
Courtney Bru’s practice is focused on the representation of employers in state and federal labor and employment matters and other issues affecting the workplace. In addition to having extensive experience representing management in all phases of litigation before state and federal courts and regulatory and administrative agencies, a significant portion of her practice is devoted to counseling and training management and human resources professionals on the best practices for reducing risk, avoiding litigation, and maintaining a productive workforce.
Courtney has extensive experience representing local, regional and national clients with respect to claims and potential claims arising from the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, wage and hour issues arising under various state laws, and discrimination and retaliation issues arising under various state and federal laws. In addition, she frequently assists employers with day-to-day issues, including interviewing and hiring, discipline and termination, employment and nonsolicitation agreements, workplace policies and handbooks, drug and alcohol testing, employee classification, internal investigations, audits by state and federal agencies, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training, reductions in force, and severance programs.
In addition to her employment practice, a portion of Courtney’s practice is devoted to commercial and civil litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts. She has represented numerous clients in cases involving negligence, breach of contract, fraud and bad faith.
Courtney’s achievements have earned her inclusion in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, where she was praised for her understanding of the business environment and for her “good response time and knowledge of the field.” Researchers also noted her extensive litigation experience, as well as her specific expertise in the handling of wage and hour issues. She has also been named to The Best Lawyers in America (employment law – management; labor and employment litigation) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers, which selected her for its list of “Top 25 Women” lawyers. Courtney was named by Best Lawyers as the “Tulsa Employment Lawyer of the Year (Management)” for 2023, an honor given to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each market.
Courtney is a contributing author and co-editor of the Oklahoma Employment Law Letter, a monthly review of new court decisions, regulations and laws affecting Oklahoma employers. She is also a frequent speaker on labor and employment topics before employer groups, industry professionals, and state and local bar associations.
Courtney began her career as an associate with the Atlanta office of Littler Mendelson and, more recently, was a partner of a Tulsa-based law firm, where she also served as leader of its Employment Law Practice Group.
Download Bio (PDF)Representative Experience
Labor and Employment:
- Dissolved temporary restraining order without notice filed by one of the world’s largest oilfield services companies against defendant competitor and its employee for the alleged violation of confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.
- Obtained dismissal of a claim for sex discrimination in alleged violation of city ordinances, as well as dismissal of a summary judgment claim arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), on behalf of a municipal employer.
- Successfully vacated arbitration award pursuant to Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, U.S.C. § 185, and the Federal Arbitration Act, 29 U.S.C. § 10 on the grounds that the arbitrator exceeded her authority under these acts when interpreting the management rights provision of the parties’ collective bargaining agreement.
- Successfully defended unionized employer against claims of national origin and race discrimination, breach of collective bargaining agreements, in Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) arbitrations.
- Obtained various dismissals and/or summary judgments on behalf of tribally-owned businesses against claims arising under federal anti-discrimination laws.
- Defended manufacturer against claim for retaliatory termination in violation of the FLSA by former employee terminated as part of a reduction in force.
- Defended contractor against claim that former employee was drug tested in violation of state law.
- Defended employers against alleged wage and hour violations asserted as class or collective actions.
- Represented numerous employers before the Oklahoma Department of Labor regarding wage and hour claims arising under state wage payment laws.
Compliance and Investigations:
- Successfully represented oil and gas industry clients in U.S. Department of Labor wage and hour audits, resulting in significant reductions in the calculation of back wages owed as a result of employee misclassification.
Commercial Litigation:
- Obtained temporary restraining order on behalf of client alleging breach of contract and wrongful termination of contract.
- Defeated attempts by world’s largest food processor to collect amounts on contracts by arguing it breached its obligations thereunder.
- Regularly defended public utility against various claims for negligence allegedly resulting in personal injury and property damage.
- Represented insurer against numerous claims for breach of contract and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing.
- Represented public utility and its employee against claims of assault and battery, and asserted employee’s counterclaims for intentional torts against plaintiff.
- Defended national issuer of debt cancellation agreements against claims of breach of contract and bad faith arising out of the purchase of the agreements and the receipt of gap waiver benefits under such agreements.
Honors and Awards
- Listed in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (employment law — management; labor and employment litigation)
- Named “Tulsa Employment Lawyer of the Year (Management)” for 2023 by The Best Lawyers in America
- Listed in Oklahoma Super Lawyers
- Named to Oklahoma Super Lawyers’ list of “Top 25 Women Lawyers”
Professional Organizations and Memberships
- Tulsa County Bar Association
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Georgia Bar Association
Civic Involvement and Leadership
- Domestic Violence Intervention Services (Pro Bono Attorney)
At The Podium
Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law
Supervisor Training – Changing Rules, Changing Practices
The Incredibles: Labor & Employment “Ask the Experts” Panel
Top Gun: Restrictive Covenants and Retaining “the Best of the Best”
Grievance Arbitration
Employment Compliance Strategies for a Changing Workforce
Tips for Protesting Unemployment Claims
What’s New for ’22: Employment Law Updates, Trends and Predictions
Ask the Experts: Labor & Employment Panel
What’s New for ’22: Employment Law Updates, Trends and Predictions
The Continuing Impact of COVID-19
The Continuing and Lingering Impact of COVID-19 in the Workplace
Administering COVID-19 Leave Under the ADA and FMLA
How back-to-school plans will impact your workforce
Alphabet Soup of Employment Law
Recent Developments with the Fair Labor Standards Act
Medical Marijuana: Next steps for Oklahoma employers
Non-compete, no-solicitation and confidentiality agreements
I-9 Compliance
Rethinking Harassment Training & Other #MeToo Insights Panel
Labor & Employment All-Star Q&A Panel
Battling Sexual Harassment Claims in the Court of Legal Opinion and Court of Public Opinion
Best Hiring Practices
Workplace Wellness: How to recognize, address and accommodate mental and emotional issues in the workplace
Let’s Talk: Engaging disabled employees in the ADA’s interactive process
Failure to understand the concept of pretext
Failure to understand the concept of pretext
Let’s talk: Engaging disabled employees in the ADA’s interactive process
Let’s talk: Engaging disabled employees in the ADA’s interactive process
Significant Changes to the Oklahoma Employment Security Act
Significant Changes to the Oklahoma Employment Security Act
Pregnancy in the workplace: From antidiscrimination to accommodation?
Social Media in the Workplace
PPACA/Obamacare: What employers need to know
Current status of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Tulsa, Oklahoma | March 13, 2014Employment-related matters
Legal issues impacting workplace wellness
2013 Employment Law Update
Military family leave: Current and future obligations
Collecting medical information
Let’s get serious: Serious health conditions
Military family leave: Current and future obligations
Collecting medical information
Let’s get serious: Serious health conditions
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Selected issues
Tulsa, Oklahoma | August 27, 2013Vital lessons from 2012 litigation and the EEOC’s new enforcement plan: HR compliance strategies for 2013
Drafting employer policy: Social media use work equipment
Legal issues affecting the contingent workforce
Social Media Networking Sites and Employment-Related Decisions
What should be in your employee handbook
Working through the ADAA and its regulations
The new ADAAA regulations: And you thought the ADAAA was bad!
Social networking: What employers need to know
Recordkeeping: What to keep and for how long?
New FMLA and ADA amendments
State and federal recordkeeping requirements
Recordkeeping: What to keep and for how long?
Navigating through the ADA, FMLA and workers’ comp maze
Practical problems at the boundaries of the law
Co-employment: Issues and strategies
Co-employment: Issues and strategies
Articles
Enforceability of non-competition agreements between employers less than certain under Oklahoma law
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | March 21, 2023Make sure you’re fit to administer the FMLA’s fitness-for-duty certification requirements
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | November 14, 2022Calculating the 100-employee threshold under the OSHA vaccination ETS
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | November 23, 2021ODOL: Employers likely responsible for paying for COVID-19 testing under Oklahoma law
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Alert | November 5, 2021OSHA releases final rule regarding workplace vaccination mandates
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Alert | November 4, 2021As pandemic drags on, employers should prepare for challenges facing working parents
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | August 23, 2021Potential ADA accommodations abound, but here are a few declared ‘unreasonable’
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | July 16, 2021Best practices for ending pandemic-related work-from-home arrangements
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | March 18, 2021Employees entitled to FFCRA paid leave from work, but only when there is work available
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | November 16, 2020School’s in session; it’s not too late to review FFCRA benefits policies and procedures
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Alert | September 10, 2020An employer’s guide to navigating common issues involving remote workers
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | August 21, 2020Employers may soon rely on ‘safety-sensitive’ exception to medical marijuana use
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | April 9, 2019What exactly is ‘de minimis’? How to address off-the-clock work in light of modern technologies
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | October 23, 2018An employer’s duty to initiate the ‘interactive process’ without a request for accommodation from the employee
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | July 27, 2018Minimizing liability for overpayment, underpayment of wages
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | April 17, 2018EEOC alleges medical exams and questionnaires violate ADA, GINA
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | October 9, 2017Best practices for Oklahoma employers when inquiring about criminal histories
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | June 7, 20172016 presidential election dynamics in the workplace: Free speech? ‘You’re fired’
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | October 12, 2016Summertime, and the Livin’ is… well, potentially complicated
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | June 7, 2016Courts continue to back employers with strong timekeeping policies, practices
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | May 13, 2015Rules differ regarding second opinions on fitness‑for‑duty certifications
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | February 11, 2015Prescription drug addiction: Medical review officers can help eliminate disability discrimination claim
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | September 5, 2014Employers cannot force disclosure of employee’s user names or passwords
The Employer’s Legal Resource | June 2, 2014New Oklahoma law restricts municipalities’ ability to set minimum wages, minimum vacation or sick leave
The Employer’s Legal Resource | May 1, 2014President continues efforts to increase minimum wage, availability of overtime
The Employer’s Legal Resource | April 1, 2014IRS issues additional ‘transition relief’ that benefits employers
The Employer’s Legal Resource | March 3, 2014Reminder: Posting deadline (OSHA Form 300A) February 1
The Employer’s Legal Resource | February 3, 2014Employers encouraged to take steps now to avoid potential class action litigation
The Employer’s Legal Resource | February 3, 2014EEOC continues forward with its strategic enforcement plan
The Employer’s Legal Resource | January 2, 2014Tenth Circuit: Employees must affirmatively request reasonable accommodations for existing disabilities
The Employer’s Legal Resource | December 1, 2013Update and reminder — Developments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The Employer’s Legal Resource | September 3, 2013Portions of Affordable Care Act (ACA) delayed
The Employer’s Legal Resource | August 1, 2013Significant changes to Oklahoma unemployment laws take effect in July, November
The Employer’s Legal Resource | June 3, 2013U.S. Department of Labor issues new FMLA regulations
The Employer’s Legal Resource | March 1, 2013Supreme Court denies relief in case challenging Affordable Care Act
The Employer’s Legal Resource | February 1, 2013Employer’s handbook policies and written reviews results in summary judgment against former employee
The Employer’s Legal Resource | January 1, 2013Amended statute alters time for payment of taxes, filing of returns
The Employer’s Legal Resource | July 1, 2012UPDATE: (NLRA) posting postponed
The Employer’s Legal Resource | May 1, 2012U.S. Senate to consider expanding computer employee exemption
The Employer’s Legal Resource | May 1, 2012FLSA prohibits retaliation by ‘employers’ (DUH!) and ‘non-employers’ (HUH!?)
The Employer’s Legal Resource | March 1, 2012Hiring Requirements: Oklahoma
Practical Law | February 1, 2012NLRB continues to provide guidance regarding social networking activities
The Employer’s Legal Resource | October 1, 2011NLRB continues to file complaints regarding social networking activities
The Employer’s Legal Resource | August 1, 2011The importance of being ‘interactive’
The Employer’s Legal Resource | June 1, 2011Unknown and unauthorized work
The Employer’s Legal Resource | April 1, 2011Weather and weather-related absences under the Fair Labor Standards Act
The Employer’s Legal Resource | March 1, 2011NLRB remains active in the arena of social networking activities
The Employer’s Legal Resource | March 1, 2011The National Labor Relations Board goes after employer for firing an employee who posted disparaging comments about supervisor
The Employer’s Legal Resource | January 1, 2011The Fair Credit Reporting Act: The need for strict compliance in the face of increased federal interest and enforcement
The Employer’s Legal Resource | December 1, 2010Selected Employment Law Issues
Vernon’s Oklahoma Forms 2nd, Chapter 14, Volume 3C Business Organizations | 2010Yet another change in the law of donning and doffing … and not in the employer’s favor
The Employer’s Legal Resource | August 1, 2010Employees with no biological or legal relationship to a child may nevertheless stand ‘in loco parentis’ under the FMLA
The Employer’s Legal Resource | July 1, 2010Supreme Court to consider privacy of text messages
The Employer’s Legal Resource | January 1, 2010Dollars & sense: Per diem overpayment could result in higher wages
The Employer’s Legal Resource | August 1, 2009Unclaimed wages: ‘Abandoned’ wages must be turned over to the state
The Employer’s Legal Resource | August 1, 2009FMLA refresher: Who is covered? What forms to use?
The Employer’s Legal Resource | June 1, 2009Employee blogs: If you’re going to “dooce,” do it properly
The Employer’s Legal Resource | May 1, 2009Invasion of the Blogs: An Introductory Survival Guide for Assessing, Addressing and Managing Employee Blogs and Other Alien Publication Life Forms
Media Law Resource Center Employment Law Committee | March 1, 2009Hoosier legal advisor, Sampson? The dangers of terminating employees without just cause
Oklahoma Employment Law Letter | May 1, 2008Death & taxes: IRS investigation ends with $319 million bill for FedEx
Oklahoma Employment Law Letter | February 1, 2008Abide by DOL’s donning/doffing opinion
Oklahoma Employment Law Letter | December 1, 2007Donning, doffing, doubting: Must you pay for changing clothes?
Oklahoma Employment Law Letter | November 1, 2007Big Brother’s watching — And he can fire you, too
Oklahoma Employment Law Letter | April 1, 2007The National Employer
2005-2006 editionMedia
