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Find Lawyers in Georgia, United States for Litigation - Labor and Employment
Practice Area Overview
Often, these employment disputes culminate in a lawsuit, which can be costly, time-consuming, and damaging to employee relations. The number of employment-related litigation filings has been steadily increasing over the last decade, ranging from large-scale class actions to individual complaints. Employers are facing greater challenges and financial exposure from both current and former employees than ever before.
Employment litigation covers many types of claims, including discrimination; harassment; wage-hour pay, classification, and overtime violations; wrongful discharge; entitlement to employee benefits; misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information; unfair competition; enforcement or avoidance of restrictive covenants; labor union disputes; workplace safety violations; defamation and other employment-related torts. These claims often involve the many laws governing employee relations, which are often referred to as “employment law alphabet soup.” These include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), whistleblower claims under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) or Dodd-Frank Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Resolving employment litigation requires knowledge of these laws and regulations, the applicable case law, and a careful case analysis and strategy. More so than in other less personal litigation, a perceptive understanding of the people involved is essential for success. Often, suits will be settled among parties or ended before trial through summary judgment based on the facts of the case. When early resolution is not achieved, however, the case will go to trial in court or before an agency tribunal. Verdicts in employment-related cases can be enormous, especially in wage-hour and other class actions, creating a high-stakes situation for employers.
Mary Anne Ackourey is one of FMG’s founding attorneys and is a Partner in the Atlanta office. She is nationally known employment attorney and has been recognized by both Chambers USA and Super Lawyers. She also has handled a number of high-profile cases for educational institutions and public employers. Ms. Ackourey has represented employers throughout the country and her experience includes trying to verdict multiple federal jury trials, bench trials and arbitration cases. She also has...
Brad Adler is the Practice Group Leader over FMG’s national Labor & Employment Practice Section and also serves on the Firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Adler is a nationally recognized labor and employment lawyer that has represented employers in a diverse range of labor and employment matters in more than 26 states across the U.S. His labor and employment practice fully encompasses the issues that employers may face in managing and interacting with employees, including employm...
Justin R. Barnes is office managing principal of the Atlanta, Georgia, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is the co-leader of the Wage and Hour practice group. He represents employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies on a variety of labor and employment related issues, focusing on collective and class action wage and hour disputes and complex single plaintiff wage and benefit disputes. Justin’s practice is focused primarily on defending complex wage and hour c...
Rich Black is co-chair of Littler’s Class Action Practice Group, and has represented employers in some of the largest and most significant class and collective action employment lawsuits in the country for nearly 25 years. Rich’s experience handling class and collective matters spans the wage and hour, employment discrimination, and ERISA breach of fiduciary duty areas across the retail, technology, financial services, computer services, communications, energy, pharmaceutical, con...
Joshua I. Bosin leads the firm's Labor, Employment and Benefits Practice Group in its Atlanta office and serves as co-chair of its Education Team. He is an experienced trial lawyer and advisor who defends major corporations, educational institutions and governmental entities throughout the United States as principal counsel in complex civil litigation and employment-related disputes in federal and state courts, before administrative agencies and in arbitration. Mr. Bosin serves as outside cou...
As the managing partner of the Atlanta office, Bert Brannen mentors attorneys in the Atlanta office and helps them serve the Firm’s clients. Bert advises employers on a wide variety of union-related matters and assists them with the administration, negotiation, mediation and arbitration of collective bargaining agreements. He also counsels employers who want to remain union-free with training, preventive strategies and counter-organizing educational campaigns. Bert helps employers avoid...
Ashley Brightwell is a partner in Alston & Bird's Labor & Employment Group. Ashley has extensive experience representing management in all areas of employment law, including litigating discrimination and harassment suits, counseling employers on their obligations under various federal and state statutes (such as the Family and Medical Leave Act) and litigating class-action cases alleging violations of the wage and hour laws. Ashley's practice also has a safety and health component tha...
Marquetta concentrates her practice in the areas of labor and employment law counseling and litigation, commercial litigation, investigations and education law. Marquetta also has experience in procurement and contract matters, including providing advice and counsel to governmental entities/departments on the procurement process, including acquisition planning, award determinations, purchasing policies, protests, contract negotiation, review and administration and claims resolution. Marquetta...
Margaret (Meg) Campbell is a shareholder in the Atlanta office and has practiced employment, litigation, and labor law at Ogletree Deakins since 1981. Meg graduated from Goucher College and Washington and Lee University School of Law, where she was a member of the Law Review and of the Jessup International Moot Court team and a Burks Scholar. An all-around labor and employment lawyer, Meg is particularly recognized for her expertise and experience in complex class and collective action litiga...
Patrick Clark is a shareholder in the Firm and concentrates his practice on advice and litigation in all areas of employment law. Although Patrick has particular expertise in representing healthcare industry clients, his representative clients also include insurance, paper/building products and publishing companies. Patrick’s representation of clients encompasses litigation in state and federal courts across the country.Patrick is viewed as one of the Firm’s “go to” la...
Craig Cleland defends employers in litigation—including in class actions—and counsels them on compliance and risk management. He is also Co-Chair of the Firm’s Class Action Practice Group. Craig has served on several Atlanta-area nonprofit boards, including as chair. He is currently on the Advisory Committee for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society as well as on the Board of the Atlanta Bar Labor and Employment Section. Craig is also named in Best Lawyers in America, Atlanta Magazi...
Brett Coburn is a partner who concentrates his practice on employment litigation and counseling. He regularly litigates employment discrimination and retaliation cases, as well as wage and hour cases under the FLSA and various state laws. He has extensive experience litigating cases involving breach of employment contracts, violation of non-competition and other restrictive covenants, misappropriation of trade secrets, defamation, breach of employee duties, tortious interference and related c...
Maia Cogen is a litigator with Lawrence & Bundy focusing on Employment Matters, Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Internal Investigations, Class Action Litigation, and General Commercial Litigation. Before joining Lawrence & Bundy, she was an associate at Sutherland (Eversheds Sutherland), where she participated in the firm’s 2012 Summer Associate program. Maia also served as a summer law clerk with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in Washington D.C.
Mr. Deering has extensive experience representing employers in successfully avoiding and defending a broad range of employment-related claims. His focus areas include employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation and harassment, whistleblower issues, restrictive covenants, wage-hour matters (including class and collective actions) and workplace safety. Mr. Deering has litigated such matters throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.In addition, Mr. De...
Leslie Dent is an experienced trial lawyer who has successfully tried cases ranging from individual discrimination matters to complex wage and hour class actions. She represents employers in class and collective actions involving off-the-clock claims, challenges to exempt status and other wage-related claims, as well as Rule 23 class actions alleging discrimination claims. Leslie counsels and represents employers on a broad range of employment law issues, including discrimination, harassment,...
Burton Dodd is a partner in the firm's Atlanta office. For more than 30 years he has successfully defended colleges and universities, independent schools, multi-national manufacturers, hospitals, professional medical groups, textile manufacturers, telecommunications corporations, and other employers throughout the United States against claims of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful discharge brought in federal and state courts and administrative agencies. Burton al...
Steve Ensor is a partner and the leader of the firm’s Labor & Employment Group. Steve has represented employers for over 30 years in all areas of labor and employment law, including complex employment class and collective litigation and traditional labor union matters. Steve has also excelled in leading several client teams, and has been recognized by the firm’s clients for his exceptional client service, his aggressive approach to “win-win” alternative fee arrange...
Erica Mason serves as regional and national employment counsel to large and medium-sized companies throughout the United States, primarily in the hospitality, retail and manufacturing sectors, as well as hospitals and physician's groups. Ms. Mason defends clients from claims of alleged racial, age, national origin, disability and religious discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation; testing and public accommodations; wage and hour disputes; and restrictive covenants disputes brought under ...
Matt Gomes is a Partner in the Atlanta office; his practice focuses on labor and employment law, commercial litigation, class actions and special matters and investigations. Throughout Matt’s legal career, he has successfully litigated high-stakes cases in federal and state courts and before government agencies throughout the United States. Matt has extensive experience in litigating matters alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation; wage and hour claims; employee benefits; br...
Ernest Greer's practice consists of the representation of clients in various complex litigation matters, including class action litigation, construction, contracts (suits on account and guarantee/indemnity agreements), trademarks, products liability, employment, partnership disputes and other commercial litigation matters. Ernest has wide-ranging trial experience representing clients in multimillion-dollar actions in complex commercial litigation.
Patricia Griffith concentrates her practice on employment litigation, including individual and class action discrimination and harassment cases, employment contracts, wage/hour claims, and other employment-related actions. She tries cases in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies and arbitrators. Patricia has substantial jury and class certification experience. She is adept at mediating disputes, reducing the likelihood of protracted litigation, and serves as an arbitrato...
Recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers (2012-2016) 2016 Hall of Fame Inductee for "The Nation's Most Powerful Employment Attorneys" by Human Resources Executive Magazine Named one of the "Top 20 Most Powerful Labor Attorneys" by Human Resources Executive Magazine , 2012-2015 Named one of the "Top 10 Most Powerful Labor Attorneys" by Human Resources Executive Magazine, 2010 Named one of the "Most Powerful Employment Attorneys" by Human Resources Executive Magazine, 2009 Vice Cha...
Greg Hare has been an employment lawyer at Ogletree Deakins his entire career, ever since 1991. He assists companies with human resources and employment-related litigation matters, including wrongful termination claims, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, employment contracts, trade secrets, and non-compete agreements. He advises clients on a wide range of human resources topics, such as employee discipline and discharge, severance planning, independent contractor classifications, w...
Jill Harrison has a breadth of experience advising management in issues related to both labor relations and employment law, as well as a variety of regulatory compliance and counseling matters. Her experience includes providing strategic counsel to business executives and Human Resources management on all aspects of the employment relationship, First Amendment litigation, commercial litigation, corporate investigations and counseling, and privacy matters. Jill has substantial experience advis...
Wade Herring is a partner in the Savannah office. Representing businesses and management, Wade’s practice focuses on all aspects of employment problems and issues, including internal employment practices, wage/hour issues, drug testing, sexual harassment, equal employment opportunity, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and employee benefits. Wade is admitted to practice in the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for t...
Wayne Hillis is an experienced trial attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes, complex business, securities, and employment litigation and arbitration. With more than 200 trials under his belt, he has the experience and skill to successfully represent his clients at trial. Wayne uses his experience and seasoned judgment to guide his clients to the best, most cost-effective solution for their business. As a securities trial lawyer, Wayne represents sec...
Michael Hill is an Associate in the Labor & Employment Law National Practice Section in FMG's Atlanta office. As a member of the firm's Labor & Employment Law National Practice Section, Mr. Hill represents both public and private employers in litigation and pre-suit negotiations involving claims of alleged unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; wage and hour disputes; family and medical leave issues; and employment-contract disputes, including contracts involving non-di...
Kevin has been practicing labor and employment law since 1982. He represents employers throughout the country in a wide variety of labor and employment law matters. Such representation involves employment-related litigation in federal and state courts, including class actions and franchise and independent contractor litigation. In addition, he handles affirmative action planning and compliance, including extensive involvement with “glass ceiling” issues and Office of Federal Contr...
From Chambers USA: “Shawn Kachmar stands out for both his in-depth knowledge of labor and employment law and excellent client service skills. As one interviewee comments: ‘Your problems always seem to be his priority – no matter how small you are, you always feel like you are his most important customer.’” Shawn Kachmar is a partner at HunterMaclean and practices in the areas of employment law , employee benefits , and business litigation . Shawn counsels employe...
Zahra focuses her practice on whistleblower cases (False Claims Act/qui tam), white collar criminal defense, corporate internal investigations, and complex civil litigation. For 8 years, Zahra served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. As a veteran and former state Senator, she has extensive experience dealing with the government. Due to her experience and expertise, Zahra has been called upon numerous times to be a legal analyst in high profile cases. Zahra ha...
He takes the time to learn about the businesses he advises and tailor their employee relation strategies to promote a better workforce and a better workplace. For those clients with established union relationships, Mark has worked diligently to further his clients’ labor relations strategies, including successfully partnering with their union representatives. Clients appreciate the approach Mark takes in designing strategies that create internal response teams so that management and emp...
Allegra Lawrence-Hardy is creative and results-oriented. She uses strategic analysis and innovative thinking to develop legal solutions that work for her clients. She has successfully defended Fortune 100 companies throughout the United States and abroad in numerous trials, arbitrations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Allegra is known for her skill in trying cases and working through complex settlements with tenacity and patience. Allegra also develops processes, tools and ...
Joyce Gist Lewis is a skilled and tenacious advocate for private companies and governmental entities in and out of the courtroom. Joyce’s two decades of experience includes serving as lead counsel for claims involving professional liability, director and officer liability, business divorce, real estate litigation, employment discrimination defense, and catastrophic injury defense. Her appellate experience includes arguing cases before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and successful...
Chris Marquardt is a counselor and trial lawyer who prides himself on helping his clients solve complex problems. He has a diverse trial practice that focuses substantively on commercial litigation and a wide array of labor & employment matters. He also serves as outside General Counsel to educational institutions. Mr. Marquardt has litigated complex disputes for publicly-traded companies, privately-held corporations, small businesses, non-profits, and individuals. He has considerable exp...
Ben Mathis is the Managing Partner of Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP. He also leads the Firm's Labor & Employment National Practice Section. His practice also includes commercial litigation and directors and officers defense. He has practiced throughout the country and has been lead counsel in cases in 45 states. Mr. Mathis has been selected one of the "Premier Top 100 Trial Attorneys in the State of Georgia" by the American Academy of Trial Attorneys. He has been named the "Atlanta ...
As an experienced litigator, Michelle counsels corporate and individual clients regarding risk management and pre-suit strategy, in addition to providing representation at all phases of litigation in state and federal court, from commencement through appeal. Michelle represents clients in consumer and commercial arbitration proceedings. Michelle’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation, primarily in the areas of product and premises liability, insurance claims and coverage matters...
Ken Menendez is a Partner in the firm's Atlanta office. His experience is in complex commercial litigation, with concentrations in employment, financial and construction litigation. Ken has extensive experience with mediation, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution and serves as a certified arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. He has a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV (highest rating), has been selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers every year si...
Joyce Mocek is a Partner and practices in the Labor and Employment and Business Liability and Insurance National Practice Sections at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP. Ms. Mocek is a nationally recognized litigation lawyer that has represented companies across the United States in a diverse range of labor and employment matters. Her areas of expertise focus on advising and representing major employers, insurers, manufacturers, hospitality companies, and health care providers, with particular st...
Jeff Mokotoff has a broad employment law practice and routinely counsels clients on a myriad of employment issues, drafts and reviews employment agreements, conducts management training, and litigates employment cases in state and federal court. He has extensive experience in representing clients concerning cases involving non-compete agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, employment/business torts, and wage and hour litigation. Jeff is the co-editor of the "Wage & Hour - Fair Lab...
John Monroe has represented employers in the litigation and arbitration of virtually every type of claim that may arise out of the employment relationship. These claims include employment discrimination and harassment, breach of contract, unfair competition, misappropriation of trade secrets, claims arising under state and federal wage and hour laws and family medical leave laws, employment/business torts, claims involving minority shareholder rights and business "divorces". John has extensiv...
In a career spanning more than thirty-five years, Steve Mooney has served as lead counsel on more than 300 lawsuits throughout the United States and tried a wide range of lawsuits, including high-stakes class actions to verdict in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. His active and diverse practice focuses on complex and high-profile healthcare, ERISA, catastrophic injury, employment, and general liability litigation. Steve led a team that secured a $56M...
Charlie Morgan concentrates in litigation and government and internal investigations regarding occupational safety and health, employment and traditional labor matters. He also develops programs for compliance with safety and health laws and federal sentencing guidelines. Mr. Morgan represents companies nationally in investigations and litigation regarding major industrial and mining accidents, in class and collective actions, and in anti-union campaigns. He served as lead counsel for Imperia...
Ann Margaret Pointer is a partner in the Atlanta office. She has represented management in labor and employment matters for more than 30 years with a particular emphasis on the agricultural industry. She has been listed in The Legal 500 as "one of the leaders in the country for her knowledge of H-2 agricultural workers." She counsels and defends many agricultural companies in connection with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA...
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Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
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