Across several industries (including healthcare, franchising, staffing, hospitality, and financial service providers), I partnered with my clients to identify proactive, efficient, and effective ways to prevent or to resolve commercial disputes, employment claims, and other matters. My work often required coordination across clients' business departments and with all levels of employees from a manufacturer's plant line operators to human resource directors to senior executives and business… Show more Across several industries (including healthcare, franchising, staffing, hospitality, and financial service providers), I partnered with my clients to identify proactive, efficient, and effective ways to prevent or to resolve commercial disputes, employment claims, and other matters. My work often required coordination across clients' business departments and with all levels of employees from a manufacturer's plant line operators to human resource directors to senior executives and business owners. Although I litigated and arbitrated matters on a regular basis and was (and am) comfortable in a courtroom, I worked fiercely and attentively to ensure that I was operating in the way that was most beneficial to my client.I provided counseling and general advice on employment-related issues and represented clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Health & Human Services, Georgia Department of Labor, and FINRA, as well as in state and federal courts. Representative engagements include claims for discrimination and retaliation based on age, gender, race, religion, and disability; breach of employment agreements; alleged violations of federal and state wage and hour and leave laws; and advice regarding employment handbooks, policies, trade secrets, non-competes and other restrictive covenants, and executive and employee agreements.I represented franchisors in actions to enforce franchise agreements against franchisees or in actions by third parties asserting vicarious liability against the franchise system. I counseled franchisors with respect to their disclosure documents, franchise agreements, terminations, and other issues, and I wrote for and spoke at state and national conferences regarding franchise issues.In addition to franchise and employment issues, I regularly advised clients, including closely-held businesses, on a corporate transactions, agreements, and various business issues. Show less