Michael P. Jones, a partner in the firm’s labor and employment practice, focuses his practice on high-stakes business disputes involving restrictive covenant agreements and trade secrets, including noncompete, nonsolicitation, nondisclosure, and related post-employment obligations, in state and federal courts throughout the country. As co-leader of the Trade Secrets and Unfair Competition Task Force, Mike stays abreast of the latest developments in restrictive covenant and trade secret law, including the recent rulemaking by the Federal Trade Commission, and uses his knowledge to litigate on behalf of, advise, and counsel clients in nearly every industry, including the automotive, banking, energy, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, retail, and technology industries.
In his role, Mike drafts employment agreements, plan documents, and other types of restrictive covenant agreements with an eye toward nationwide compliance. Mike also has substantial experience supporting M&A transactions and uses his litigation experience to draft restrictive covenant agreements for purchase agreements and executive employment agreements.
In his litigation practice, Mike represents both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts in trade secret and restrictive covenant disputes seeking expedited emergency relief and involving substantial amounts of expedited discovery. As a partner in the labor and employment practice, Mike also litigates single-plaintiff cases involving claims of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment arising under state and federal statutes, including Title VII, the ADA, and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act in state and federal courts and in arbitrations, successfully trying and arbitrating cases and preserving results on appeal.
While in law school, Mike interned for Judge David Hittner at the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas and Justice Jane Bland of the Texas First Court of Appeals.
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Houston (2025)
Recommended, Intellectual property: Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters), The Legal 500 US (2021)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2017, 2019)
Winner, Texas Lawyer’s 2015 Texas Litigation Department of the Year for Labor and Employment
Recognized, Texas Super Lawyers "Rising Star" for Employment and Labor (2016)
Recognized, “Rising Star” in Business Litigation by Texas Monthly Magazine (2021)
Recognized, “Rising Star” in Employment Litigation by Texas Monthly Magazine (2014–2020)
Fellow, College of the State Bar of Texas
Member, Houston Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation