Jessica L. Dark is a partner in Pierce Couch’s Oklahoma City office. Her practice is primarily devoted to defending government officials and entities in lawsuits involving allegations of civil rights violations. Jessica also focuses her practice on employment law, including providing counsel on employment-related issues and defending employers in state and federal litigation, as well as premises and general tort liability. Jessica is licensed to practice in Oklahoma’s state and federal courts, as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Jessica is an active member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma County Bar Association, USLAW Network, and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. As a member of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Inn of Courts, Jessica has been named Outstanding Team Leader and Outstanding Associate. She is a seven-time Super Lawyers Rising Star and has been named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list for the Civil Rights practice area in 2020, 2021, and 2022. She was admitted to the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) in 2022 and in 2025 was elected to the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association – Oklahoma City Chapter.

After graduating from Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City, Jessica attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University and graduated with a degree in political science and history. At the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Jessica served as President of the Oklahoma Advancement for Women in the Law, was a member of the American Indian Law Review and graduated with honors. She worked as a law clerk at Pierce Couch from 2010 until 2012, when she was sworn in as a licensed attorney in the State of Oklahoma.

Jessica lives with her family in Oklahoma City and enjoys reading and traveling. She volunteers her time with the Sparrow Project in Moore, Oklahoma, an organization dedicated to providing community, skills and activities for adults with special needs, and Infant Crisis Services in Oklahoma City.

Legal Assistant:

Katie O’Donnell

Education:

• Southwestern Oklahoma State University with Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science

• University of Oklahoma College of Law

Bar Admissions:

• State of Oklahoma

• Western District Court of Oklahoma

• Eastern District of Oklahoma

• Northern District of Oklahoma

• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

• United States Supreme Court

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Federal Bar Association

• Oklahoma Bar Association

• Oklahoma County Bar Association

• USLAW Network

• Defense Research Institute

Professional Honors/Awards:

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg Inn of Courts Outstanding Team Leader, 2015

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg Inn of Courts Outstanding Associate, 2017

• Six-time Super Lawyers Rising Star

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2020

Classes/Seminars Taught:

• August 2020 - National Business Institute: Mini Law School for HR Professionals

• February 2024 – Oklahoma Municipal HR Expo – Ask the Expert Panel

• April 2024 – USLAW Network Litigation Academy: “Do All Cases Benefit from Expert Witness Testimony?”

• March 2025 – USLAW Network General Counsel and In-House Counsel Forum: “Mind Matters – Navigating Workplace Mental Health Compliance”

• April 2025 – Oklahoma Municipal HR Expo – Current Human Resources Legal Issues

• June 2025 – USLAW Network Women’s Connection: “Maximizing the In-House and Outside Counsel Relationship”

Respective Cases/Published Works:

• USLAW Magazine, Winter 2022: Foreign Concept: Do Foreign, Non-U.S. Citizen Workers Count as “Employees” When Determining Whether Title VII Applies?

• USLAW Magazine, Spring 2025: Contracting for Care: The 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Liability Landscape of Correctional Facilities

• USLAW Magazine, Fall 2025: Redefining Fairness: Reverse Discrimination Claims and Evolving Employment Law through the Lens of the Supreme Court