Leslie Kali Eason Email & Phone Number

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

-Specializes in creating tailored, effective strategies for complex employment challenges, offering cohesive business advice aligned with client values. - Experienced in managing employment litigation across all facets of federal and state employment law. - Provides comprehensive counseling on various aspects of employment-related business operations. - Expertise in developing and implementing policies and procedures, managing benefits, and training staff and supervisors. - Adept at conducting workplace investigations, assessing discrimination and retaliation claims, and addressing systemic managerial issues. - Offers practical advice on hiring, terminations, workforce reductions, and litigation avoidance. - Skilled in negotiating separation and employment agreements. - Proficient in drafting industry-specific employment handbooks, policies, and procedures. - Frequent presenter on employment law developments, creative resolution techniques, and DEI issues

Greater Atlanta Area

-Led a national employment litigation practice, specializing in clients with a presence across all 50 states or international operations.-Represented diverse industries, including transportation companies, manufacturers, healthcare systems, telecommunications companies, franchisors, tech companies, financial institutions, and service providers.-Provided employment counseling services encompassing all aspects of employment-related business operations, including policy and procedure development and implementation, benefits management, and staff and supervisor training.-Managed employment litigation, including administrative investigations, mediation, arbitration, litigation, and trial.-Extensive experience in litigating complex multi-plaintiff, collective action, and class action cases in both state and federal courts.-Served as the firm's in-house Regional Employment Counsel for offices located in the Southeast.-Acted as one of the firm's four Employment Law practice group leaders.-Engaged as a panelist or presenter for various nationwide seminars.-Efficiently managed a team of over 15 attorneys spanning three states (Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi).

Austell, Georgia

-Developed and executed legal strategies for senior leadership.-Presented legal briefs on employment and litigation matters to the board of directors.-Provided legal counsel to the human resources department and operational managers on a wide range of daily legal matters and risk management, including recruitment, hiring, labor relations, accommodations, disciplinary actions, terminations, internal investigations, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, EEO compliance, independent contractor issues, and upcoming changes in employment and labor laws.-Effectively managed outside counsel, resulting in a 40% reduction in overall legal expenditures.-Represented the company in mediations, arbitrations, and judicial settlement conferences.-Investigated and prepared responses to administrative agency charges, unfair labor practice charges, and attorney demand letters.-Conducted and managed the company's responses to state and federal compliance audits and investigations.-Kept abreast of all recent developments in employment and labor law, leading to the development and implementation of compliance training programs for HR and operational management, as well as the formulation of new and revised employment policies.

Greater Atlanta Area

Handled employment and commercial litigation matters.Specific Experience:- Lead counsel on FLSA collective action filed against restaurant franchisee with multiple worksite locations. Work included supervising a staff of two attorneys and two paralegals; preparing and/or editing all pleadings, motions, and briefs; interviewing putative class members; taking/defending against 10+ depositions; engaging in extensive settlement negotiations with Plaintiff’s counsel. Case ultimately settled under terms considered to be favorable by client. Subsequently worked onsite with client to develop policies and procedures designed to reduce risk of future litigation.- Managed the employment-related needs of clients, including policy development, training, and litigation.

Greater Atlanta Area

-Acted as the managing attorney for various cases, involving direct collaboration with company management throughout dispute proceedings.-Co-managed multiple FLSA putative collective actions.-Engaged as a panelist or presenter for seminars conducted nationwide.

Greater Atlanta Area

Handled employment litigation matters.Specific Experience:-Co-authored the winning briefs for a factually-complex FMLA case from the summary judgment through appellate proceedings before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. -Co-authored various motions and briefs for a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower action. -Prepared EEOC position statements and handled any related litigation or mediation.-Served as the primary or secondary firm contact for clients’ in-house counsel and human-resources staff - including advising company management on training, litigation avoidance, and workplace policies – resulting in some clients experiencing a tangible reduction in the number of charges of discrimination filed against them.-Spent extensive time preparing materials for and conducting HR training seminars; counseling clients on day-to-day employment matters; and preparing employee handbooks, personnel forms, and employment agreements.

Montgomery, Alabama Area

Handled employment and commercial litigation matters.Specific Experience:-Handled multiple EEOC discrimination charges on the behalf of various employers, including conducting witness interviews and preparing position statement. -Participated in firm’s co-representation of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., and others in the Alabama WorldCom-related securities litigation matter. Performed legal research, drafted motions and briefs, and defended the depositions of various witnesses for one month in New York.-Served as third-chair attorney in a federal jury trial and as second-chair attorney in state bench trial. Conducted direct- and cross-examinations; prepared witnesses to testify; and drafted various motions and briefs. Had a significant role in developing and implementing the trial strategy. Obtained a verdict in the client’s favor in both trials.-Only junior associate selected to serve as a member of firm’s Diversity Committee.

Doctor Of Law (J.D.), Cum Laude

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.)

Education record