Current Employment Position(s)

Associate

Lawyer Overview

Rachel Smith joined the Houston office of Baker Hostetler in September 2004. Ms. Smith's practice includes representing management in employment cases involving wrongful termination under federal law, such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Ms. Smith also represents and advises management with respect to employment issues arising under state law, including, but not limited to, workers' compensation, the Texas Payday Act, breach of contract, the Texas Staff Leasing Services Act, tortious interference, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Ms. Smith's practice includes conducting internal investigations and counseling employers in order to minimize employment disputes and potential litigation with reference to issues concerning the employment relationship, including personnel and policy manuals and disciplinary issues. Ms. Smith also provides training to employers with reference to employment issues, such as sexual harassment and avoiding employment claims. In addition, Ms. Smith has experience in commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, products liability and insurance defense.

During law school, Ms. Smith was a member of the Texas Journal of Business Law and was a regional champion of the National Black Law Students Association's Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. She also served as Attorney Ad Litem in the Children's Rights Clinic.

Ms. Smith is a member of the Federal, Texas and Houston Bar Associations and the Houston and Texas Young Lawyer's Associations. Ms. Smith also volunteers with the Houston Volunteers Lawyer's Program, the Houston Bar Association Legal Lines Program and the Legal Outreach Project of Living Word Fellowship Church in Houston, Texas.

Areas of Practice

• Employment Litigation

Bar Admissions

• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 2005
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2005
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 2006
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2006
• Texas, 2004

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Federal Bar Associations (Member)
• Texas Bar Associations (Member)
• Houston Bar Associations
• Texas Young Lawyer's Associations

Honors and Awards

• Regional Champion of the National Black Law Students Association's Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition

Education

• The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 2004
  J.D.
  
  Law Journal: Texas Journal of Business Law, Member
• Baylor University, 2001
  B.A.

Published Works

• Boost Your Bottom Line by Building a Better Workforce, Well Servicing Magazine, October 10, 2008

Address

1000 Louisiana
Suite 2000
Houston, TX 77002-5009

Phones

(713) 646-1386

Faxes

(713) 751-1717

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.bakerlaw.com