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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Management-side Labor, Employment, Litigation, Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Insurance
When?
In Practice Area:
Since 1977
In the Legal Profession:
Since 1977
Where?
Employer:
Arent Fox
http://www.arentfox.com
Size/Sector:
Approx. 300 attorneys
City/State:
Washington, DC
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Law School:
George Washington University Law School, 1977, High Honor, Law Review Special Project Editor.
Undergraduate School/Degree:
University of Wisconsin, BA’1973, Majors: Political Science, Mass Communications, Psychology.
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
The practice of labor and employment law concentrates on relationships between individuals (supervisors and employees) and organizations (employers and unions) and problem solving concerning fundamental personal and business issues. Counseling offers opportunities to facilitate fair and rational decision making in the workplace. Litigation offers opportunities to try cases before juries and administrative judges often concerning emotionally charged issues. Collective bargaining offers unique negotiating challenges to reach accommodations and then participate in working through disputes to maintain positive employee relations and productive operations.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
Practical judgment, in depth knowledge of complex array of federal, state, and local employment regulations, litigation before juries, judges, and appellate bodies, negotiating with opposing attorneys in litigation and unions in collective bargaining.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Take advantage of law school courses, CLE offerings, and labor/employment periodicals to learn and stay abreast of the ever-changing law governing the employment relationship.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
15 credits in law school courses covering labor and employment topics; law review editor of special issue devoted to labor relations; summer clerkship in labor section of large firm known for its labor practice; associate in labor section of large firm known for its labor practice; litigation of numerous cases in federal and state courts; numerous jury trials; numerous administrative law judge trials; numerous appellate court arguments; frequent speaker to client groups, bar conferences, trade associations, chambers of commerce on employment topics; editor of human resources management reporter; editor of book on employee duty of loyalty; editor of annual update of book on covenants not to compete; adjunct professor of labor law at George Mason Law School; law firm employment department manager; in ABA Labor and Employment Section Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee served as management co-chair of subcommittees on covenants not to compete, ethics, and trial advocacy, program co-chair, and chair-elect.
Influences and Mentors:
Undergraduate courses in Constitutional Law, senior political science thesis and professor and advisor for both; law review writing experience; law firm colleagues; ABA committee colleagues.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
Law school placement office.
Recent Professional Publications:
Employee Duty of Loyalty (Editor, Treatise, BNA);
Annual Update Covenants Not to Compete (Editor, Treatise, BNA);
Workplace Investigations (Author, Chapter, BNA);
Human Resources Management Reporter (Editor, Warren Gorham Lamont);
Qui Tam Litigation (Author, Paper, Georgetown Law School Continuing
Education);
Electronic Communications in the Workplace (Author, Paper, Law
Education Institute);
Americans with Disabilities Act: Recent Developments (Author,
Paper, American Bar Association Institute);
Occupational Safety and Health Litigation (Author, Paper, Construction
Management Association of America);
Expert Witnesses in Employment Litigation (Author, Paper, Georgetown
Law School Continuing Education);
Fair Housing Compliance (Author, Paper, Executive Enterprises).
Recent Professional Presentations:
Electronic Communications in the Workplace (Vail, Law Education
Institute);
Americans with Disabilities Act: Recent Developments (New Orleans,
Chicago, Las Vegas, American Bar Association Institute);
Occupational Safety and Health Litigation (Washington, Construction
Management Association of America);
Expert Witnesses in Employment Litigation (Washington, Georgetown
Law School Continuing Education);
Fair Housing Compliance (Fort Lauderdale, Washington, Executive
Enterprises);
Qui Tam Litigation (Washington, Georgetown Law School Continuing
Education);
Employment Litigation Tactics (New York, American Bar Association),
Appellate Advocacy (San Diego, American Bar Association),
Opening Argument (Stuart, Florida, American Bar Association).
Memorable Career Moment:
$5 Million judgment following four week jury trial in
breach of covenant not to compete case; en banc oral argument to
eleven judge federal court of appeals; selection as law firm department
head; selection as chair of ABA Committee.
Intriguing Interests:
Coaching little league baseball and basketball.
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