Dinkins Kelly Lenox Lamb & Walker, L.L.P.

About Dinkins Kelly Lenox Lamb & Walker, L.L.P. — Civil Rights Houston, Texas

Dinkins Kelly Lenox Lamb & Walker, L.L.P. — now operating as FBFK Law — provides civil rights Houston businesses and employees depend on through a full-service legal practice with strong Labor & Employment and Litigation capabilities in Harris County. The firm’s Labor & Employment practice handles the employment discrimination, workplace rights, and civil rights matters that directly affect workers and employers in the Houston area. Partner Dan Lenox holds an academic appointment as Adjunct Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University School of Law and has taught at Baylor Law School, reflecting the firm’s depth of legal knowledge across practice areas.

Employment civil rights are federally protected and actively litigated in Houston. Title VII, the ADA, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Texas Labor Code all create enforceable rights for workers in Harris County. FBFK Law represents both employees and employers in discrimination claims, wrongful termination cases, and workplace harassment matters — as well as complex commercial litigation and corporate disputes where civil rights and business law intersect. The firm practices before Harris County courts and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

What Clients Say

Clients describe FBFK Law as a sophisticated full-service firm that combines the personal attention of a boutique practice with the depth of a larger organization. The firm is recognized for careful analysis and for providing practical, business-aware legal counsel that accounts for both legal risk and commercial reality.

Civil Rights Houston — Practice Areas & Services

• Labor & employment — Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and Texas Labor Code civil rights Houston workers deserve
• Workplace discrimination and harassment — representation for employees and defense for employers in Harris County
• Commercial litigation — business rights disputes in Texas state and federal courts
• Corporate, securities, and M&A — protecting shareholder and investor rights in Houston transactions
• Civil rights attorneys in Houston advising on labor law, employment disputes, and business matters

Frequently Asked Questions

What employment civil rights does a Houston worker have under federal law?

Federal law protects Houston workers from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin (Title VII), disability (ADA), age if 40 or older (ADEA), and genetic information (GINA). These protections apply to employers with 15 or more employees (or 20 for age discrimination). Workers who experience discrimination may file a charge with the EEOC Houston Field Office and, after receiving a Right to Sue letter, pursue a lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas.

What is the difference between an employee and an independent contractor for civil rights purposes?

Federal employment civil rights laws generally protect employees but not independent contractors. Whether a worker is an employee or contractor depends on the degree of control the employer exercises over the work — courts apply a multi-factor test. Misclassification of employees as contractors is a significant civil rights issue in Houston’s gig economy and energy sector. Workers who believe they are misclassified may file complaints with the Department of Labor or the EEOC.

How long does an employment discrimination case take to resolve in Harris County?

An EEOC investigation typically takes 180 days or longer before a Right to Sue letter is issued. After filing in the Southern District of Texas, employment discrimination cases take one to three years to reach trial, depending on the complexity of the claims and whether the case settles. Many employment civil rights cases resolve in mediation or structured settlement negotiations before trial, often at the EEOC mediation stage or after discovery.