Amy M. Pocklington

Amy Pocklington is a founding shareholder in the Richmond office of Ogletree Deakins where she focuses her practice on advising and defending employers in all areas of traditional labor and employment law. From counseling clients on how to prevent future litigation by maintaining effective policies, conducting proper investigations and training, and handling thorny employee issues to aggressively defending employers in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, Ms. Pocklington brings a pragmatic, business approach to her practice.

As the former general counsel, corporate secretary, and chief compliance officer to the third largest food distribution company in the country, Ms. Pocklington knows the importance of understanding her clients’ business and industry and of providing practical, timely advice and cost effective strategies that further the larger goals of the business. She has extensive experience in all aspects of the food distribution business including food safety, crisis management, recall administration, and manufacturer and customer negotiations.

Ms. Pocklington routinely advises and defends employers in all areas of employment law including actions arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, wrongful discharge, retaliation, harassment, unfair labor practice charges, covenants not to compete, and trade secret violations. She has led many internal investigations involving allegations ranging from fraudulent financial reporting to sexual harassment. Her appellate practice includes briefing cases before multiple state and federal courts of appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. She assists clients facing union activity by educating them through union avoidance training and assisting with effective campaign strategies and on-the-ground implementation.

Her background also includes experience in complex commercial litigation, corporate governance, antitrust matters, mergers and acquisitions, disputes arising from distribution and manufacturers’ supply agreements, software licenses and support services agreements, outsourcing agreements, and asset purchase and associated earn out agreements. She has litigated a variety of class actions including product liability disputes, toxic torts, and employee claims.

Her transactional experience includes drafting and negotiating multi-million dollar outsourcing agreements, complex asset purchase agreements, and supply chain agreements.

Following law school, Amy served as a clerk of the Supreme Court of Virginia for Justice A. Christian Compton.