Concurrent Session

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.

David Lindgren is a Senior Manager with Flexible Benefit Service Corporation (Flex), a fullservice wholesale insurance firm and administrator of tax-advantaged benefit plans based in Rosemont, Illinois. David oversees the Compliance and Public Affairs departments at Flex and brings fifteen years of experience to his role.

He is a subject matter expert in the areas of ERISA, HIPAA, Cafeteria Plans, Healthcare Reform and various Employee Benefit Programs, including consumer-driven plans that incorporate Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and wellness programs.

Todd Solomon is a partner in and Chicago local practice group leader of the employee benefits practice group of McDermott Will & Emery LLP in its Chicago office.  Todd focuses his practice primarily on designing, amending, and administering pension plans, 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans, 403(b) plans, and nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements.  He also counsels corporations and tax-exempt entities regarding fiduciary and plan investment issues under ERISA, employee benefits issues involved in corporate transactions, executive compensation and Code Section 409A compliance and correction matters, and the implementation of benefit programs for domestic partners.  

Ms. Walters has more than 30 years’ combined experience in management, HR administration, employment law practice, and teaching.

She has presented at conferences across the country, been engaged as an expert witness, and testified before U.S. Congressional and state legislative committees on employment issues.

Her book, “From Hello to Goodbye: Proactive Tips for Maintaining Positive Employee Relations” is in its 2nd edition and was one of the SHRMStore’s “Great 8” best-sellers for eight consecutive years.

Today, Ms. Walters works as an independent consultant doing business as FiveL Company, “Helping Leaders Limit their Liability by Learning the Law.”SM

SHRM member Scott Oswald is an accomplished trial lawyer who has brought more than 40 trials to verdict, tallying more than $300 million in judgments and settlements. As managing principal at The Employment Law Group, he represents employees and whistleblowers in matters ranging from wrongful termination to corporate fraud. Mr. Oswald serves as chair of the Federal Bar Association's Qui Tam Section, which focuses on whistleblower law. He earned his law degree at Howard University and is a fellow of the elite College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Lawdragon, and more.

Greg Hare has been an employment lawyer at Ogletree Deakins his entire career, since 1991. He assists companies with human resources and employment-related litigation matters, including wrongful termination claims, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, employment contracts, trade secrets, and non-compete agreements. He advises clients on a wide range of human resources topics, such as drug testing, employee discipline and discharge, severance planning, independent contractor classifications, wage payment, family and medical leave, disability law, military leave, joint employment issues, affirmative action, and reductions in force. Mr. Hare also counsels clients on traditional labor relations and matters involving the National Labor Relations Board.

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.