Ian Scharfman

ian@scharfmanlawfirm.com

Ian Scharfman is the principal attorney in The Scharfman Law Firm, PLLC, a Houston, Texas law firm.  Mr. Scharfman is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The law firm has a nation-wide practice and handles cases throughout Texas, including Houston, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, Vidor, Galveston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi and all surrounding counties.

He handles various types of employment law cases, including those involving race discrimination, national origin discrimination, gender discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, disability discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, wage and hour disputes, overtime claims, whistleblower claims, employment contracts, and non-competition agreements.  He represents clients in state and federal courts, in arbitrations through the American Arbitration Association and in claims before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U. S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

Education

  • 1990 – 1993   Univ. of Houston Law Center (Houston, Texas)
    Juris Doctor
  • 1986 – 1990   Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)
    Bachelor of Arts

Accreditations

  • Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2000)

Licenses

  • Licensed to practice in state courts in the State of Texas (1993)
  • Licensed to practice in the following federal courts:
    • U.S. Supreme Court (2011)
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1994)
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (1993)
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (1996)
    • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (2010)

Recognition

  • Rated “AV Preeminent” by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell  (Per Martindale-Hubbell this rating means: “The highest level of peer rating. This rating signifies that the lawyer’s peers rank them at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.”)
  • Named one of “The Best Lawyers in America” by Best Lawyers (in America), which is by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners:
    • 2012-2024 – Litigation – Labor & Employment
  • Named 2013-2024 as one of the”Best Law Firms,” by Best Lawyers (in America), which is by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners.
  •  Named “Super Lawyer,” which recognition is a Thomson Reuters service:
    • 2009-2023 – Employment Litigation: Plaintiff
    • 2008 – Employment Litigation
    • 2005 – Employment Litigation
    • 2004 – Employment Litigation
    • 2003 – Labor and Employment Law
  • Named one of Houston’s “Top Lawyers” by H Texas Magazine:
    • 2013-2016 – Labor and Employment Law
    • 2011 – Labor and Employment Law
    • 2007 – Labor and Employment Law
    • 2006 – Employment Litigation
    • 2005 – Labor and Employment Law
  • Named a “Top Lawyer” by Houstonia Magazine
    • 2016-2017, 2019-2022 – Labor and Employment Law
  • Life Fellow – Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
  • Life Fellow – Texas Bar Foundation

Additional Professional Activities

  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization Labor and Employment Law Exam Commission (2014-2017)
  • Houston Bar Association
    • Chair (2009-2010) – Labor and Employment Law Section
    • Chair-Elect (2008-2009) – Labor and Employment Law Section
    • Council Member (2006-2010) – Labor and Employment Law Section
    • CLE Coordinator (2007-2008) – Labor and Employment Law Section
  • District 4 Nominating Committee of the Texas Bar Foundation
    • Committee Member (2007-2008, 2012-2013)
    • Subcommittee Chair (2006-2007)
  • The University of Texas Law School Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference
    • Planning Committee for the 2011 and 2012 conferences
  • State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial 2008 Continuing Legal Education Course
    • Planning Committee
  • Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
    • Chair (2001-2002), Vice-Chair (2000-2001), Treasurer (1999-2000), & Trustee
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
    • Director (1997-2000) and Various Committee Chairs
  • Speaker – continuing legal education and other seminars
    • Featured television show guest – Houston Bar Association Legal Lines television program
    • Featured radio talk show guest – Fox Affiliate KOLE 1340 AM, Beaumont (11/8/05)
    • Quoted in the Houston Chronicle

Professional Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas: Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Houston Bar Association: Labor and Employment Law Section

Other Community Activities

  • Anti-Defamation League
    • National Commissioner (2015-2019)
    • National Nominating Committee Chair (2017)
    • National Religious Freedom Task Force Chair (2015-2017)
    • Associate National Commissioner (2013-2014)
    • Various National Committees (2013-present)
  • Anti-Defamation League-Southwest Region
    • Board Chair (2015)
    • Various Other Officer Positions (2012-2014)
    • Regional Board of Directors – Southwest Region (2011-present)
    • Advisory Board of Directors (2010)
    • Chair and Co-Chair of Various Regional Committees (2009-2013)
    • Glass Leadership Institute Participant (2008-2009)
  •  Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston
    • Co-Chair Public Affairs Committee (2020-2022)
    • Vice-Chair Public Affairs Committee (2019-2020)
  • Fort Bend Education Foundation
    • Board of Directors (2021-present)
  • Fort Bend County Citizens Engagement Group
    • Chair (2020-2021)
  •  Jewish Children’s Regional Service
    • Board of Directors – prior service for multiple years