Caroline Harrison
Managing Partner
Caroline Harrison is a founding Partner of Pham Harrison LLP. As an attorney Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, she represents employers in disputes with former employees, and guides them through the sometimes confusing arena of employment law. Her practice focuses on employment litigation and counseling.
Caroline assists employers in variety of areas, including anti-discrimination and retaliation laws, drafting and enforcing covenants not to compete and non-solicitation agreements, and protection of trade secrets. She advises employers on the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), Unemployment Compensation appeals, handling complex investigations into sensitive employment issues, Wage and Hour issues, and classification of employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). She provides counseling on complex issues including discipline, termination, harassment, investigations, effective employment practices, litigation avoidance and accommodation of disabilities, as well as training human resource professionals, managers, and supervisors in all areas of employment law.
Principal Practice Areas
Labor/Employment
Litigation
Education
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2004
Extern to Honorable Terry Means, Northern District of Texas
Law Review (2002-2004), Articles Editor (2003-2004)
The University of Texas at Arlington, B.A., summa cum laude, 2001
Experience
Obtained summary judgment for BNSF in case involving allegations of FMLA interference and retaliation and discrimination, retaliation and denial of accommodation under the Rehabilitation Act. McIntire v. BNSF Railway Company, No. 4:19-CV-00174-P (N.D. Tex. September 21, 2021).
Obtained summary judgment for food distributor in case involving allegations of disability discrimination in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Douglas v. Ben E. Keith Company, No. 3:19-CV-2824-BN (N.D. Tex. Sept 2, 2021).
Obtained summary judgment for Univesco (owner of numerous apartment complexes) in FLSA litigation. Was also successful in defeating class certification prior to MSJ. Jones v. Univesco, No. 4:19-CV-509-SDJ (E.D. Tex. March 29, 2021).
Obtained dismissal for Tarrant County College District based on lack of jurisdiction. Childs v. Tarrant County College District, No. 67-301745-18 (67th Dist. Ct. Tarrant County, Tex. March 13, 2019).
Obtained summary judgment for food distributor in case involving allegations of race and gender discrimination and retaliation in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. McIntire v. Ben E. Keith Company, No. 4:16-CV-1134-A, 2017 WL 4653447, (N.D. Tex. Oct. 17, 2017). On appeal the case was dismissed for want of prosecution.
Defended Fortune 500 aerospace company against workers’ compensation retaliation suit brought by a former employee in the 342nd District Court, Tarrant County. Obtained a complete defense verdict after a one-week trial. Newton v. Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., No. 342-256582-11 (Feb 3, 2014).
Obtained summary judgment for one of Tarrant County’s largest non-profit providers of early childhood education in a case involving allegations of retaliation under the FMLA, the Rehab Act, and the Texas Family Code. The case was appealed to the 5th Circuit and was upheld on appeal. Perkins v. Child Care Associates, 751 Fed.Appx. 469 (5th Cir. 2018).
Defended Fortune 500 aerospace company in a disability discrimination suit brought by a former employee in the Northern District of Texas. Obtained summary judgment for client.
Defended Fortune 500 aerospace company in a Sabine Pilot case brought by the former President of one if its subsidiary companies. After a three-week jury trial, obtained a directed verdict for the client. Upheld on appeal. Prieto v. Bell Aerospace Services, Inc. et al, No. 02-11-00479-CV, 2013 WL5658146, (Tex. App.–Fort Worth, Oct. 17, 2013), pet. denied.
Defended Fortune 500 aerospace company in an age discrimination and retaliation suit brought by a former employee in the Northern District of Texas. The case settled before trial.
Defended Tarrant County's largest non-profit provider of early childhood education in a case involving allegations of retaliation under the Texas Family Code. Obtained a unanimous defense verdict after less than two hours of jury deliberation.
Represented a local school district in a wrongful termination appeal to the Texas Education Agency. The case settled while on appeal.
Represented former Chief Product Development Officer of a healthcare technology company in a breach of contract case. The case settled before trial.
Defended national healthcare billing company in a tortious interference with contract and theft of trade secrets case. Obtained voluntary dismissal of all claims against client.
Defended local hospital in two suits filed by former employees who were injured while at work. One case settled prior to trial and we obtained summary judgment for the client in the other.
Represented local non-profit company in unemployment benefits appeal brought by former employee. Obtained summary judgment for client.
Defended CPA in non-compete suit brought by former employer. Obtained summary judgment for client, which was affirmed on appeal. Pickle v. Johnson, No. 02-10-0036-CV, 2011 WL 4345233, (Tex. App.—Fort Worth, Sept. 15, 2011, no pet).
Bar Admissions and Certifications
Board Certified Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
License to practice in Texas, 2004
Admitted to U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
Admitted to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
State Bar of Texas
College of the State Bar of Texas
Honors
Awarded the Texas A&M University School of Law Private Practice Achievement Award in 2021 (the inaugural year for the award)
Recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine, a Thomson Reuters service (2016-2022)
Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine, a Thomson Reuters service, (2009-2015)
Recognized as by Fort Worth Magazine as one of 400 most influential people of 2020
Tarrant County Outstanding Young Lawyer 2010
40 under 40 2008, Fort Worth Business Press
Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine
Top Attorney, 360 West Magazine
Professional and Community
Tarrant County Women Attorney Section, Chair 2022-23, Vice-Chair 2021-22, Treasurer 2019-2020
Tarrant County Women in the Law Luncheon Chair, 2019
Tech Fort Worth Mentor, 2019
American Heart Association Executive Leadership Team, Tarrant County Heart Ball 2019
Grapevine Elementary School Principle’s Campus Excellence Committee 2015-2017
Texas Minority Council Program Steering Committee (2011-2018), Co-Chair (2015-2016)
Tarrant County Bar Association (Director 2008, 2009-2010)
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association (President 2008, Board of Directors 2005-2008)
Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court (Barrister 2010-2013, Secretary 2011-2012)
Trustee, Speedway Children’s Charities, Texas Chapter (2007-2013)
Northwest Metroport Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2013-2014), Chair Women in Business Division (2014-2015)
News
Caroline Harrison Earns Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Caroline Harrison Interviewed by Plaid for Women Radio
Publications/Presentations
Employment in Texas: A Guide to Employment Laws, Regulations, and Practices, published by LexisNexis, Author of the 2018-2022 Editions
Avoiding Pitfalls of Workplace Terminations, National Association of College and University Attorneys, March 2022
Red Flags Waving: Background Checks and Investigations, Employment Panel, June 2021
Employment Law Changes under the Biden Administration, Texoma Human Resource Management Association, April 2021
ARPA: Key Legislative Updates on FFCR and COBRA, HUB International, March 2021
The Legal Landscape for Employers, Tech Fort Worth, November 2020
The New Normal?, National Institute of Pension Administrators, November 2020
Common Issues in the Workplace with Covid-19, HUB International, September 2020
FFCRA: Employee v. Employer Perspective, Tarrant County Bar Association, May 2020
Unemployment Benefits and PPP, Cici’s Pizza Franchisee Town Hall, April 2020
Update of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Payroll Protection Act, Mass Mutual, April 2020
Still Confused about the FFCRA?, Gus Bates, April 2020
Workplace Upheaval: What are the Laws?, Tech Nest, April 2020
Coronavirus Town Hall: Protecting your Small Business, Dyer Appliance Academy April
2020
Employment Law: Coronavirus Implications, Gus Bates March 2020
A Few Dollars on the Front End Could “Exempt” you from a Massive Loss, Fort Worth Business Press, February 2020
An Overview of Employment Law, Guest Lecturer Texas A&M School of Law Entrepreneur and Non-Profit Clinic, October 2019
Hot Topics in Employment Law, Gus Bates Annual HR Education Seminar, September 2019
Avoiding "I'll be Back" Employment Issues, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, May 2019
Management Training: Interplay between the ADA and the FMLA, Tarrant County College, November 2018
How to Prepare a Witness for Trial, UTA Pre-Law Class, October 2018
#Me Too, Texas Minority Counsel Program, October 2018
Keeping it Legal, Child Care Associates Leadership Academy, August 2018
Why is Being a Rainmaker so Important, Texas Minority Counsel Program, November 2017
Employment Law for Small Businesses, This Week in Weddings Podcast, October 2017
Starting & Running a Law Firm, Tarrant County Young Lawyers’ Association, October 2017
On the Hook: Understanding the Joint Employer Relationship & Protecting Against Post Release Claims by Employees, Tarrant County Bar Association Corporate Counsel Section, September 2017
Pitfalls in Hiring Temporary Workers, Texas Total Rewards Conference, September 2017
How you Can Get Sued Still After Getting a Release from your Ex-Employee, Chain Restaurant Total Rewards Conference, July 2017
How Your Performance Management System Impacts the Company, North Texas Compensation, July 2017 & October 2017
Social Media Laws for Employers, Business Assistance Council, May 2017
Changes to the FLSA White Collar Exemption, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Job Links, October 2016
The Importance of Client Intake Screening, Tarrant County Bar Association Transition to Practice Luncheon, September 2016
Religious Discrimination after Abercrombie, The Imperative H.R. Conference, August 2016
Ways to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Employment Law, United Way Executive Forum, October 2015
The FLSA, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, September 2015
Overview of the FMLA, Tarrant County Bar Association, April 2015
Legal Implications of Using Volunteers, DOVIA Tarrant County, November 2014 & July 2015
Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements, Financial Executives International, Fort Worth Chapter, January 2014
The Realities of Being an Employer in 2013 (advice on how to avoid being sued), Gus Bates EPL Seminar, November 2013
The (over) Expansive Reach of the NLRA in the Private Sector, HR Southwest Conference, October, 2013
Employment Law Conference, Northwest Metroport Chamber of Commerce, April 2013
Top Misconceptions about Employee and Employer Rights; Plaid for Women, August 2013
Top 5 Misconceptions Employers have about Employee Rights, Women’s Broadcast Network/Plaid Radio, July 2013
5 Part Serious “Women in the Workplace”, Broadcast Network/Plaid Radio, 2013/2014
Hot Topics in Employment Law, North Texas Association of Medical Administrators, November 2012
“Of Counsel” Attorneys: Employees or Independent Contractors; Fort worth Association of Legal Administrators, October 2012
Creating & Maintaining a Harassment Free Environment, HR Southwest October 2012
Non-Competition Agreements & Non-Solicitation Agreements, Independent Insurance Agents of Tarrant County, April 2012
Top Five Things Every Non-Employment Attorney Should Know, Texas Wesleyan School of Law Alumni All-Star CLE, October 2011
Hiring Do’s & Don’ts, Fort Worth Chamber Small Business Section, March 2011
Being Prepared for the Practice of Law, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008
Sexual Harassment, Fort Worth Chapter, Texas Society of CPA’s, 2004