Ethel J. Johnson

Ethel J. Johnson serves as Co-Chair of the Texas Litigation Practice. She is a trial lawyer with more than three decades of experience and notable victories for clients. She has tried upwards of 37 civil cases (jury and bench trials) in state and federal courts across the United States related to products liability/life sciences, mass torts, employment law, commercial/business disputes, personal injury, ADA Accessibility, and tax matters. She has arbitrated more than 75 labor disputes. Ethel holds the distinction of being Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Ethel focused on management-side employment law matters early in her legal career and regularly litigated single and multi-plaintiff discrimination, retaliation, harassment, disability, FMLA, defamation, ERISA, breach of contract, wage and hour, TRO/injunctive relief, trade secret, and non-competition disputes. Her practice also includes EEOC administrative matters (including Commissioner’s Charges), employment law advice and counsel, training, workplace investigations, and drafting employment policies, practices, procedures, and employee handbooks. In the last decade, Ethel’s practice has pivoted and expanded to focus on pharmaceutical/life sciences, products liability, mass torts, environmental torts, and complex business disputes.

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, Benchmark Litigation, 'Litigation Star,' 2024-2026 •Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, 2010-2020, 2022-2026 •Top Woman Lawyer, 2017 •Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2005-2011, 2021-2025 •Listed, LMG Life Sciences, “Life Sciences Star,” 2020-2025 •Product Liability, 2023-2024 •Non-IP Litigation & Enforcement,” 2020-2022 •Listed, Houston Business Journal, “Outstanding Diversity Champions,” 2023 •Listed, The Legal 500 United States •Labor and Employment - Labor and employment litigation disputes (including collective actions) - defense, 2017-2019 •Dispute Resolution: Product liability, mass tort and class action: pharmaceuticals and medical devices - defense, 2018-2019 and 2023 •Labor and Employment - Workplace and employment counseling, 2017 •Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Texas Super Lawyers, 2003-2024 •Team Member, a Law360“Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2022 •Listed, Human Resource Executive magazine and Lawdragon, “Most Powerful Employment Attorneys,” 2011-2012 •Listed, Texas Diversity Council, 2022 Texas Legal Diversity Summit Top Women Lawyer Award, September 27, 2022