 |
 |
|
|
Lori Thomas is a member of the Employment, Labor & Immigration Group. Ms. Thomas’ experience spans the breadth of labor and employment law with a special focus on counseling and preventative practices, wage and hour issues, and early case assessment and resolution.
Ms. Thomas offers clients the benefit of over ten years of experience representing employers in a wide range of issues. She regularly counsels companies on strategic and day-to-day employment matters such as best hiring practices, employee discipline and termination, investigation and response to employee complaints of discrimination and harassment, employee requests for FMLA leave and/or disability accommodations, drafting of employment and restrictive covenant agreements, preparation of employee handbooks and policies, and safe workforce reductions. In addition, Ms. Thomas conducts supervisor and manager training on topics such as compliance with federal and state anti-harassment and discrimination laws, union avoidance, and human resources best practices.
Ms. Thomas regularly represents companies before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state fair employment practices agencies in relation to charges of discrimination filed against the employer. Ms. Thomas has a special interest in working with employers to conduct early case assessments and, where possible, to resolve matters prior to costly litigation. Where litigation is necessary, Ms. Thomas focuses on successfully defending the company while minimizing disruption to normal business operations. Ms. Thomas has successfully defended employers against allegations of sexual harassment; discrimination on the basis of gender, race, age, religion, national origin and disability; and alleged violations of USERRA, the FMLA and the FLSA.
Companies call on Ms. Thomas to help them comply with the many state and federal wage and hour laws that govern appropriate exemption classification of employees, proper payment of overtime, and the documentation required to demonstrate compliance. Ms. Thomas has successfully defended employers in wage and hour lawsuits including Equal Pay Act litigation and collective actions under the FLSA.
In the area of traditional labor law, Ms. Thomas is experienced in helping employers remain union free prior to, and after, the filing of a petition for election, and has successfully defended companies from unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB. She also represents employers engaged in collective bargaining.
Prior to joining Taylor English, Ms. Thomas practiced employment law with Dow Lohnes, PLLC and McGuire Woods, LLP. While at Dow Lohnes, Ms. Thomas represented the Cox Enterprises, Inc. companies including the newspapers, radio and television stations, Manheim Auctions and AutoTrader.com.
Ms. Thomas and her daughter reside in Dunwoody and are active members of The Church of the Apostles.