Akilah F. Craig

Akilah has significant transactional experience drafting complex employment agreements, separation and release agreements, and restrictive covenants, such as non-disclosure, non-competition, and non-solicitation agreements. She also conducts due diligence associated with employment matters in asset and equity transactions and assists with post-transaction employment integration.

In addition, Akilah counsels clients in all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, management, retention, and termination of employees. She also advises clients on best practices related to federal and state law wage and hour compliance, defense and pursuit of employment claims, onboarding employees from alleged competitors, responding to and addressing employees’ concerns and complaints, and conducting internal investigations.

Akilah’s litigation experience includes representing employers in and before federal and state courts and administrative agencies in disputes across the country relating to employment discrimination, employment and restrictive covenant agreements, and wage and hour-related claims.

In addition to representing clients in transactional and litigation matters, Akilah also presents seminars and writes articles on a wide range of employment topics, including state and federal employment law updates, workplace civility, and diversity and inclusion-related issues in the workplace.

• Advised a national insurance company on multistate independent contractor compliance issues.
• Advised a multinational employer regarding tailoring international standards and employment policies and agreements for use with a U.S. workforce.
• Led an investigation on behalf of a U.S. subsidiary of an international energy company to investigate an employee complaint regarding a hostile work environment, including conducting witness interviews, analyzing relevant documents, preparing a report on the results of the investigation, and advising company executives regarding proposed next steps.
• Settled a breach of restrictive covenant and trade secret case on terms in favor of an energy services company.

• Houston Bar Association, President’s Award (2024)
• Daily Journal, Top Verdicts (2023)
• Franklin & Marshall African American Alumni Council, Sydney N. Bridgett ’51 Medal, (2023)
• Houston Bar Foundation, Outstanding Legal Article Award (2023)
• The National Black Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 in Texas (2020)
• Super Lawyers® Texas Rising Star (2015-2022)
• The Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law – Management (2022-2024)
• The National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division, Outstanding Young Lawyer (2022)