Dorian Vandenberg-Rodes

I am an attorney and counselor who practices employment law exclusively. The overwhelming majority of my practice is representing workers and employees who have suffered discrimination in the workplace, wrongful termination, or been subjected to other illegal practices in the workplace. I am passionate about representing my clients, and work hard to tell their stories and see that they are treated fairly under the law. I have successfully prosecuted many discrimination and retaliation actions under federal and state laws, including Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, federal and state whistleblower statutes, and in constitutional and civil rights claims under Section 1983, as well as common law actions for breach of contract and related claims. If you are dealing with harassment or retaliation in the workplace, I will work with you to guide you in taking the right steps to preserve and fight your case and represent you in settlement negotiations, throughout the administrative process, and in court to reach the best result for you.

I have successfully represented clients in litigation matters in state and federal court across Texas. I also routinely represent clients in mediation to negotiate successful case outcomes, including claims arising from unlawful racial and sexual harassment. In addition to the State of Texas, I am licensed to practice in the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. I also represent clients before the Department of Labor, including on whistleblower retaliation claims under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and the Texas Workforce Commission. In addition, I have worked on several state- and nation-wide collective actions seeking overtime and minimum wage pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

I am Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In 2024, I received the honor of being named a Super Lawyer® (a Thomson Reuters service). I was previously named as a Rising Star by Thomson Reuters from 2021-2023.

I am currently on the Board of the Houston chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA-Houston) and I previously served as President of NELA-Houston. I am also a member of other local organizations including the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Employment Lawyers Association, and the Houston Bar Association.

I received my J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, where I joined the Order of the Barons honors society and served as Associate Editor of the Houston Law Review. I also interned with the National Labor Relations Board, the Harris County District Attorney's Office, and the Texas First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. Before law school, I worked as a violinist and performed with the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Symphony, and various other local and national performing groups and music festivals.

I started working for SLS as a law clerk during my studies at the University of Houston Law Center. After graduation, I joined the firm as an associate and have been fortunate since to work with a team of talented lawyers and support staff who share the same passion and dedication for justice in the workplace. If you believe that you have been wrongly terminated, suffered discrimination on the job, or simply have a question about your rights under the law, please do not hesitate to call or contact my office. I would be happy to speak with you.