Included in the over 650 new laws that went into effect in Texas Sept. 1 was a little-publicized but important set of amendments to the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA), the state version of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which protects individuals from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on their protected characteristics, including age, sex, race, national origin, color, disability, and religion.

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Photo of Alicia Sienne Voltmer Alicia Sienne Voltmer

Alicia Sienne Voltmer joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP in September 2018. Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and AV® Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubble®, she advises employers, from start-up companies to 

Alicia Sienne Voltmer joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP in September 2018. Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and AV® Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubble®, she advises employers, from start-up companies to Fortune 500s, in a wide variety of employment matters. She has handled client mediations, arbitrations, administrative hearings, and court proceedings involving state and federal laws including the ADA, ADEA, EPA, ERISA, FLSA, FMLA, OSHA, NLRA, Title VII, the TCHRA, the OWBPA, and other laws. In addition, she routinely counsels clients on day-to-day employment matters, including reductions in force, disciplinary actions, accommodations, hiring, and firing. She provides training to employees and managers and drafts and reviews client-specific policies, handbooks, restrictive covenants, and arbitration, employment, and separation agreements.

Alicia provides employment guidance, including related to due diligence matters, in connection with mergers and acquisitions and represents restaurateurs and restaurant groups, from single- to multi-unit concepts, with navigating labor and employment issues.

She has been a featured speaker on labor and employment law topics before local, state, national and international audiences, has appeared as an employment law commentator on the local affiliates of Fox and NBC News, and has published numerous legal articles.

Alicia earned a full swimming scholarship to Southern Methodist University, where she was a two-time Academic and Athletic All-American, and graduated with a double major in Political Science and German, magna cum laude. Following graduation, she earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree from SMU and her J.D. degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego.

Photo of Jordan Cowman Jordan Cowman

Jordan W. Cowman Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies group. A long-time U.S. business representative to the United Nations’ International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Jordan is sought after by businesses when issues arise concerning

Jordan W. Cowman Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies group. A long-time U.S. business representative to the United Nations’ International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Jordan is sought after by businesses when issues arise concerning international and cross-border employment matters, corporate social responsibility, international corporate campaigns and other international labor and employment matters that arise. He has assisted clients with business combinations, merger and acquisition due diligence, and has advised clients on supply chain issues and the eradication of forced labor. Jordan is sought after by clients around the world for insight on their worldwide operations and direction on matters related to managing a global workforce. Jordan has experience tackling legal issues in 50+ countries, including Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. In the U.S., Jordan handles management-side labor and employment law advice, counseling, and litigation for a broad range of organizations. During more than two decades of practice, he has gained a national reputation for his practical, strategic approach to employment law issues.

Jordan handles diverse employment matters, including employment discrimination and wrongful termination cases, wage and hour compliance, labor arbitration cases, trade secret and non-competition cases, as well as internal corporate investigations. He also counsels employers concerning day-to-day human resources issues as well as myriad legal requirements in the workplace, particularly related to significant operational changes such as mergers, acquisitions, business relocations and reductions in force.

Photo of Shira R. Yoshor Shira R. Yoshor

Shira focuses her practice on labor and employment matters. She also has experience with a wide variety of complex commercial litigation. She regularly represents management in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law. She counsels employers on managing workplace issues, drafts employment…

Shira focuses her practice on labor and employment matters. She also has experience with a wide variety of complex commercial litigation. She regularly represents management in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law. She counsels employers on managing workplace issues, drafts employment agreements, handbooks and policies, investigates and litigates whistleblower claims, discrimination and retaliation claims, and claims involving all sorts of restrictive covenants. Shira partners with her clients to help them achieve their strategic business and legal goals wherever they face challenges.