Profile
We constantly ask ourselves: How can we help your business be successful? Because you don’t exist to support us. We exist to support you.
Joe English works in close partnership with his clients to provide practical and cost-effective business solutions to employment law issues. Mr. English has earned a reputation as a trusted counselor for his business clients, providing day-to-day advice on general employment-related matters, including risk management and preventative practices. When clients are faced with a legal claim arising from employment practices, Mr. English is an effective advocate for management, regularly defending employers in employment litigation and arbitration cases. Mr. English’s litigation practice has included restrictive covenant claims, complex class-action litigation, employee benefits lawsuits, wage and hour matters, and the spectrum of employment discrimination and retaliation claims. Mr. English has nearly 20 years of experience representing clients in claims that trigger an employer’s Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) coverage, working with clients and insurance carriers to coordinate the defense of insured employment-related claims in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
Mr. English enjoys working with early-stage companies, and helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses while developing best practices and legal safeguards in employment and related areas. At the same time, Mr. English is able to work with human resources professionals and in-house attorneys at more established employers, assisting them in remaining legally compliant despite an ever-changing landscape of laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels.
Memberships
State Bar of Georgia
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
Community Involvement
Golf For The Kids benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Advisory Board Member, 2015-present
Kennesaw State University, Shore Center for Entrepreneurship, Advisory Board Member, 2015-2019
Manna Fund, Board Member, 2013-2016
Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, Board Member, 2009-2011
Practice Highlights
Experience
Represented car dealership in age discrimination lawsuit brought by former service manager. Matter proceeded to jury trial in federal court in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Following multiple-day trial, jury returned verdict in favor of employer. Court awarded costs in favor of the company, and against the plaintiff.
Defended BSI, the world’s first national standards body, and one of the world's largest independent certification bodies for management systems, with over 90,000 registered sites across the globe, in a wage/hour lawsuit (alleged misclassification) filed by a former employee, seeking more than $100,000 in alleged unpaid overtime and related damages and fees. At the completion of discovery, we successfully moved for summary judgment on our client’s behalf ...
Represented global insurance company in age discrimination lawsuit following reduction-in-force. After extensive discovery, we successfully moved for summary judgment on behalf of the employer. This resulted in a judgment in the company’s favor, as well as an award of costs against the plaintiff.
Represented building supply company in age discrimination and wage/hour misclassification lawsuit following termination of plant controller. Won a defense verdict in a federal court jury trial on employee’s age discrimination claim. When district court judge ruled against the employer on the wage/hour claim, successfully appealed the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court reversed judgment in favor of the employee, and rendered ...
Represented property management company in breach of contract lawsuit filed by terminated chief operating officer, seeking substantial damages. Case proceeded to a jury trial in state court. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the company, and the court ordered plaintiff to pay costs to the company.
Represented chemical manufacturing company in pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by terminated employee. Following extensive discovery, filed a successful motion for summary judgment on all plaintiff’s claims. The court entered judgment in favor of the company, and ordered plaintiff to pay costs to the company.
Represented transportation company in race discrimination lawsuit filed in state court in South Georgia. Removed the case to federal court, and instituted discovery. After plaintiff failed to appear for his deposition, we demanded that plaintiff pay travel and other costs associated with his failure to appear. Faced with the likelihood of paying costs to the company, the plaintiff dismissed his lawsuit.
Successfully defended manufacturing company executives and management employees in lawsuit brought by former employee for wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and other tort claims. Obtained dismissal of all claims.
Achieved favorable confidential settlement at mediation on behalf of healthcare provider resolving litigation concerning race and national origin discrimination and retaliation claims in the Northern District of Georgia.
Newsroom
Speaking Engagements
- December 22, 2016
- April 26, 2016
- January 14, 2016
- "Internal Investigations: Getting to the Bottom of Employee Complaints," Business & Legal Reports (BLR)’s National Employment Law UpdateNovember 9, 2007
- "New Rules on Storage of Electronic Personnel Records: What You Need to Know," Business & Legal Reports (BLR) Audio ConferenceFebruary 27, 2007
- "Wage and Hour: What Can It Cost You?" Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), 19th Annual International ConferenceNovember 9, 2006
Publications
- "A Guide to Employment Laws, Regulations, and Practices," Labor and Employment in Georgia (Matthew Bender & Company), 2015, 2016
- April 2012
Headlines
- July 13, 2021
- March 4, 2020
- Be the Law Firm You Wish To See in The WorldJuly 19, 2018
- September 22, 2017
- September 13, 2017
- January 20, 2017
- December 16, 2016
- December 16, 2016
- September 19, 2016
- August 17, 2016
- August 17, 2016
News Releases
- February 17, 2022
- August 19, 2021
- February 18, 2021
- August 20, 2020
- February 24, 2020
- August 15, 2019
- February 20, 2019
- August 15, 2018
- February 22, 2018
- February 23, 2017
- December 15, 2016
- August 15, 2016
- March 11, 2016
- February 19, 2016
- August 17, 2015
- February 20, 2015
- August 18, 2014
- December 5, 2012
- December 16, 2010
- December 9, 2010
- July 1, 2010
- April 26, 2010
- November 4, 2009
Alerts
- Information Current as of September 2, 2020
- August 12, 2016
- January 3, 2014
Community Involvement
- December 8, 2013
- October 17, 2013
Services
Education
The Catholic University Columbus School of Law, JD, 1988
- Law Review
University of Scranton, BS, 1985
Bar Admissions
Georgia
Courts & Adjudicative Bodies
All Georgia State Courts
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
Accolades
The Best Lawyers in America®, 2015-2022
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Georgia Trend's Legal Elite, Labor & Employment, 2012
Georgia Super Lawyers, 2014-2021