Linda Jackson is a first-chair trial attorney with significant experience representing clients before federal, state and appellate courts, as well as before administrative agencies and in arbitration settings. Ms. Jackson has a particular litigation focus in the Eastern District of Virginia, also known as the "Rocket Docket," and the state trial courts in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Arlington and Loudoun Counties. She was a member of the firm's Executive Committee and Chair of its Professional Development and Recruiting Committee from 2005-2011.
Ms. Jackson is an aggressive litigator who reaches optimal business and legal solutions by understanding her clients' business objectives, and pursuing pre-litigation and litigation strategies designed to efficiently meet their goals.
She keeps clients up-to-date as a case proceeds and advises them on their options at critical decision points. Ms. Jackson's practice includes:
· business torts, including fraud, conspiracy, defamation and fiduciary related claims;
· commercial contracts;
· employment discrimination and wrongful discharge;
· executive contracts/compensation;
· local government and zoning issues;
· non-compete and non-solicitation negotiation and litigation;
· shareholder litigation;
· SOX whistleblower investigations and litigation; and
· trade-secret disputes.
Ms. Jackson has represented clients in industries such as government contracting, professional services, supermarket chains, airlines, law firms, technology, health care, child care services, telecommunications and commercial and residential development.
She has served as a Major in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General Reserve Corps, and is AV® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Significant Matters
Ms. Jackson's recent cases include:
Secured a six month preliminary injunction to enforce a non-compete against a key employee on behalf of a large government contractor. The key employee had just been hired by a competitor intending to compete against Ms. Jackson's incumbent client in the re-competition of a government contract.
Defense of a government contractor against breach of contract claims brought by board-level executives due to their termination and removal from the Board. Demurrer was granted as to all claims, upon assertion of arguments that the executives lacked standing to raise what in essence were ultra vires claims; that the Bylaws were not part of the executive agreements, nor (under in re Walt Disney Co.) did they provide the exclusive basis for removal.
Defense of a national supermarket company against Title VII race-discrimination and retaliation claims. The plaintiff withdrew his claims, following a successful partial motion to dismiss and the completion of targeted discovery.
Defense of an airline against Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act and wrongful retaliatory discharge claims, with counterclaims under the Computer Crimes Act. The plaintiff withdrew her claims following a successful partial motion to dismiss, the filing of a counterclaim and strategic disclosure of key documents.
Defense of a law firm against claims for age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the District of Columbia Human Rights Act and claims of tortious interference with a contract. The plaintiff withdrew his claims, following the filing of a motion to dismiss and the strategic disclosure of key documents.
Defense of a government contractor against data rights claims relating to State Department de-mining activities in Afghanistan and other countries. The case went through full trial and culminated in a defense verdict.
Defense of a technology company in executive/shareholder litigation involving the enforceability of a shareholder-agreement and ownership-termination provisions. The case was dismissed on demurrer, and the dismissal was upheld on appeal.
On behalf of a government contractor, Ms. Jackson prosecuted claims (non-compete, non-disclosure, trade-secret and tortuous interference) where an employee assisted a competitor in winning the re-compete of a government contract. Shortly after her filing for emergency injunctive relief, the employee agreed to adhere to the non-compete agreement and the contract at issue was awarded back to our client.
Defense of a government contractor against an executive's claims under a shareholder agreement and related claims of wrongful discharge. The parties settled following a successful motion to transfer to the Eastern District of Virginia and the filing of a partial motion to dismiss.
Activities
Ms. Jackson is a leader in the organized Bar and community. She has served as president of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association (VWAA), chair of the Fairfax Bar Association Elections Committee, and a member of VWAA and Fairfax Bar Association Judicial Screening Committees. In 2009, she was named to the advisory board for the William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law. She has also served on the board of directors of The Arlington County Temporary Shelter, and Volunteer Fairfax.
Industries
Government Contractors
Education
Government Experience
Major, U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General Reserve Corps
Memberships
DC Women's Bar Association Foundation, Board of Directors
DC Women's Bar Association, Women Law Firm Leaders Group
Virginia State Bar Professionalism for Law Students, Faculty Member
ABA Committee on Commercial and Business Litigation
ABA Committee on Business Torts Litigation
ABA Committee on Employment and Labor Law
News
January 19, 2012, Linda Jackson quoted in Employment Law Daily on noncompete provisions in Virginia Supreme Court case
January 13, 2012, Linda Jackson quoted in Law360 on recent noncompete rulings
November 14, 2011, Linda Jackson quoted in Washington Post on noncompete agreement ruling by Virginia Supreme Court
October 21, 2009, Linda Jackson and Peggy Strand have been named to the newly formed advisory board for the Journal of Women and the Law
November 29, 2007, 14 Venable Lawyers Named to Washingtonian Magazine's 2007 List of D.C.-Area's Top Attorneys
January 8, 2004, Venable Promotes Five To Partner
Honors
Selected for inclusion in District of Columbia Super Lawyers 2007
Selected for inclusion in Virginia Super Lawyers 2006
AV® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Ms. Jackson was named as one of region's leading employment defense attorneys in the December 2007 issue of Washingtonian magazine.
The National Association of Women Lawyers recognizes her as an "Outstanding Woman Lawyer."
Publications
March 28, 2012, Fourth Circuit Finds Allegations of Discriminatory Severance Package Sufficient to State a Claim Under Title VII
Linda M. Jackson, Marina Burton Blickley
February 2012, 1st Circuit Answers Question of First Impression: SOX Whistleblower Protection Does Not Extend to Employees of Public Company Contractors or Subcontractors
Linda M. Jackson, Emily H. Jenkins
Labor & Employment News Alert
December 2011, Punitive Damages Clause of the Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Act Not So Punishing, Says the Eastern District of Virginia in a Case of First Impression
Linda M. Jackson, Emily H. Jenkins
Litigation News Alert
November 11, 2011, Court Case Could Tweak Future Noncompete Agreements
Linda M. Jackson
Washington Business Journal
November 2011, Virginia Supreme Court Recognizes the Evolving Nature of Non-Compete Law
Linda M. Jackson, Marina Burton Blickley
Labor & Employment News Alert
October 2011, SOX Whistleblowers May Now Claim a "Very Broad Spectrum of Adverse Action"
Linda M. Jackson, Emily H. Jenkins
Client Alerts
Summer 2011,
DuPont v. Kolon: A Post-
Zubulake Reminder that Litigation Holds and Efforts to Avoid Spoliation Are Not Static
Linda M. Jackson, Emily H. Jenkins
SideBAR, newsletter of the Federal Litigation Section of the Federal Bar Association
March 2011, Back to Basics - SDNY Says Non-Competes Are Not Retention Agreements
Linda M. Jackson, Marina Burton Blickley
Labor & Employment News Alert
January 2011, U.S. Supreme Court Allows Claim of Third-Party Retaliation Under Title VII
Linda M. Jackson, Marina Burton Blickley
Labor & Employment News Alert
(Also at Vienna, Virginia Office)