Edward G. (Ward) Phillips has a wealth of knowledge and trial experience in his practice areas of Litigation and Employment and Labor and heads the Kramer Rayson firm's Employment and Labor group. He is a forceful, effective litigator and has been described by Chambers & Partners USA as, earning "strong praise from fellow practitioners for his work for employers on litigation avoidance." Employment law is Ward's passion, and he gives his clients prompt and lawful prospective advice (i.e., how to deal with problem employees and structure policies). For his Employment and Labor law practice, the prestigious, peer-review publication Best Lawyers in America selected Ward for inclusion to its list each and every year since 1995 and also selected him as the “Lawyer of the Year Labor Law Management - Knoxville" for 2016. Mid-South Super Lawyers, another highly respected publication which uses a multi-phased selection process including independent research and peer nominations and evaluations, selected Ward to its list for the years 2004-2015 for his Employment and Labor law practice. Chambers USA has recognized Ward as one of the best employment lawyers in Tennessee from 2004 through 2016. He also writes a regular column on employment law for the Tennessee Bar Journal.Specialties: Ward represents management exclusively in all areas of employment and labor relations. He has handled cases in federal and state courts, before the EEOC, OFCCP, DOL-Wage Hour, NLRB, and other federal agencies. He also provides prospective advice to help clients avoid costly litigation. He has litigated numerous non-compete and related unfair competition claims.