination Litigation
- Diversity & Inclusion Practice
- Employment
- Employment Litigation
- Pay Equity
- People Analytics
- Talent Acquisition & Onboarding
- Trial
- Wage Hour Audit, Assessment & Advice
- Wage Hour Class & Collective Actions
- False Claims, Whistleblower, and Internal Investigations
- Workplace Training
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Related News & Insights
-
Speaking Engagement
Apr 18, 2024
Linda Schoonmaker to Present at 2024 UT Law CLE Health Law Conference
-
Sponsored Events
April 18 - 19, 2024
Seyfarth to Sponsor 2024 UT Law CLE Health Law Conference
-
Recognition
10/05/2023
Seyfarth Ranked Tier 1 Nationally for Labor & Employment in Benchmark Litigation 2023; 29 Seyfarth Lawyers Cited
-
Blog Post
Aug 21, 2023
The Fifth Circuit Has Broadened Its Definition of What Constitutes An “Adverse Employment Action” For Purposes of a Discrimination Claim. What Will That Mean For Employers?
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) - defense, The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2023)
-
Recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (Euromoney Institutional Investor) (2020-2021, 2023)
- Pathfinder Award, Texas Women Lawyers (2013)
- Helen Cordes Award, Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse (2012)
- Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law (1994-present)
- Recognized as a "Hometown Hero" by the Houston Texans and Halliburton Foundation for community work (2009)
- Selected by Texas Medical Liability Trust to develop and conduct its Continuing Medical Education programs on employment discrimination and false claims act issues for physicians throughout Texas
- Texas Women Lawyers
- State Bar of Texas (Labor & Employment Law Section, Health Law Section, Women and the Law Section)
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Houston Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section, Health Law Section)
- American Bar Association
- Co-Author, "Do You Really Want to Keep Paying Commissions to the Salesperson You Fired?," Employment Law Lookout, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 15, 2022)
- Co-Author, "If Pain, Yes Gain — Part 85: Supreme Court of Texas Remains Silent on Austin Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Temporary Injunction," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 10, 2020)
- Co-Author, "If Pain, Yes Gain—Part 82: Dallas’ Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Temporarily Blocked by Federal Court," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 31, 2020)
- Co-Author, "If Pain, Yes Gain — Part 81: Dallas Employers Get Ready–Full Paid Sick Leave Enforcement Begins April 1!!," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 25, 2020)
- Active in nonprofit organizations in the Fort Bend County community
- Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse, Inc. (former board president, current director)
- Fort Bend Women's Center (board member, former board president, Volunteer Hall of Fame member)
- Achieve Fort Bend County, board member
- Exchange Club of Sugar Land, former board member
- Texana Center, advisory board
- Fort Bend Cares (Friends Council, Grant Committee)
- Pro bono work for various organizations
Linda was described as “one of the best and brightest lawyers anywhere," and "one of the most competent and capable trial lawyers I've ever encountered." —From The Legal 500
Linda partners with clients to manage the employer-employee relationship in a manner that reduces the risk of employee litigation and government agency scrutiny.
More About Linda
Employers facing all forms of discrimination, wage-and-hour, pay equity, #MeToo, whistleblower, and retaliation claims require experienced, trusted counsel in handling such bet-the-company matters. Linda has defended employers for more than three decades in lawsuits, arbitrations, and administrative charges brought by employees and governmental agencies throughout the country.
In addition to employment litigation defense, Linda provides counseling and training to employers regarding employment policies, and state and federal laws impacting the employment relationship; manages OSHA, EEOC, and internal investigations; and prosecutes and defends noncompetition/trade secrets litigation.
Linda has practiced law at Seyfarth in the Houston office for nearly two decades. She is a member of Seyfarth's Pay Equity team, which was created in response to the growing number of claims made under the Equal Pay Act and newly enacted state laws addressing alleged discrimination in pay. Throughout her career, and even more so since the advent of the #MeToo movement, Linda has defended a significant number of sexual harassment claims, lawsuits, and arbitrations, including those in which senior managers were the subject of the allegations.
Linda has served on the Seyfarth Shaw Women's National Leadership Team, and in March 2013, the Texas Women Lawyers honored her with its Pathfinder Award for her contributions to the legal profession.
In addition to employment litigation defense, Linda provides counseling and training to employers regarding employment policies, and state and federal laws impacting the employment relationship; manages OSHA, EEOC, and internal investigations; and prosecutes and defends noncompetition/trade secrets litigation.
Linda has practiced law at Seyfarth in the Houston office for nearly two decades. She is a member of Seyfarth's Pay Equity team, which was created in response to the growing number of claims made under the Equal Pay Act and newly enacted state laws addressing alleged discrimination in pay. Throughout her career, and even more so since the advent of the #MeToo movement, Linda has defended a significant number of sexual harassment claims, lawsuits, and arbitrations, including those in which senior managers were the subject of the allegations.
Linda has served on the Seyfarth Shaw Women's National Leadership Team, and in March 2013, the Texas Women Lawyers honored her with its Pathfinder Award for her contributions to the legal profession.
- JD, University of Houston Law Center
Cum laude
The Order of the Coif
Publications Editor, Houston Law Review - BA, Syracuse University
- Vassar College
- Texas
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Western District of New York
- US District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
- US District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- US District Court, Northern District of Texas
- US District Court, Southern District of Texas
- US District Court, Western District of Texas
Related Services
- Appellate
- Background Checking & Drug Testing
- Class & Collective Actions
- Complex Discrimination Litigation
- Diversity & Inclusion Practice
- Employment
- Employment Litigation
- Pay Equity
- People Analytics
- Talent Acquisition & Onboarding
- Trial
- Wage Hour Audit, Assessment & Advice
- Wage Hour Class & Collective Actions
- False Claims, Whistleblower, and Internal Investigations
- Workplace Training
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Related News & Insights
-
Speaking Engagement
Apr 18, 2024
Linda Schoonmaker to Present at 2024 UT Law CLE Health Law Conference
-
Sponsored Events
April 18 - 19, 2024
Seyfarth to Sponsor 2024 UT Law CLE Health Law Conference
-
Recognition
10/05/2023
Seyfarth Ranked Tier 1 Nationally for Labor & Employment in Benchmark Litigation 2023; 29 Seyfarth Lawyers Cited
-
Blog Post
Aug 21, 2023
The Fifth Circuit Has Broadened Its Definition of What Constitutes An “Adverse Employment Action” For Purposes of a Discrimination Claim. What Will That Mean For Employers?
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) - defense, The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2023)
-
Recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (Euromoney Institutional Investor) (2020-2021, 2023)
- Pathfinder Award, Texas Women Lawyers (2013)
- Helen Cordes Award, Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse (2012)
- Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law (1994-present)
- Recognized as a "Hometown Hero" by the Houston Texans and Halliburton Foundation for community work (2009)
- Selected by Texas Medical Liability Trust to develop and conduct its Continuing Medical Education programs on employment discrimination and false claims act issues for physicians throughout Texas
- Texas Women Lawyers
- State Bar of Texas (Labor & Employment Law Section, Health Law Section, Women and the Law Section)
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Houston Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section, Health Law Section)
- American Bar Association
- Co-Author, "Do You Really Want to Keep Paying Commissions to the Salesperson You Fired?," Employment Law Lookout, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 15, 2022)
- Co-Author, "If Pain, Yes Gain — Part 85: Supreme Court of Texas Remains Silent on Austin Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Temporary Injunction," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 10, 2020)
- Co-Author, "If Pain, Yes Gain—Part 82: Dallas’ Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Temporarily Blocked by Federal Court," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 31, 2020)
- Co-Author, "If Pain, Yes Gain — Part 81: Dallas Employers Get Ready–Full Paid Sick Leave Enforcement Begins April 1!!," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 25, 2020)
- Active in nonprofit organizations in the Fort Bend County community
- Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse, Inc. (former board president, current director)
- Fort Bend Women's Center (board member, former board president, Volunteer Hall of Fame member)
- Achieve Fort Bend County, board member
- Exchange Club of Sugar Land, former board member
- Texana Center, advisory board
- Fort Bend Cares (Friends Council, Grant Committee)
- Pro bono work for various organizations
Linda was described as “one of the best and brightest lawyers anywhere," and "one of the most competent and capable trial lawyers I've ever encountered." —From The Legal 500