John defends those who create jobs. Employers look to John to keep legal issues from adding unnecessary costs, distraction, or inefficiency to their workplaces.
John’s work focuses upon (1) helping employers avoid litigation; (2) keeping the workplace union-free; (3) managing existing union relationships; (4) prevailing if litigation is unavoidable; and (5) protecting employers from unfair competition from former employees.
John brings a pragmatic eye to an employer’s objectives in order to take the most direct, cost-effective route to achieving them. For example:
John and his wife, Melissa, have four adult daughters. John’s favorite diversion is his eight young grandchildren.
Assisted clients in defeating over 85 union organizing campaigns.
Assisted clients in winning decertification and deauthorization NLRB elections.
Defended employers in NLRB proceedings involving unfair labor practice charges, Section 10(j) injunction, and NLRB election objections.
Defended employer in LMRA § 301 lawsuit to enforce collective bargaining agreement.
Negotiated collective bargaining agreement limiting the employer’s contribution to the cost of employee health insurance to a fixed amount over five years.
Negotiated Project Labor Agreement for multi-billion manufacturing facility and prepared strike preparation plans in response to union strikes and threatened strikes.
Established landmark federal labor law precedent authorizing local “right to work” laws under the National Labor Relations Act.
Partners with in-house counsel, HR and other managers to position personnel decision to avoid litigation, agency actions, and union organizing.
Provides clients with cell phone, home phone, as well as office access to assist management with personnel decisions in real time.
Offers 30 years of experience successfully training supervisors and managers on how to maintain positive employee relations and lawfully avoid unions at worksites from California to Connecticut, for manufacturing, distribution, and health care employers and U.S., European, and Asian owned enterprises.
Obtained jury verdict for employer in multiple plaintiff discrimination and retaliation challenge to a reduction in force based upon the employer’s subjective assessment of employees’ performance.
Avoided collective (class) action certification in wage and hour legal challenge to client’s nationwide classification of employees as “exempt” from overtime pay.
Obtained jury verdicts in state court lawsuits alleging age, gender, and race discrimination, breach of implied employment contract, and promissory estoppel.
Obtained preliminary injunction enforcing world-wide covenant not to compete against computer software salesperson.
Obtained summary judgments in statutory discrimination and wrongful discharge lawsuits.
Obtained private arbitration award dismissing employee’s claim of workers’ compensation retaliation.
University of Kentucky College of Law, J.D., with distinction, 1981
Order of the Coif
Kentucky Law Journal, member of Staff
Indiana University, B.A., 1978
Law Clerk, United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, 1981-1982
United States Supreme Court
United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky
Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2004-2024
Named one of the “Top 100 Labor Attorneys” in the U.S. by the Labor Relations Institute
The Best Lawyers in America®: Employment Law – Management, 2011-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2017, 2025; Labor Law – Management, 2011-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2018, 2024
AV® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
Selected for inclusion in Kentucky Super Lawyers®, 2007-2024
Member and former Chair, Labor Lawyers Advisory Committee, CUE: An Organization for Positive Employee Relations
Associated General Contractors of Kentucky (AGC), Kentucky Construction Industry Award for Excellence by an Associate Member, 1997
Kentucky Bar Association
American Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association, Past Service on Judicial Evaluation Committee
American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section
American Employment Law Council, Charter Member
Labor Lawyer Advisory Committee, CUE: An Organization for Positive Employee Relations
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow
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