Overview
James “Jim” McInerny is a partner in our Houston office and serves as the firm’s general counsel. He has over 30 years of experience representing clients, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, in employment matters, including claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage-and-hour matters. He has appeared on behalf of clients in state and federal courts, and before administrative agencies, including the Texas Workforce Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and OSHA. He has handled employment discrimination cases from the administrative charge through trial and appeal.
In addition to representing clients in administrative matters, litigation, and arbitration, Jim advises companies on their employment policies and employee handbooks, assists with investigating claims of workplace harassment and discrimination, and addresses everyday employment matters. His goal is to help his clients resolve employee disputes before they become lawsuits. He is Board Certified in Labor and Employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, distinction granted to fewer than 10 percent of lawyers in the state.
In addition to his work on employment matters, Jim maintains a litigation practice, ranging from commercial litigation to premises liability and insurance matters.
Jim is admitted to the State Bar of Texas as well as in California and Massachusetts and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits, and all U.S. District Courts in Texas.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin, has a Master of Arts in English from Middlebury College, and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law.
Outside of his law practice, Jim is a dedicated runner, having completed 16 marathons and numerous other races. He enjoys traveling with his wife with the goal of visiting all 63 National Parks.
Professional Information & Education
Practice Areas
- Employment law
- General litigation
- Commercial litigation
Education
- J.D., University of Texas School of Law
- M.A, Middlebury College
- B.A., University of Texas at Austin
Court Admissions
- Texas
- California
- Massachusetts
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- All federal district courts in Texas
Certifications
- Board Certified, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Labor and Employment Law
Professional Memberships
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of California
- State Bar of Massachusetts
- Houston Bar Association
- Society for Human Resource Management