For more than twenty-five years, Jim’s practice has been focused on providing proactive advice to help employers comply with the full panoply of labor and employment laws. For example, he advises employers on the development and implementation of human resource policies and strategies to enable organizations to achieve their broader objectives. He frequently counsels employers on employee terminations to help assure firings don’t backfire. When discrimination claims arise, Jim represents employers in state and federal courts and before the EEOC and state fair employment practice agencies.
Jim has devoted significant time to representing and counseling employers on union relations matters, including collective bargaining negotiations, arbitration proceedings, and maintaining non-union status. He regularly represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board and Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board in representation and unfair labor practice proceedings.
Jim also assists employers with affirmative action compliance, including the preparation of affirmative action plans, and is actively involved in employment-related immigration matters.
In 2008, Jim completed a peer review and examination process in order to be certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Specialist in Labor and Employment Law. He is a member of the Ohio State and Akron Bar Associations, as well as the Labor and Employment Law Sections of both organizations. Jim received his B.A., with honors, from The College of Wooster and his law degree, with honors, from the National Law Center, George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Ohio, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Jim’s civic involvement includes several terms on the Board of Trustees of CYO and Community Services in Akron. He is also active in the Leadership Akron Alumni Association, having been a member of the Leadership Akron class of 1992.