John devotes his practice to zealously defending businesses in employment lawsuits, while helping them avoid litigation in the first place. John’s strong advocacy, sound legal analyses, practical advice and commitment to client service have allowed him to become a trusted advisor in many business sectors.
In addition, John handles business litigation involving employee raiding, theft of trade secrets, and breach of non-competition covenants. John advises businesses on employee privacy rights laws and data security, as well as on conducting effective internal investigations into misconduct and criminal acts in the workplace.
As a core part of his practice, John routinely defends companies in litigation involving discrimination and harassment claims under Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA and the FMLA; claims of wrongful termination and retaliation; claims under the NLRA; and individual and collective action claims for unpaid wages and overtime under the FLSA and state wage and hour laws. John regularly appears before state and federal administrative agencies and courts, both at the trial and appellate levels, and defends businesses in employment arbitrations.
John frequently speaks and writes on employment-related issues, and is the principal author of three Firm blogs: Fair Labor Standards Act; SEEmployment Law; and Non-Compete and Restrictive Covenants.
Representative Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Obtained a complete defense verdict in favor of a government agency in a week-long trial where a former employee alleged wrongful discharge and retaliation.
- Prevailed in securing the complete dismissal of a case against a health care institution brought by a former provider, and successfully defended the decision on appeal in both state and federal court.
- Obtained dismissal of breach of restrictive covenant case brought against a client’s employee in the financial services industry.
- Successfully enforced restrictive covenant and obtained recovery of confidential information for a health care sector client.
- Defends businesses in FLSA collective actions and wage and hour matters in state and federal courts in multiple sectors, including health care, financial services, retail and manufacturing.
- Regularly represents businesses in lawsuits and administrative charges alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
- Advises employers on complex employee termination and discipline matters, employment law compliance, wage and hour compliance, severance plans, workforce reductions, organization restructuring and WARN Act matters.
Professional & Civic Engagement
- Member, North Carolina Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
- Member, Forsyth County Bar Association
- Member, Society for Human Resource Management
- Member, International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- "Shot Heard Around the World: The Impact of the COVID-19 Vaccine in the US Workplace," Womble Bond Dickinson's Everything from Everywhere Virtual Summit, January 2021
- “Compliance Challenges and COVID-19,” Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2020
- "How to Manage Your Workforce in a Pandemic," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2020
- “Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era – Year 2," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2019
- “Fair Labor Standards Act: Overview and Trends for Government Employees,” NC Government Finance Officers Association, October 2018
- “Employee Investigations and Screening,” Smith-Leonard 12th Annual CPE Day, September 2018
- "Pro Bono at Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP," Womble Bond Dickinson, August 2018
- “Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era,” Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2018
- “EEO Compliance with Veteran Hiring Programs,” Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management and Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce (Goodwill Industries, Winston-Salem, NC), October 2017
- "ACC Clinic in a Box," Association of Corporate Counsel, Washington, D.C., October 2017
- "Anyone Have a Crystal Ball? Employment Law Issues Under the Trump Administration," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2017
- "Seven Rules of Internal Investigations/Legally Compliant Screening and Monitoring/Workplace Bullying," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, November 2016
- "Employment Tests and Assessment Tools" and "2016 Employment Law Update," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2016
- "Diversity and Employment Law," Wake Forest University – Charlotte Campus, March 2016
- "FMLA and ADA Update," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2015
- "The EEOC’s Strategic Enforcement Plan – A Halftime Analysis," North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, March 2015
- "FMLA and ADA Update," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2014
- "Legally Compliant Employee Screening and Monitoring," Forsyth-Stokes-Davie County Medical Society, March 2014
- "Discrimination and Retaliation Law: Lessons and Trends for 2013-2014," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2013
- "Effective Background and Criminal History Screening," Winston-Salem Medical Group Managers, November 2012
- "Effective Hiring Practices and Employee Screening," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2012
- "Effective Social Media Policies," Winston-Salem Medical Group Managers, November 2011
- "Effective Social Media Policies," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2011
- Panel Discussion on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, Winston-Salem State University, February 2011
- Cyber Security Panel Discussion, Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, September 2010
- "A Legal Update on the Americans With Disabilities Act," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2010
- "Enemies at the Gate – Or Are They Already Inside," Womble Bond Dickinson Lunch and Learn, March/April 2010
- "Managing Technology in the Workplace – E-Mail, Privacy, and Data Security," Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management Legal Update, June 2009
- "Expanded Disability Rights Under the ADA Amendment," North Carolina College and University Professionals Association, April 2009
- "Identity Theft: Legislation, Legal Risks, and Best Practices," Rotary Club of Winston-Salem, July 2007
- "Data Security and Identity Theft," Family Business Center of the Triad, October 2006
- "Data Security and Identity Theft," CAHEC Partners Conference, June 2006
Publications
- Co-Author, "Enemies at the Gate – Or Are They Already Inside," Association of Corporate Counsel Docket Magazine, October 2011
- Co-Author, "Disloyal Employees and the Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Private Information," Privacy & Security Law Report, Bloomberg BNA f/k/a The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Vol. 6, No. 32, August 2007
- "Identity Theft: What Every Business Needs to Know," Commerce Magazine, a publication of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, Issue 2, 2006
Honors & Awards
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (BL Rankings) in the fields of Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2014 – Present
- Selected to the North Carolina Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) in Employment & Labor, 2009 – 2011
