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 RuleMonty & Ramirez Labor and Employment Seminar, 2016 Smart I-9 Recordkeeping: How to Complete, Retain, and Re-Verify Using the New Form I-9BLR: I-9 Webinar, 2016 Essential FLSA Issues Facing EmployersClarus 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 RetaliationHR 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

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