Thomas A. Evans Email & Phone Number

Des Moines, Iowa, Us

Owner and Attorney at Law: Provide legal services and representation to both employees and employers in the public and private sector in the areas of workers' compensation, labor & employment law, labor relations, higher education and administrative law.EXECUTIVE SUMMARYAttorney with targeted emphasis in Employment, Labor, and Administrative Law in the public and private sector. Expertise in full range of legal activities related to employee relations including mediation, arbitration and litigation. Highly persuasive negotiator who has consistently achieved favorable decisions on behalf of the client. Experienced Human Resources Professional. SKILLS AND COMPETENCIESEmployment and Administrative Law – Labor Relations – Grievance and Interest Arbitration – Litigation & Mediation Human Resources – HR Strategy – Safety – Employee Relations – Training and Development – Compensation and Benefits - Collective Bargaining– Worker’s Compensation - Policy/Procedure/Employee Handbook Development – Regulatory Compliance Contract Negotiation – FSLA, FMLA, ADA, NLRA, IAPERA – Higher Education Representation - Communication

San Francisco, California, Us

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Provides counsel and assistance to team members and all levels of management on ER issues; conduct dispute reviews to include corrective action and performance reviews; provides front-line support in prevention, investigation, resolution and referral of ER problems; maintains accurate, timely and required documentation of activities to ensure quality employee relations records and metrics; collaborates with other centers of excellence such as HR Business Partners, the Law Department, and/or Internal Investigations; exercises sound judgement and expertise within broadly defined policies and practices; identification and analysis of ER issues of a diverse scope , that require in-depth review of company policies and labor law legislation; and maintain ability to work in a fast-paced environment and effectively manage competing priorities.

Des Moines, Ia, Us

Member Attorney: Provided legal advice to private and public sector employers in a full spectrum of labor and employment law matters, including NLRA, IAPERA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, OSHA and workers’ compensation, as well as compliance with other state and federal employment laws and regulations. • Directed and advised on high risk topics including reduction-in-force, employee discipline and discharge, internal investigations, labor negotiations, labor relations, and collective bargaining agreement administration. • Drafted personnel policies, administrative procedures, employee handbooks and severance agreements. • Provided training on employment and labor law matters.• Represented employers in a full spectrum of employment law matters in district court and before administrative agencies (IAPERB, IWD, ICRC & Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner) and third party neutrals, including interest and grievance arbitrations, prohibited practice complaints, negotiability disputes, bargaining unit determinations, amendment of bargaining unit, workers’ compensation, civil rights complaints and unemployment.

General Counsel: Represented the Board of Regents and universities, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and special schools (k-12) in complex and high risk labor and employment matters including reduction in force, employee terminations, disability and religious accommodation, wage & hour compliance, leaves of absence (FMLA), employee discipline, internal investigations, wrongful termination disputes, labor relations, and collective bargaining agreement administration. • Represented the Board of Regents in a full spectrum of employment and labor law matters before administrative agencies (IAPERB, ICRC, IWD) and third party neutrals, including interest and grievance arbitrations, prohibited practice complaints, negotiability disputes and amendment of bargaining unit. • Coordinated, developed and administered Board of Regent policy for all human resources and labor relations functions. • Monitored and reviewed litigation with university counsel, Attorney General and outside counsel. • Communicated with outside counsel and Attorney General’s Office on all aspects of litigation and facilitated communication between the Board and counsel. • Worked with counsel and the Board to determine the best course of action throughout litigation. • Attended and provided assistance to counsel at mediations, hearings and trials. • Made recommendations to university counsel and Attorney General on the application of policies, statutes and regulations. • Negotiated, drafted, edited, reviewed, recommended and submitted for approval various leases, contracts and agreements.• Administered Regents appeal policy for student dismissal, employee termination and tenure denial.See resume for detailed list of achievements.

Human Resources Director: Managed the Human Resources Department consisting of 12.5 staff that provided centralized human resources services to 1,300 fulltime employees, 5 elected officials, 8 departments and 4 county agencies. • Directed all areas of Human Resources including labor relations, employee relations, risk management, benefits, EEO, employee development, classification & compensation, HRIS and policy development, workforce planning and recruitment.• Reduced workforce by 3.1% saving $3 million through by partnering with the county manager on developing and implementing a county-wide reorganization. • Participated in selecting and implementing JD Edwards Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) - HR/payroll module.• Jointly drafted, implemented and managed staff for Polk County's Owner Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP) for the County’s Event Center construction project.• Directed collective bargaining with three unions (AFSCME, Teamsters and Stagehands) representing blue collar, clerical, technical, professional and law enforcement employees.

Developed collective bargaining strategies; and served as chief spokesperson during collective bargaining negotiations with three public sector labor unions.Served as chief resource for administration of collective bargaining agreements.Represented the County in interest and grievance arbitrations.Developed and administered group benefit programs including preparation of Request for Proposal (RFP), evaluation of vendor submittals and rate negotiations.Represented County in contested case workers’ compensation claims, Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) and Workforce Development administrative proceedings.Conducted internal investigations.Served as the County’s ADA employment coordinator.Administered the County’s Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and DOT drug/alcohol testing.

Criminal appellate advocacy - argued 25 cases.before the Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.Represented the State and Iowa Second Injury Fund in contested case workers' compensation administrative hearings.Represented the State in tort claims litigation in District Court.

Juris Doctorate (J.D.), Law

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.)(Cum Laude), Political Science And History