Rebecca Williams Shanlever

Partner

Atlanta
Business Phone: 404.885.3453
Business Fax: 404.962.6694

rebecca.shanlever@troutmansanders.com

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Rebecca is a knowledgeable, responsive problem-solver. In-house attorneys and HR executives reach out to Rebecca for advice and counsel to avoid disputes and, when litigation arises, to resolve or try the case effectively. Rebecca has experience litigating a wide variety of employment disputes. She has successfully defended numerous discrimination and related lawsuits, both through motion practice and in jury trials. In addition to her litigation practice, Rebecca provides legal advice and anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training for all levels of employees. She has been recognized by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine as a Rising Star in the area of employment litigation, since 2005.  Rebecca is a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee and Recruiting Committee.  She is a regular volunteer with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta and the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, where she serves on the Board of Directors.

Representative Experience
Individual and multiple-plaintiff actions.

Sex, race, age, national origin, and disability discrimination.

Sexual harassment and other forms of unlawful harassment.

Non-competition agreements and other restrictive covenants.

Whistleblower and other retaliation claims.

Numerous summary judgment rulings and dismissals.

Defense verdicts in jury trials.

Favorable settlements of employment claims and lawsuits.

Nationwide and local reductions in force.

Violations of confidentiality, misappropriation, and theft.

Counseling and training for management and human resources personnel.

Employee handbooks and other internal corporate policies.

Presentations and Speaking Engagements 
Top Mistakes in Employment Litigation (And How to Avoid Them), EEOC Atlanta Seminar, August 25, 2011.

Employers’ Biggest Blunders: Top Mistakes in Employment Litigation and How to Avoid Them, Metro City and County Attorneys' Seminar, Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education, March 10, 2011.  

Volunteers & The Law – the Legal Issues of Working with Volunteers, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, February 16, 2011.

Fair Labor Standards Act: Dispelling the Myths, CAAMP and GAPPP Women’s Leadership Conference and Retreat, November 8, 2010.

Jury Communication and Advocacy in Employment Discrimination Cases:  Humanizing the Employer and Overcoming Sympathy for Plaintiffs and Bias Against Companies, American Conference Institute, February 26, 2010.

Reducing Your Workforce Without Increasing Your Liability, Troutman Sanders LLP Annual Seminar, November 19, 2008.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments, Troutman Sanders LLP Annual Seminar, November 6, 2008.

Explaining the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), Troutman Sanders LLP Annual Seminar, November 6, 2008.

Use of Exhibits in the Courtroom, Emory University School of Law, Trial Techniques program, February 4, 2011 and February 19, 2010.

Managed and presented Troutman Sanders Annual Labor & Employment Seminars, November 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Publications
Quoted, "Ruling Increases Protections for Whistleblowers," Compliance Week, October 11, 2011.

"Easy Come, Easy Go: State Rules on Post-Termination Forfeitures of Bonuses and Commissions," Employment and the Law, April 12, 2010.

“Hazardous Jobs Not Child’s Play:  DOL Imposes First Increased Fine Under New Child Labor Legislation,” Employment and the Law, August 18, 2009.

“Crude Workplace Behavior:  Equally Offensive to All, or Sex Discrimination?”, Employment and the Law, August 18, 2009.

“Personnel Records:  Keeping Pandora’s Box Closed,” Law360, June 19, 2009.

Other Distinctions
Selected as a Rising Star in Employment Litigation by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011-2012).

Received Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s “5 Year Award” for years of continuous service with Saturday Lawyers Program (2007).

Recognized as Attorney Volunteer of the Year by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta (2007).

Work Experience
Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP, 2008-present
Associate, Troutman Sanders LLP, 2001-2007
Associate, Burr & Forman LLP, 1998-2001

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Education

  • Emory University, J.D., with honors, 1998
  • University of Georgia, B.A., cum laude, 1995
    Political Science


Bar Admissions

  • Alabama
  • Georgia


Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama


Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Georgia Bar Association
  • Alabama State Bar