Senior Associate Shafeeqa Giarratani, an Austin native, practices in the firm's labor and employment, appellate and litigation groups. She represents employers in federal and state court and before administrative agencies and regulatory agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. She is a strong advocate for her clients and regularly handles litigation matters at both the trial and appellate level, in alternative dispute resolution and before governmental agencies.

Shafeeqa has represented management in civil rights, wrongful discharge, Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, employment tort, defamation, breach of contract, tortious interference and other employment-related charges and litigation. She also regularly advises clients that are federal contractors on affirmative action, legislative and regulatory changes affecting employment matters for federal contractors and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) compliance issues, from developing affirmative action plans to representing companies during the audit process. Shafeeqa also performs supervisory training seminars, prepares and reviews personnel handbooks and policies and advises clients regarding employee retention and termination. Additionally, her appellate work includes patent, construction and employment matters. She has experience preparing appellate briefs for Texas appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Texas and to federal courts such as the Federal Circuit.

Before law school, Shafeeqa worked as a judicial intern for the Texas Judicial Council under Chief Justice Thomas Phillips.

Litigation and Appeals

• Lead attorney (First-chair) for a technology company in a sex and pregnancy wrongful termination and promotion federal jury trial, which resulted in a defense verdict
• Lead attorney (First-chair) for a technology company in an age discrimination wrongful termination state jury trial, which resulted in a defense verdict
• Lead attorney in preparing briefing and oral argument before the Third Court of Appeals for Texas in a retaliation, gender and race discrimination case 
• Lead attorney in arguing summary judgment in Texas state court for discrimination and retaliation claim, which resulted in dismissal of entire case
• Lead attorney in arguing complex discovery issues in a Motion to Compel hearing in a defamation case, which resulted in a favorable verdict and led to voluntary dismissal of the case
• Second-chair for a semiconductor company in an age discrimination wrongful termination federal jury trial, which resulted in a defense verdict
• Second-chair for a high-tech company in an age discrimination failure to promote arbitration, which resulted in a defense verdict
• Served on team of attorneys for a trucking company in an sex discrimination wrongful termination arbitration, which resulted in a defense verdict
• Served on team of attorneys for a high-tech company in a multi-plaintiff arbitration involving failure to promote and wrongful termination claims, which resulted in a favorable verdict
• Secured favorable rulings on summary judgment for an insurance company in a workers' compensation retaliation lawsuit
• Secured favorable rulings on summary judgment for a construction company in a Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuit
• Assisted in preparing an appellate brief in an employment retaliation case before the Texas Court of Appeals and Texas Supreme Court, which resulted in a ruling for the employer
• Assisted in preparing an appellate brief in a patent infringement case before the Federal Circuit
• Served as first-chair in over 15 jury trials for the City of Austin, which resulted in successful verdicts

Government Investigations and Audits

• Lead attorney in defending a financial services company in an OFCCP compensation audit, which resulted in a finding of compliance by the OFCCP
• Lead attorney in defending a large hospital in an OFCCP hiring practices audit, which resulted in a finding of full compliance by the OFCCP
• Lead attorney in defending high-tech company in an OFCCP audit, which resulted in a finding of compliance by the OFCCP
• Lead attorney in defending a consulting company in an OFCCP audit, which resulted in a finding of compliance by the OFCCP
• Lead attorney in defending paper company in an OFCCP audit, which resulted in a finding of compliance by the OFCCP
• Lead attorney in contesting OFCCP jurisdiction of a large financial services company, which resulted in a finding of no jurisdiction by the OFCCP
• Served on team of attorneys in negotiating a conciliation agreement with the OFCCP, which resulted in a favorable settlement to the company
• Lead attorney in handling Department of Labor audit, which resulted in a finding of full compliance
• Lead attorney in handling numerous EEOC investigations, resulting in an finding of no cause

Counseling, Training and Litigation Readiness

• Regularly advises clients on comprehensive trade secret protection and prepares enforceable covenants not to compete and non-disclosure agreements
• Regularly provides counseling on a multitude of employment related issues, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act compliance
• Assisted multiple clients in establishing and performing self-audits of employment practices, including compensation 
• Prepared litigation readiness and avoidance analysis and seminars and training for senior leadership teams, human resources, managers and employees

• Austin Industry Liaison Group (AILG)
  • Co-Founder
• San Antonio Industry Liaison Group (SAILG)
  • Board Member
  • Legal Liaison
• Austin Bar Association (2006 - present)
  • Labor and Employment Law Section, Secretary
• Texas Young Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association
  • Labor and Employment Law Section 
• Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Diversity Advisory Committee (2010 - present)
  • Current Chairperson
• Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Recruiting Committee (2006 - present)
  • Current Chairperson

• Chambers USA Guide 2012, Labor & Employment, "Associates to Watch"
• "Texas Rising Star," Texas Monthly-Law & Politics (2010)
• Austin Korean Association, Appreciation Award for Pro Bono legal representation

• Co-author, "IRS Releases Proposed Regulations on Employer Shared Responsibility under the Affordable Care Act," Fulbright Briefing, January 28, 2013
more
• Co-author, "OFCCP Jurisdiction Due to TRICARE Participation Remains Unsettled Despite Administrative Review Board Decision in Florida Hospital," Fulbright Briefing, November 30, 2012
more
• Co-author, "OFCCP Provides New Clarifications for Internet Applicant and Record-Keeping Rules," Fulbright Briefing, August 15, 2012
more
• Co-author, "OFCCP Rescinds Directive Regarding Its Jurisdiction Over Health Care," Fulbright Briefing, May 15, 2012
more
• Co-author, "OFCCP Issues New Proposed Regulations Requiring Substantially More Obligations From Contractors," Fulbright Briefing, January 11, 2012
more
• Co-author, "New OFCCP Activity – Proposed Revisions To Regulations To Address Increasing Number Of Veterans," Fulbright Briefing, May 19, 2011
more
• Co-author, "Health Care Providers New Target of Onerous Affirmative Action Requirements by OFCCP," Fulbright Briefing, March 10, 2011
more
• Co-author, "Supreme Court’s Decision Upholding Government Background Checks Provides Important Guidance for All Employers," Fulbright Briefing, February 28, 2011
more
• Co-author, "Happy New Year and Surprise! Federal Contractor Status and Obligations," The International Law Firm of Fulbright & Jaworski - Labor & Employment, October 26, 2010
more | view article
• "Records and Recordkeeping," Texas Employment Law Handbook, Chapter 27, 2009
• Co-author, "Real Life Solutions to Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: From Document Retention to Training," The International Law Firm of Fulbright & Jaworski - E-Discovery and Information Management, May 12, 2009
• Co-author, "What the New Ledbetter Pay Act Means for Employers," Fulbright Briefing, February 2, 2009
• Co-author, "House of Representatives Passes Two Bills That Make Equal Pay Discrimination Claims Easier to Bring and More Costly for Employers," Fulbright ALERT, January 9, 2009
• Co-author, "OFCCP Issues Helpful Guidance and Long-Awaited Regulations," Fulbright Briefing, August 22, 2007
• Co-author, "Proposed Rule Gives OFCCP Another Tool for Locating Subcontractors," Fulbright ALERT, April 13, 2007
• "OFCCP Issues Final Standards Concerning Compensation Practices," Fulbright ALERT, June 2006
• Co-author, "Two New Supreme Court Decisions Impact Employers," Labor & Employment Update, February 2006
• Co-author, "Supreme Court Rules That Time Associated With Protective Gear Is Compensable Under the FLSA," Labor & Employment Update, November 2005

• "Ethically Handling the Challenge of Legal Representation When a Client, Witness, Opposing Party or Counsel Suffers from a Mental Disability," ABA, 2012 Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, August 2, 2012
• "OFCCP Compensation Audits:  Practical Tips on How to Prepare Your Organization," NTILG, July 19, 2012
• "Surprise! You're a Federal Contractor…What you Need to Know about Federal Contracting and Employment Law," Dallas Bar L&E Section Luncheon, Dallas, TX, July 16, 2012
• "The Status of Arbitration: Is it Right for Your Organization?," AHRMA Legal Update and Legislative Action Day, June 19, 2012
• Co-panelist, "Ten Key Human Resource Mistakes: And How to Avoid Them," Fulbright – Labor & Employment Web Seminar, June 6, 2012
• "OFCCP Recent Developments: What Your Organization Should Do to Prepare," America's Job Exchange Webinar, May 24, 2012 
• Presenter, "Ten Key Human Resources Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)," 2012 Labor and Employment Law Conference - University of Texas, Austin, Texas, May 17, 2012
• "Behind the Scenes, What the OFCCP Really Does With Your Data," 2012 SWARM Conference, Dallas, Texas, April 10, 2012
• "Overview of Key Employment Laws," AHRMA Credentialing Class, March 20, 2012
• "When the OFCCP Makes House Calls: Guidance for Hospitals and Health Care Providers," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Health Law Education web seminar series, April 27, 2011
• Co-panelist, "Happy New Year and Surprise! Federal Contractor Status and Obligations," Fulbright - Labor & Employment Web Seminar, October 26, 2010
• Co-panelist, "Real Life Solutions to Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: From Document Retention to Training," Fulbright - E- Discovery and Information Management Web Seminar, May 12, 2009
• Employment Law Legal Updates, 2008 SWARM Conference, Dallas, Texas
• Employment Law Legal Updates, Houston Industry Liaison Group, Houston, Texas
• "Legislative Update, Lilly Ledbetter and Beyond," Austin Bar Association, Austin, Texas
• "2007 Compliance with OFCCP Internet Applicant Definition," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Breakfast Briefing, Austin, Texas
• "OFCCP Final Standards on Compensation Discrimination and Self-Audit Guidelines," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Breakfast Briefing, Austin, Texas
• "OFCCP Final Standards on Compensation Discrimination and Self-Audit Guidelines," Waco Industry Liaison Group Meeting, Waco, Texas 
• "Recent FMLA Updates," Texas Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration & Education Annual Conference, Austin, Texas
• "OFCCP Final Standards on Compensation Discrimination and Self-Audit Guidelines," San Antonio Industry Liaison Group Meeting, San Antonio, Texas
• "Employee Conduct and Performance: Documentation and Responses," Employment Related Records in Texas, Lorman Education Services, Houston, Texas

2005 - J.D., with honors, Harvard Law School
2001 - A.B., with honors, Government, Harvard University

• Texas

• The Links, Inc. Service Organization, Parliamentarian (2007 - 2010)
• Dell-Fulbright University of Texas Mentorship Program (2009 - present)
• Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. March of Dimes Fundraising, Chair (2009 - present)
• Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. United Way Fundraising, Chair (2012 - present)