Responsive, diligent, and practical in applying the law to employment issues, John dedicates his practice to the representation of employers in labor and employment and business matters. He represents a diverse clientele from across the country in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law. John is valued for de-escalating the emotional elements of managing a workforce and for focusing on solutions that make sense for his clients’ operations, culture, and goals.
John’s experience includes the defense of single- and multi-plaintiff, collective, and class action litigation involving wrongful discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wage and hour disputes, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, PAGA, Section 1981, FMLA, FLSA, ERISA, USERRA, and WARN claims before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. He routinely advocates management’s interests in workplace tort, breach of contract, non-compete, non-solicitation, and other restrictive covenant cases. John is skilled in alternative dispute resolution, helping clients avoid the costs of prolonged legal disputes.
Experience
- Nationwide Agricultural Company
Represented nationwide agricultural company as exclusive outside counsel for employment and human resources matters, with significant day-to-day counseling and advice. No employment claims have been filed against the client in over eight years.
Nationwide Manufacturer
Represented nationwide manufacturer in successful reduction of its workforce across 15 states. No employment claims were filed as a result of the reduction in force.
Worldwide Beverage Company
Represented worldwide beverage company in successful restructuring of several divisions and resulting reduction of its workforce. No employment claims were filed as a result of the restructuring and reduction in force.
Midwest Beverage Company
Represented midwest beverage company in labor and employment aspects of acquisition of competing business, including negotiation of new employment agreements and restrictive covenants for senior management.
Worldwide Financial Company
Represented worldwide financial company in enforcing restrictive covenants against a group of former employees and obtaining favorable settlement agreement avoiding litigation and extending terms of covenants. - Nationwide Food Service Provider
Acts as lead negotiator for nationwide food service provider in numerous collective bargaining negotiations across the U. S. Obtained highly favorable economic terms and operational provisions for facilities with incumbent unions and for first contracts.
Nationwide Beverage Company
Represented nationwide beverage company against a union organizing campaign coordinated by the union at two of the client’s Midwest facilities. Both organizing campaigns were defeated by the company. No charges were filed with the NLRB.
Nationwide Agricultural Company
Represented nationwide agricultural company in successful campaign to decertify an incumbent union. No charges were filed with the NLRB.
Nationwide Agricultural Company
Represented nationwide agricultural company in successfully negotiating a shutdown agreement for a plant closure. No charges were filed with the NLRB.
Credentials
Education
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, B.A., 1990
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D., 1993
Bar Admissions
- Missouri
- California
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California