Burton D. Garland, Jr.

Traditional Labor Relations:

Burt has handled dozens of union avoidance campaigns from pre-filing counseling and advice to post-election litigation. He also negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of both individual employers and employer associations.

• Won a union avoidance campaign in which the Employer was caught totally off-guard by the filing of the petition. The employer gave itself virtually no chance of winning the campaign. At the conclusion of the campaign, the employees overwhelmingly rejected unionization by a 2 to 1 margin.
• A union grieved a company’s decision to terminate a union shop steward who failed to search visitors’ vehicles at a client’s site he was guarding. The grievant in that case argued he should not have been disciplined because he claimed other security officers did not search vehicles either. After a two-day arbitration during which the union and the Company presented and cross examined witnesses and presented other evidence and post-hearing briefs, the Arbitrator sustained the Company’s decision to terminate this union shop steward.
• Obtained dismissal by the National Labor Relations Board of four unfair labor practice charges filed by a union on behalf of several of its employees in the context of a union organizing campaign.

Litigation & Administrative Experience:

Burt has handled to conclusion hundreds of lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the United States and in arbitration as well as charges of discrimination before various administrative agencies. Some of Mr. Garland’s recent successes include the following:

• Burt obtained a complete defense victory in an age discrimination case filed in the Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis, Missouri in which he successfully got the case deferred to arbitration and in which the Defendant claimed in excess of $1,000,000 in damages.
• After winning summary judgment in an age discrimination case before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the Plaintiff appealed the decision to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. On appeal, in a 2-1 decision, the divided Eighth Circuit panel reversed the decision of the District Court. Burt sought and obtained a rehearing en banc before the entire Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. After briefing the issue and presenting oral argument before the 12 Judge compliment, the Eighth Circuit affirmed the District Courts decision to grant summary judgment in a 9-3 decision.
• Obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on behalf of a Missouri City, the Mayor and the Police Chief in a Constitutional Claim (First Amendment) filed by a Police Sergeant. The decision was affirmed on appeal by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
• Obtained summary judgment in a sex discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation case brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-1 et seq. (“Title VII”) and the Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq. (“IHRA”).
• Obtained a temporary and preliminary injunction against two of a Company’s former employees who stole trade secrets from their former employer. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri allowed the Company’s federal claims under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Stored Electronics Wire Communication Act to stand and dismissed all counterclaims filed by the ex-employees. This litigation ended when the two ex-employees agreed to stop operating their newly created competing business. Burt’s strategic use of computer forensics data was instrumental in obtaining this complete victory.
• Obtained a temporary and permanent injunction against a Company’s former employee who went to work for a competitor and took her former employer’s confidential, proprietary, and trade secret information to her new employer. After one day of trial, the former employee agreed to the entry of a permanent injunction preventing the former employee from working for her new employer and requiring her to return all protected information to her former employer.
• Successfully removed from Missouri State Court to the United States District Court a case in which the Plaintiff creatively attempted to plead around the Fair Labor Standards Act by stating only state law claims. After removal to federal court, Burt defeated class certification.
• After completely defeating Plaintiff’s claims on summary judgment, Burt was successful in recovering more than $200,000 in attorneys’ fees from the Plaintiff and her counsel for initiating and pursuing vexatious and frivolous litigation against the Defendant corporations.
• Burt has defended several cases brought directly by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against various corporate defendants.

Restrictive Covenants, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Trade Secrets and Related Claims:

In addition to ongoing counseling, drafting and reviewing agreements and matters involving restrictive covenants and confidential information for companies and executives, Burt has a proven track record in high stakes litigation, including temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions in connection with restrictive covenants (non-compete, non-solicit and confidentiality agreements) and claims of misappropriation of trade secrets; retaliation; tortious interference; breach of fiduciary duty; and unfair competition. Burt is well-versed in the area of effectively utilizing computer forensics evidence in such litigation.

Counseling:

On a daily basis Burt represents companies on employee issues, litigation avoidance and implementing He routinely defends companies against employment-related charges and claims before administrative agencies and federal courts, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Missouri Department of Labor, the Illinois Department of Labor, and the various United States District Courts including the Eastern District of Missouri and Southern District of Illinois, and various state courts in Missouri, Illinois and elsewhere throughout the United States.

Education

• J.D., St. Louis University School of Law – St. Louis, 1995
• M.B.A., St. Louis University, 1995
• B.S.B.A., University of Arizona, 1992

Admission to Practice

• Missouri
• Illinois
• Arizona
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
• U.S. District Court, Central and Southern Districts of Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

• American Bar Association
• The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (Labor and Employment Law Section Chair 2007-08)
• Southern Illinois Bar Association
• Human Resource Management Association (“HRMA”) St. Louis (Program Committee 2005 through 2014)
• AAIM Management Association, St. Louis
• Cape Area Personnel Association; Cape Girardeau, Missouri
• Southeast Missouri (SEMO) SHRM
• Missouri Chamber of Commerce
• MS Society Corporate Achiever
• Jewish Federation of St. Louis (Board Member)
• Congregation Temple Israel (Board Member; Pro Bono Legal Counsel)
• Jewish Family & Children Services (Board Member; Pro Bono Legal Counsel)
• Pedal The Cause—Yellow Jersey Fundraiser and Century Ride Cycling Participant
• St. Louis Missouri Gateway Bike Plan, Citizens Advisory Committee

• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Workplace Strategies Watercooler 2024: People Problems—Strategies for Dealing With Problem Employee Situations” – May 30, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “People Problems? Strategies for Dealing With Problem Employee Situations” – Washington, D.C. – May 3, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Shh! Secret Recordings at Work” – Washington, D.C. – May 3, 2024
• NRRDA 2023 Lighthouse Seminar – Employment Practices Committee  – “What To Do When The Government Comes Knocking” – Louisville, KY – October 25, 2023
• ESCO HR Conference – June 16, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Drug Testing in “Right to Weed” States: What Employers Need to Know” – San Diego – May 11, 2023
• SHRM Empower Conference – “Drug Testing in Right to Weed States” – Cape Girardeau – April 19, 2023
• AMEC MO HR Conference – Jefferson City, MO – April 11, 2023
• NRRDA 2023 Annual Conference – “2022 in Review – A Look Back And Forward At The Labor And Employment Legal And Regulatory Landscape” – Charleston, South Carolina – March 1, 2023
• ADA FMLA Workshop – “ADA FMLA Manual” – St. Louis, MO – February 23, 2023
• AAIM Wayfinder HR Summit – The Factory, St. Louis, MO – February 10, 2023
• Empower Conference – Cape Girardeau – April 27, 2022
• NRRDA 2022 Conference – “Rising Tides in Employment Law: 2021 in Review” – San Antonio, TX – March 2, 2022
• Cornerstone Insurance Group – Benefits Compliance Refresher – November 15, 2021
• OSHA ETS Employer Coverage Threshold – November 8, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – OSHA ETS Internal Training – November 5, 2021
• Managing a Workforce – St. Louis, MO – October 28, 2021
• Risk Strategies – “The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Impact on Employers” – February 11, 2021
• SHRM of Southeast Missouri – “2021 Labor & Employment Law Update” – February 9, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Unpacking the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021: An Update for Employers” – January 14, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “FFCRA: What Employers Need to Know About the DOL’s Updated Regulations and New FAQs” – September 23, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “FFCRA Regulations Struck Down: An Update for Employers” – August 14, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “New York Federal Court Rules on U.S. Department of Labor’s FFCRA Regulations” – August 10, 2020
• NBI Webinar – “Step-By-Step Guide to Bringing Workers Back To Law Firm” – July 27, 2020
• Missouri Lawyers Expert Webcast for Business Reopening – “Reopening Your Business in the Age of COVID-19” – June 17, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Virtual Conference – “Leave Under (and Around) the FFCRA” – May 14, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Virtual Conference – “Pandemic Workforce Challenges – Plan Don’t Panic” – May 14, 2020
• GoToWebinar – “Reopening Measures After COVID-19” – May 7, 2020
• Missouri Employment Conference Webinar – “What you need to know about the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act” – May 6, 2020
• AAIM – “Facilitation of Legalization of Marijuana Event” – May 5, 2020
• BAMSL Webcast – “Resilience During Uncertain Times: Strategies for Supporting and Engaging Employees” – April 6, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “CARES ACT: What the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Means for Employers.” – April 1, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Internal Webinar – “RIF Boot Camp” – March 27, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Advising Clients on Potential COVID-19 Situations” – March 25, 2020
• GoTo Webinar – “COVID-19 Update” – March 24, 2020
• AAIM – “Coronavirus Webinar” – March 11, 2020
• AAIM – “Daily Morning Briefings on COVID Pandemic” – March 2020
• NRRDA Annual Conference – “Employment Practices – Year in Review” – Newport Beach – February 27, 2020
• NBI ADA Webcast – “Start to Finish” – February 19, 2020
• HRACMO Presentation – “2020 Employment Law Update” – Columbia – February 11, 2020
• AAIM Roundtable – “Weed at Work” – Quincy – January 2020
• FMLA Training – Anheuser-Busch Credit Union – “An Employers Guide to the Family & Medical Leave Act” – May 7, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Keep ‘Em Coming! Reducing Absenteeism Through Effective Strategies” – Las Vegas – May 2, 2019
• Social Media – AAIM HR Executive Roundtable  – “The Good, The Bad, & The Downright” – St. Louis – April 3, 2019
• NRRDA Presentation – “Employment Practices Law Update/Year in Review” – West Palm Beach – March 7, 2019
• HRACMO Speaker – “2019 Employment Law Update – Where We’ve Been…Where We’re Going” – Columbia – February 12, 2019
• NBI Human Resource Law Boot Camp – FLSA Essentials – “Practically Applying the Most Recent Legal Prospectives, Legal Solutions for Sensitive Workplace Issues” – St. Louis – November 7, 2018
• myLawCLE – “2018 Employment Law Update” – August 20, 2018
• National Business Institute Webinar – “HR Legal Nightmares: A Troubleshooting Guide” – March 22, 2018
• AAIM Roundtable – “2018 Multi-Jurisdictional Wage & Hour Issues at the Federal, State, and Local Level” – St. Louis – March 6, 2018
• National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association – “Becoming a Super Sleuth – Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations” – New Orleans – March 1, 2018
• AAIM – “Anti-Sexual Harassment Seminar” – St. Louis – February 22, 2018
• Lorman Live Webinar – “2018 Employment Law Update” – January 15, 2018
• AAIM Roundtable – “Sexual Harassment: Still a Reality in the Workplace” – St. Louis – January 9, 2018
• Association of Corporate Counsel – “The First 48: Protecting Your Assets from Unfair Competition” – St. Louis – September 15, 2017
• AAIMEA Roundtable – “Employment Law and Update” – St. Louis – September 14, 2017
• Lorman Education Services Webinar – “2017 Employment Law Update” – July 19, 2017
• Employer Associations of America Summer Staff Conference 2017 – “Employment Law – The Obama Years in Review, Six Month of the Trump Effect, & Looking Forward” – St. Louis – July 18, 2017
• NBI Webinar – “HR Legal Nightmares: A Troubleshooting Guide” – May 24, 2017
• ACC – “The ‘Trump Effect’ and the State of Labor and Employment Law and Policy for the Near Future” – St. Louis – May 18, 2017
• ACC 2017 Corporate Counsel Institute – “The “Trump Effect” and the State of Labor and Employment Law and Policy for the Near Future” – St. Louis – May 18, 2017
• Lorman Education Services Webinar – “Practical and Effective Strategies That Limit Absenteeism” – May 9, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “From Hello to Goodbye—Does Your Toolbox Measure Up?” – San Diego – May 3, 2017
• AAIM Roundtable – “Right to Work” – St. Louis – April 26, 2017
• National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association – “Annual Labor and Employment Wheel of Misfortune: Join Us for a Year in Review” – San Diego – March 2, 2017
• Lorman Education Services Webinar – “Employment A-Z” – January 17, 2017
• AAIM – “The DOL’s Modernization of The Fair Labor Standards Act” – St. Louis – November 1, 2016
• Society for Human Resource Management and Cape Area Personnel Association – “Employment Law – From Basic to Advance Topics” – Sikeston – October 25, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Pushing the Limits: Ever-Expanding ‘Reasonable’ Accommodations Under the ADA” – Colorado Springs – September 29, 2016
• AAIM – “Comfort Dogs, Nut-Free Environments, and Odorless Workplaces: The Expansion of ‘Reasonable’ Accommodations” – St. Louis – September 22, 2016
• AAIM – “Relationship Status: It’s Complicated” – St. Louis – September 22, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Comfort Dogs, Nut-Free Environments, and Odorless Workplaces: The Expansion of ‘Reasonable’ Accommodations” – St. Louis – September 21, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “’Headline News’ – The Perfect Start to Your Day” – St. Louis – September 21, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “’Ted Talks’ Panel Discussion: Union or Nonunion – What Every Employer Must Know” – St. Louis – September 21, 2016
• Lorman Education Services Webinar – “Practical and Effective Strategies That Limit Employee Absenteeism” – June 1, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Comfort Dogs, Nut-Free Environments, and Odorless Workplaces: The Expansion of ‘Reasonable’ Accommodations” – Chicago – May 5, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “FMLA and ADA Workshop” – St. Louis – March 28, 2016
• Lorman Education Services Webinar – “Practical and Effective Strategies That Limit Employee Absenteeism” – December 3, 2015
• AAIM – “FLSA Update for the AAIM Research Team” – St. Louis – October 14, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Affordable Care Act: Reporting Duties and Nightmares” – St. Louis – September 17, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Knowing When To Say When – Reasonable Accommodations and Undue Hardship Under the ADA” – St. Louis – September 17, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Knowing When to Say When – Undue Hardships Under the ADA” – San Antonio – May 14, 2015
• AAIM – “Affordable Care Act Updates” – St. Louis – May 12, 2015
• Society for Human Resource Management and Cape Area Personnel Association – “Healthcare Reform Update” – Cape Girardeau – April 22, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “The NLRB Ambushes Non-Union Employers” – St. Louis – February 17, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “NLRB 2015: Non-Union Employers Better Be Prepared” – St. Louis – January 22, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “FMLA & ADA Workshop” – St. Louis – October 23, 2014
• Human Resources Management Association (“HRMA”) – “Top 10 Tips For Minimizing Employment Litigation And Bonus Top 10 Wage & Hour Mistakes” – St. Louis – October 22, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Attorney Retreat – “Attorneys On The Go: Mobile Applications To Increase Efficiency” – New Orleans – October 18, 2014
• SHRM of Southeast Missouri (“SEMO”) and Cape Area Professionals Association (“CAPA”) – “FMLA & ADA Workshop” – Sikeston – September 9, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Are You Ready For Employment Law Changes in 2014 and Beyond?” – St. Louis – September 5, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Take a Painkiller and Call Congress in the Morning: Health Care Reform Update” – St. Louis – September 5, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “FMLA, ADA, or Both? An Advanced Discussion of Complex Leave Issues” – Las Vegas – May 7, 2014
• AAIM Management Association Executive Roundtable – “Top 10 Social Media Issues Affecting Employers” – Belleville – February 12, 2014
• AAIM Management Association Executive Roundtable – “Top 10 Social Media Issues Affecting Employers” – St. Louis – February 5, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “FMLA & ADA Workshop” – St. Louis – November 13, 2013
• AAIM Employment Law Certificate Series – “Managing Discipline & Discharge: Avoiding the Pitfalls” – St. Louis – October 29, 2013
• Springfield SHRM – “FMLA & ADA Workshop” – Springfield – August 22, 2013
• SHRM of Southeast Missouri (“SEMO”) and Cape Area Professionals Association (“CAPA”) – “Labor & Employment Law: What To Expect In 2013” – Sikeston – April 17, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “FMLA & ADA Workshop” – St. Louis – February 27, 2013
• Human Resources Management Association (“HRMA”) – “The Affordable Care Act: Where Do We Go From Here” – St. Louis – January 16, 2013
• AAIM Management Association – “The Virtual Workforce” – St. Louis – January 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Cyber Employees: The Legal & Practical Challenges Of The Virtual Workforce” – Phoenix – May 11, 2012
• AAIM Employment Law Certificate Series – “Stressed by Stress Claims” – St. Louis – 2012
• AAIM Management Association – “The Virtual Workforce” – St. Louis – October 18, 2011
• Financial Planning Association Of Greater St. Louis – “Healthcare Reform Looking Fore And Aft” – St. Louis – October 6, 2011
• AAIM Employment Law Certificate Series – “The Employer’s and Employee’s Rights and Obligations Under the NLRB” – St. Louis – 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “2010 Healthcare Reform Update” – St. Louis – June 17, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Protecting The Attorney-Client Privilege” – St. Louis – June 17, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Your Day In Court: An Interactive Presentation” – St. Louis – June 17, 2010
• Association Of Corporate Counsel America – “The New Attorney-Client Privilege and Representation of Corporate Representatives . . . How Litigation Will Impact These Issues in 2010 and Beyond” – St. Louis – March 18, 2010

• Winter 2017 – CSEE Connections Quarterly – “Impact TBD: Lessons Learned from Hollywood (36 & Counting) & “#MeToo””
• Summer 2016 – AAIM Connections – “The Federal Government, Unions & The Art of Persuasion”
• Winter 2015 – AAIM Connections – “The DOL’s Proposed Overhaul Of The FLSA Regulations: What They Say, What They Mean, and What To Do Now”
• Summer 2014 – AAIM Connections – “BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Blurs the Lines”
• May 2010 – AAIM Connections – “Act Now to Reform the Missouri Human Rights Act”

• September 16, 2020 – Bloomberg Law – “Working Parents Get Some Virus-Leave Leeway in Revised DOL Rule”
• August 18, 2020 – Bloomberg Law – “On-and-Off Leave for Working Parents in Limbo as Schools Restart”
• February 13, 2015 – Law360 – “Securitas Worker Wants High Court To Revive Age Bias Suit”
• 2012 – Monster.com Workforce Management – “Be Aware Of Sexual Harassment In The Workplace”
• March 6, 2011 – St. Louis Post-Dispatch – “Health Rules Confuse Small Businesses: Owners Face Choices for Employees, Bottom Lines”

• Dean’s List (St. Louis University and University of Arizona)
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Employment Law – Management (2018-2025)
  • Litigation – Labor and Employment (2018-2025)
• Super Lawyers (2010, 2013- present) and Super Lawyers Rising Star (2008, 2009)
• Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell