Steven Whitehead, Employment, Labor Attorney

Steven J. Whitehead

Partner
swhitehead@taylorenglish.com
678.336.7268
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When I was an in-house lawyer, I experienced many frustrations with outside counsel regarding billing practices, communication and responsiveness, consistency and cost. I left in-house life with the intent to “re-invent” the practice of law and the way that legal services are delivered and priced. I wanted every interaction with a client to be a positive one that showed I (1) understand their business and the impact upon it that the problem at hand caused; (2) I recognize the level of expertise and work required to solve their problems; and (3)  that the benefit of solving the problem should have a direct connection to the cost of that resolution. Taylor English is a collection of like-minded lawyers and the firm allows me to be an entrepreneurial business partner with my clients and to customize solutions and pricing to fit each problem.

Steve Whitehead is a former general counsel of a multinational staffing company who left his in-house practice to “re-invent” the experience of clients in interacting with outside counsel and in obtaining solutions to their problems. While in-house, Mr. Whitehead was the head of his company’s franchise and strategic accounts divisions, and this business operations experience enhances the practical, business-oriented legal assistance that he provides to clients.

Mr. Whitehead is the Chair of Taylor English’s Employment and Labor Relations group. He represents management in disputes involving the employer-employee relationship. He has represented employers in federal and state courts throughout the United States and defends employers on matters ranging from individual and class action discrimination and wage and hour lawsuits to state actions involving non-competes, restrictive covenants, breach of contract, commissions disputes, and other state law claims. Mr. Whitehead also represents employers before state and federal agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Mr. Whitehead has deep experience in legal issues involving the staffing, contingent labor and employment solutions industry, having represented companies in the industry for more than 25 years. He provides outside general counsel and other services to staffing companies that are located throughout the United States and advises clients on commercial matters, service agreements, insurance, risk management and employment-related issues. Mr. Whitehead often collaborates with the American Staffing Association regarding legal and business issues facing the industry.

Mr. Whitehead also provides outside general counsel services to organizations outside the staffing industry and has an understanding of a wide array of legal issues that allows him to assist his clients in solving their legal problems. He assists clients in managing their legal spend by ensuring that the solution in both expertise and cost meets the problem and its impact on the client’s business.

Mr. Whitehead is married and has two children.

Memberships

State Bar of Georgia

Atlanta Bar Association

American Staffing Association

Community Involvement

Senior Services of North Fulton, Board Member, 2011-2012

CobbWorks, Board Member, 2012-2013

Atlanta Union Mission, provides pro bono legal services.

Practice Highlights

Experience

  • Patent application for manufacturer of fastening products

    Prepared and filed a utility patent application for a new fastening technology and a machine and process for implementing the technology in an automobile industry application. The client, a multinational manufacturer of fastener products, developed the technology.

  • Amicus Curiae brief before the United States Supreme Court

    Wrote amicus curiae brief in support of challenge to Minnesota statutes limiting free speech activities near voting areas.

  • RentPath, Inc.'s restrictive covenant enforcement

    Taylor English represents RentPath, Inc. in restrictive covenant lawsuits. Recently, we brought an action in Georgia Superior Court to enforce employee covenant agreements and recover damages resulting from the departures of several sales executives. Given the highly competitive nature of the industry, it was important that RentPath acted aggressively in enforcing its restrictive covenants. This matter resulted in a very favorable settlement in ...

  • Tax litigation

    Co-counsel in federal lawsuit seeking redress against the IRS and individual defendants for unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination against non-profit educational and advocacy groups.

    Representing a large, international aircraft parts manufacturer in complex property tax dispute.

    Representing one of the world's largest religious organizations in an unprecedented sales and use tax case.

  • General counsel services for temporary staffing and recruitment organizations

    Provide general legal services to several temporary staffing companies and recruitment process outsourcing organizations. Some of these services have included redesigning the client’s contracting process and agreements and assistance in reviewing and negotiating contract terms.

  • Pioch v. IBEX Engineering Services, Inc.

    Won summary judgment against the plaintiff’s claim for minimum and overtime wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act based upon the fact that the plaintiff was exempt under the computer professional exemption.

  • Comverge, Inc. v. Fay; Comverge, Inc. v. Vos and Simple Energy, Inc.

    Represented the plaintiff to a satisfactory resolution in companion litigation in Georgia and Colorado to enforce restrictive covenants and obtain protection against the misappropriation of trade secrets.

  • Hecht v. Laurelbrook Sanitarium and School

    Represented the defendant, a Seventh Day Adventist school and sanitarium, against claims brought by the plaintiff under Tennessee’s workers’ compensation statutes. The defendant’s defense was based in part under the United States Constitution and the Tennessee Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Newsroom

Publications

  • Mr. Whitehead is a frequent contributor to Taylor English’s HR Minute and Public Interest Advocacy blogs.
    June 9, 2015

Services

Education

Georgia State University College of Law, JD, 1988

Outer Barrister’s Guild

Georgia State University, BA, English, 1985

Bar Admissions

Georgia

Courts & Adjudicative Bodies

Supreme Court of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit