Gordon L. Blair

Gordon litigates primarily in Alabama state and federal courts.  His litigation experience includes:

• Representing employers, ranging from large multi-national corporations to small local businesses, in discrimination actions;
• Representing employers before administrative entities, such as the EEOC and the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations; and
• Representing businesses in premises liability, personal injury, wrongful death, commercial contract, and business tort actions.

Highlights from the past few years of Gordon’s practice include:

• A defense jury verdict in an FMLA interference and retaliation action for a manufacturing company;
• Directed verdict at trial of a state court personal injury action for a retail company;
• Nominal award at trial of breach of employment contract action;
• Numerous summary judgments in sex, race, age, and disability discrimination actions, as well as summary judgments in USERRA and FMLA actions; and
• Entry of permanent injunction in favor of Alabama manufacturer to prohibit contact by at risk former employee.

Outside of the courthouse, Gordon devotes a substantial portion of his practice to counseling employers on day-to-day human resources issues and litigation avoidance.

Education

• J.D., Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, 2001
• B.A., University of Richmond, 1998

Admission to Practice

• Alabama
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

• Birmingham Bar Association (Medical Liaison Committee)
• SHRM – Birmingham Chapter
• Birmingham Diversity Summit, hosted by the Birmingham Business Alliance (ODNSS Birmingham representative)
• Registered on the Alabama State Court Mediator Roster

• Alabama State Bar 2023 Annual Meeting – “Can My Employer Do That?” – Point Clear – July 13, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Smart Hiring in a Competitive (and Litigious) Job Market” – Birmingham – August 23, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Maximizing the Benefits of Alternative Dispute Resolution” – Huntsville – June 21, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Managing ADA & FMLA Leave And Getting Employees Back To Work (or on their way)” – Birmingham – August 18, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Avoiding Employers’ Number One Risk – Retaliation Claims” – Huntsville – August 11, 2016
• Wiregrass Human Resources Management Association 2015 Forum – “HR Is A Three Ring Circus: Be An Innovative Ringmaster” – Dothan – September 18, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations” – Tupelo – April 17, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “How Employers Win Employment Lawsuits Before They Are Filed” – Huntsville – August 21, 2014
• Marshall County, Alabama SHRM Chapter – “Managing Difficult Employees (and the impossible one)” – Guntersville – August 20, 2014
• Southeastern Employment Law Series – “Troublemakers & Malcontents: Lessons for Dealing Effectively With Difficult Employees” – Columbus – May 16, 2014
• Birmingham SHRM Chapter – “Legislative and Regulatory Update” – Birmingham – April 10, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Effective Employee Discipline and Dismissal” – Birmingham – November 9, 2012
• Birmingham SHRM Chapter – “Utilizing Social Networking Media in the Workplace” – Birmingham – March 9, 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “How Plaintiffs Plan to Take Your Money In 2011” – Birmingham – December 10, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing – “Beware the Dark Side of Social Networking (Utilizing Social Networking Media, Employer and Employee Rights and Interests)” – Birmingham – March 25, 2010

• November 2003 – The Alabama Lawyer – “What’s Left After Davis v. Southern Energy Homes, Inc.”

• May 10, 2018 – Birmingham Business Journal – “Birmingham’s Legal Hotspots: Attorneys sound off”

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Employment Law – Management (2017-2025)
  • Litigation – Labor and Employment (2020-2025)
• 2010 & 2012 Super Lawyers – Rising Stars
• Alabama Super Lawyer (2013 – present)