Qualifications:

• Best Lawyers®.

Ruth Willars’ practice consists of employment and commercial litigation, employment counseling, and regulatory compliance. She represents companies during investigations by regulatory agencies including the Department of Labor, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, and the Security and Exchange Commission. Given the myriad regulations associated with both small and large businesses, Ruth assists her clients in working through the complexities of running a business and being an employer amidst the austere regulatory work environment the United States has become.

Prior to joining Monty & Ramirez LLP, Ruth was the Chief Compliance and Legal Officer for a registered investment adviser. Before taking the in-house position, Ruth worked at other nationally recognized law firms handling labor and employment litigation, which included allegations of discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour violation and breach of contract.

Education

• Texas Tech University School of Law J.D., cum laude, 1997
• University of Texas at El Paso Bachelor of Arts, Major in History, with honors, 1993
• Licensed by the State Bar of Texas

Admitted to Practice

• State Courts of Texas
• Texas Southern District Court
• Texas Northern District Court
• Texas Eastern District Court
• Texas Western District Court

Professional Activities

• State Bar of Texas
• Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Presentations

• The New Overtime Rule
  Monty & Ramirez Labor and Employment Seminar, 2016
• Smart I-9 Recordkeeping: How to Complete, Retain, and Re-Verify Using the New Form I-9
  BLR: I-9 Webinar, 2016
• Essential FLSA Issues Facing Employers
  Clarus Benefits Labor and Employment Seminar, 2016
• Transgender Rights in the Workplace
  Gulf Coast LGBT-Allies Diversity Summit, 2016
• Sex and Religion in the Workplace
  HR Houston Gulf Coast Symposium, 2017
• Religion and Pregnancy in the Workplace
  Monty & Ramirez CLE Immigration and Employment Update, 2017
•  Employee’s Go-To Discrimination Claim: FLSA Retaliation
  HR Houston Gulf Coast Symposium, 2017
• Form I-9 and National Origin/Citizenship-Based Discrimination: How to Minimize Legal Risks in Recruiting,Employment Verification and Re-verification, and Avoid ICE Penalties
  BLR: Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, 2017
• Emerging Trends in Employment Law
  Harris County Civil Judicial Education Conference, 2017
• Advanced Skills for Employee Leave Management
  BLR: FMLA Master Class, 2018

Monty & Ramirez LLP