Richard is a partner with 29 years experience in litigation, mediation and arbitration. He is the Practice Group leader for the law firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. He has previously handled complex construction, business tort and criminal antitrust litigation. Richard handles all types of employment matters, representing management in both union and non-union settings. His specialties include noncompetition covenants, employee breach of fiduciary duty claims, Sarbanes-Oxley workplace claims, individual and class actions involving Title VII sex discrimination, religious discrimination and race discrimination claims, age discrimination claims (ADEA), retaliation claims, Sections 1981, 1983 civil rights and public accommodation claims, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and disability discrimination claims (ADA).
Representative Experience
Counsel to numerous companies on a regional and national basis in employment discrimination litigation involving individual and class and collective actions for wage and hour, sex, race, age and disability discrimination, public accommodations and state law tort claims, as well as counseling on corporate policies and practices involving restrictive covenants, duty of loyalty, privacy and business interference
Represented nationwide motel developer on franchise litigation with motel franchisors in multi-district litigation
Represented nationwide commercial lender in lender liability litigation in numerous federal trials
Represented national residential builder at dozens of trials in Florida and Georgia in connection with claims for construction disputes, Truth-in-Lending violations
Represented telephone equipment manufacturer at trial in defense of claims of tradedress violations
Represented industrial supplier in defending Justice Department indictment and trial for bid-rigging and price-fixing charges
Public Service
Director, Atlanta Enterprise Center (1994-1999)
Counsel, Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta (1990-1992)
Director, Northside Youth Organization (1994-1999)
Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Atlanta (1993-1994)
Director, Atlanta Outdoor Activity Center (1994-2001)
Board Member, Mercer University - Walter F. George School of Law Alumni Board (1986-1988)
(2005-present)
Board of Trustees, Canterbury Court Continuing Care Retirement Center (2006-present)
Board of Directors, Metro Atlanta YMCA (2008-present)
Member, Rotary Club of Atlanta - West End (1983-present)
President (1994-1995)