Laura Fowler is the managing partner of The Fowler Law Firm, P.C.
Ms. Fowler is the proud recipient of the designation of Best Lawyers in the United States from US World and News Reports, Martindale Hubble AV Lawyer and AV Woman Lawyer Preeminent, 2017 Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year, 2016 Greater Austin Black Chamber Diversity Champion, 2016 Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce Pride Champion, 2020 Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, The Austin Club 2014 Member of the Year, and Williamson County Association of Realtors 2013 Member of the Year. The Fowler Law Firm PC is ranked nationally by US News and World Reports as a Best Law Firms In the United States Tier 1 in two categories, Immigration and Education. Not surprisingly, Ms. Fowler passionately believes in the importance of both and is proud to contribute to a number of educational endowments and scholarships, reaching out to many who are in need of pro bono immigration services, referred by area pastors who know their members with be treated with dignity, respect and love. She is an ardent supporter of many Austin area nonprofits including Peace Park Conservancy.
Ms. Fowler serves as a director of The Austin Bar Association and is particularly proud of the fact that each year in which The Fowler Law Firm has been invited to participate, it has been designated with the grade of A+ as Top Diversity Employer of Attorneys by Austin Bar Association Diversity Report Card, which Ms. Fowler notes is nothing short of a miracle in light of the firm’s small size and lack of HR resources compared to the firms The Fowler Law Firm PC competes against that employ hundreds or even thousands of lawyers. She has been quoted as saying “I just invited the most wonderful lawyers in Austin to join us and they turned out to be…..diverse!
Graduating from Baylor Law School in 1979, Laura Fowler began her career as a very green Lieutenant Junior Grade in the US Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corp aboard the warship USS Guadalcanal in 1980. Chasing saboteurs and scoundrels through exotic ports in East Asia and the Western Pacific, she learned a lot about the world and went from being not much more that a citizen who dutifully voted to a fierce patriot who loves the United States and worships the United States Constitution for the opportunities afforded our citizens which are unlike any other in the world.
Since returning to Texas in 1983, she has confined herself to avenging and defending the rights of many wonderful people and institutions in the state and federal courts of Texas. Her greatest calling, however, is to help her clients design ways to never see the inside of a courtroom.
Education
J.D., Baylor School of Law, 1979
Bar Memberships/Licenses
State Bar of Texas
I speak to you today not only as a lawyer who has advised many employers over the past month, but as a small business owner and employer. Every day I serve the needs of 26 of the most heroic individuals on the face of this earth. March 26, 2020 Fowler Law team dutifully assumed very new and unfamiliar battle stations in their homes. All have continued to provide high quality legal services without hesitation or complaint. All have remained employed full time. Fowler Law allowed all employees to work from home, even tough legal services are defined by federal, state and local law to be essential services.
Attached are Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Executive Order GA-16, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce revised April 17, 2020 and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Poster. Many businesses will begin to reopen soon. Many others, private employers, charitable and nonprofit administrators, were authorized to operate throughout this challenge because like Fowler Law, they are defined by the orders as providing or supporting Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure.
Those employers who have reached out to us for legal advice over the past month to a one have been loving, kind people who are facing one of the greatest challenges of their professional lives. They love their team members and families and want to do the right thing by all. They know that no business, charity or governmental unit can remain closed or allow its workers to remain largely at home indefinitely. Meanwhile, some workers are enraged by the prohibitions and want to return to work; others are too fearful to return.
We advise those who employ fewer than fifty (50) employees consider the following which should greatly ease your decision making process. The moral and spiritual dilemma many will face, to be kind while taking the steps necessary to ensure the continued life and livelihood of your team, will likely be among the most significant decisions you ever make.
Laura Sanders Fowler
Laura Fowler Awarded 2016 Diversity Champion Of The Year By The Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce
