Ethical Practice

For over 20 years, Allison West has used her employment law background in delivering customized workplace training, conducting investigations, coaching executives/managers, serving as an expert witness, and specializing in conflict resolution and facilitated discussions to create more collaborative work environments. 

Allison is a top-rated speaker at the SHRM Annual Conference as well as other HR/diversity conferences, and is a national expert on harassment, discrimination and investigations. She has appeared on PBS, CBS This Morning and in O Magazine discussing workplace harassment issues. 

She is a member of the State Bar of California and holds her SHRM-SCP certification and AWI-CH (investigation) certificate.

Jason Geller is managing partner of the firm's San Francisco office.  Jason represents employers in all facets of employment law matters. He has considerable experience defending employers in litigation involving claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act and California Family Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and California wage and hour laws. Jason has also defended employers against whistleblowing and retaliation claims, including claims under the California Whistleblower Act, the False Claims Act and various provisions of the California Labor Code.

Jason has extensive experience defending employers in federal and state court, as well as in investigations by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, United States Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board.

As a “Recovering HR Manager" Richard Fagerlin, has led Peak Solutions, a leadership development firm for the last 20 years.

Born out of the simple idea that we should love what we do and who we do it with, Peak Solutions is dedicated to helping build wise leaders, strong teams & healthy cultures & has served countless organizations in over 50 countries worldwide. Richard is also a leading authority on the topic of Trust and is the author of Trustology: The Art and Science of Leading High Trust Teams.

Richard is from Fort Collins, Colorado where he enjoys an active lifestyle following the interests and passions of his four boys and making memories and enjoying experiences every step of the way.

.

Douglas M. Towns is an Employment & Labor Partner at Sherman & Howard LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. With more than 20 years of experience, Doug exclusively represents employers in all employment and labor areas, including the following:

• Counseling companies on US and global employment issues involving all aspects of employment law, including, social media, reductions-in-force, immigration compliance, discrimination issues, complex hiring, disciplinary, and termination issues, and executive employment contracts. He regularly assists client with public accommodation audits under Title III of the ADA, immigration audits by ICE, OSHA investigations, glass ceiling audits and OCFFP compensation reviews, and senior-level harassment and discrimination investigations.
• Defending employers in complex employment litigation, including class actions and multi-plaintiff employment discrimination lawsuits, wage-hour collective actions, and state law tort and contract claims. He has represented employers in state and federal courts, arbitrations, appellate courts, and administrative agencies, including the OFCCP and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
• Counseling and litigating on the range of legal issues arising from restrictive convents, trade secrets, and the protection of intellectual and human capital.
• Representing management during union organizing efforts, at the bargaining table, and in labor disputes, including emergency injunctions and in interest arbitrations.

Doug has written extensively on employment law, class and collective actions, management of complex employment litigation, e-discovery, mental disabilities, employment issues in corporate acquisitions, contingent workers, immigration compliance, and challenges to the OFCCP’s compensation analysis. He has spoken at more than 250 employment law programs, conducted in-house management training programs, and appeared on CNN “Headline News” as an employment law commentator.

He is also actively involved in the community and on several boards, including serving as General Counsel for Angel Flight Soars, which provides free medical transportation to those in need.

Doug graduated from Emory University and received his J.D. from the University of Virginia where he served on the Virginia Law Review.

Ethics in the workplace is a serious matter, but talking about it doesn’t have to be “business as usual.” Chuck Gallagher learned a lesson about choices and consequences the hard way—but now he shares his experience so that others don’t have to. In his compelling presentations, Chuck starts by setting the scene with his own story… and ends by setting the stage for your organization’s ethical success.  You may have seen Chuck on CNN, CBS, Fox or NPR.  His business insights are sought after for his strong position on ethics. Chuck’s focus is business—but his passion is empowering others.

Nancy Volpe, SHRM-SCP is currently Chief People Officer for the Center for People Solutions LLC. She has 20+ years of Executive HR practitioner experience in the manufacturing, retail and non-profit service industries. In addition to her HR practitioner experience, she has held employment with the U.S. Department of Labor, OFCCP and U.S. Department of Justice. She is a long-standing SHRM volunteer wherein she has held board positions at the local, regional and national level. Volpe has traveled internationally to learn HR practices in Canada, Mexico, China, India, Brazil, Singapore, and Europe; and attained her GPHR in 2007. Volpe inherited current union activity when she went to work for a food manufacturing company and was the lead company facilitator resulting in a certification of results. In her current position at the Center for People Solutions LLC, she trains and coaches HR professionals to be more strategic and credible within their HR role and consults with companies to enhance HR’s value.

For over 20 years, Allison West has used her employment law background in delivering customized workplace training, conducting investigations, coaching executives/managers, serving as an expert witness, and specializing in conflict resolution and facilitated discussions to create more collaborative work environments. 

Allison is a top-rated speaker at the SHRM Annual Conference as well as other HR/diversity conferences, and is a national expert on harassment, discrimination and investigations. She has appeared on PBS, CBS This Morning and in O Magazine discussing workplace harassment issues. 

She is a member of the State Bar of California and holds her SHRM-SCP certification and AWI-CH (investigation) certificate.