Robert O. Sands

Robert’s broad range of labor and employment experience includes:

• Lead counsel in numerous federal court employment discrimination cases, including successful representation through trial
• Lead counsel in FLSA federal court suits and USDOL investigations involving misclassification and off-the-clock claims
• Representation in state courts through trial and appeals, including wrongful discharge, harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy, restrictive covenant and trade secret cases
• Oversee and conduct wage and hour compliance audits and provide counsel on FLSA compliance
• Oversee and conduct comprehensive audits of employment policies and practices
• Counseling on workplace restructuring and closings, with particular expertise in avoiding discrimination claims and achieving WARN Act and OWBPA compliance
• Chief spokesperson in numerous collective bargaining negotiations, including many where concessions were achieved
• Advisor to businesses with union contracts, including downsizing, outsourcing, workplace restructuring, and successorship issues
• Lead counsel in countless NLRB investigations, including ALJ hearings, exceptions to the NLRB and petitions for review before the Court of Appeals
• Cases argued in the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eleventh Circuits on multiple occasions
• Extensive involvement in union representation campaigns and decertifications, both as lead counsel in legal proceedings and as part of team to provide legal advice to management
• Lead counsel for scores of labor arbitrations from just cause discharge cases to complex industrial restructuring
• Advise employers on site selection and facility start-up issues

Education

• J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, 1978
• B.S., with honor, Industrial Management, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1975

Admission to Practice

• U.S. Supreme Court
• Georgia
• Georgia Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Georgia
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eleventh Circuits

• American Bar Association (Litigation and Labor & Employment Sections; Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee; ADR in Labor and Employment Law Committee; Committee on Practice and Procedure Under the National Relations Act)
• Georgia State Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law Section; Communications Committee, 1999-2002)
• Atlanta Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law and Litigation Sections)
• American Health Lawyers Association
• Georgia Chamber of Commerce
• Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce
• Georgia Association of Manufacturers

• Georgia Chamber of Commerce New Economy Series – “Talents, Teams and Tomorrow: How to Build an Exceptional Workplace” – Warner Robins – June 18, 2019
• Georgia Chamber of Commerce New Economy Series – “Talents, Teams and Tomorrow: How to Build an Exceptional Workplace” – Albany – May 21, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “The NLRB: What’s In and What’s Out for Non-Union Employers'” – Atlanta – October 26, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Are You Smarter Than a Labor Lawyer?” – Atlanta – October 13, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Employment Law Update – “First 60 Days of the New Administration” – Tifton – March 22, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “Employment Discrimination and Joint Employer Update” – Tifton – October 15, 2015
• Associate of Corporate Counsel, Georgia Chapter – “The National Labor Relations Board’s Enforcement Initiatives: Making Sure Your Company is Prepared” – Atlanta – February 2015
• Lorman Seminar – “Avoiding Wage and Hour Liabilities” – Albany – April 11, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Employment Law Briefing – “Non-Union Employers: Preparing for the Latest in NLRB Developments” – Duluth – February 27, 2014
• SHRM Albany – “NLRB Update: It’s a Topsy-Turvy World” – Albany – October 2, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Union Organizing: Dangerous Trends and Trip Wires” – New Orleans – May 10, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing – “The New NLRB” – Atlanta – March 28, 2012
• Lorman Seminar – “Employment Law Update on Wage and Hour Compliance, NLRB Traps for Non-union Employers and Georgia Law Developments” – Albany – February 23, 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Employment Law Seminar (Moderator of Program and Presenter) – “Seven NLRB Rulings Concerning Non-Union Employers” – Tifton – November 10, 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing – “NLRB Notice Posting Requirements” – Atlanta – October 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar (moderator) – “A New Day for Whistleblowers” – Chicago – May 13, 2011
• Human Resources Forum – “HR Legal Trends” – Indianapolis – March 29, 2011
• National Human Resources Forum for Non-Profits – “Human Resources Workshop” – Indianapolis – March 28, 2011
• Lorman Webinar – “Georgia Employment Legislation Update” – February 2011
• City Commissioners Workshop – “New Developments in Employment Law” – Cordele – May 2010
• Leadership Conference – “Employment Law Udpate” – Duluth – March 2010
• Leadership Conference – “Labor and Employment Law Update” – Nashville – March 2010
• National Advocacy Program for Non-Profits – “Labor Relations and Unions Workshop” – Washington, D.C. – March 2010
• Webinar for Non-Profits – “Why the National Labor Relations Act Deserves Your Attention” – November 2009
• Lorman Seminar – “Employment Law From A to Z” – Albany – October 2009
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “NLRA Issues for Non-Union Employers—What You Don’t Know Might Hurt You” – Miami – May 2009
• Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce – “Labor and Employment Law Update” – Sandy Springs – March 2009
• Conference for Hospital Human Resources Leaders – “Employee Free Choice Act Update” – Albany – November 2008
• Institute for Applied Management – “Labor Law in the Union and Non-Union Workplace” – Atlanta – October 2008
• Lorman Seminar – “Employment Law From A to Z” – Albany – October 2008
• Lorman Seminar – “Employee Handbooks-Everything You Need to Know to Keep You Out of Trouble” – Albany – February 2007
• Lorman Seminar – “Assessing Your HR Policies and Practices” – Albany – September 2006
• Lorman Seminar – “Employee Discharge and Documentation in Georgia” – Albany – July 2006

• November 30, 2016 – Ogletree Deakins Desk Reference Manual – “Georgia Desk Reference Section on Labor and Employment Law”
• September 2009 – Non-Profit Executive Website – “The Importance of Positive Employee Relations in Remaining Union Free”
• August 2009 – Labor Relations Toolkit – “Twelve Key Issues to Consider Before the Union Arrives”
• September 2004 – Georgia Business Advisory – “Whatever Happened to Employment-at-Will?”
• December 2000 – Southeastern Labor & Employment Law Newsletter – “Dealing with the EEOC”
• December 1999 – Southeastern Labor & Employment Law Newsletter – “Is There a Small Business Exemption from Labor and Employment Laws?”
• 1985 – Georgia Jurisprudence, Employment and Labor Volume – “Wages and Benefits, and Hours of Labor chapters”
• 1979-1992 – Georgia Hospital Law Manual – “Labor and Employment Law chapter, 1st through 4th Editions”

• February 7, 2014 – Daily Report – “Lawyers Say Lawsuit Protection May Not Spur Hiring of Ex-Offenders”
• January 30, 2014 – Law360 – “5 Tips For Employers Facing An EEOC Investigation”
• November 30, 2012 – Atlanta Business Chronicle – “Labor complaints rise, fall with unions”

• Articles editor, Georgia Law Review
• Research assistant on labor law reform proposals
• Research assistant on First Amendment freedom of speech developments
• Instructor of business law in the UGA School of Business
• Editor of “Principles of Business Law” textbook
• A-V preeminent rating for 25 consecutive years with Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyers in America (2003-present)
• Chambers USA (2009)
• Super Lawyer (2005-present)
• Legal 500: Labor and Employment – Labor & Employment Litigation
• Georgia Trend’s 2013 “Legal Elite”