Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton announced today the addition of Partner Russell Jones and three associates to the firm’s Labor & Employment Team in Atlanta. Joining Mr. Jones are Kathryn McConnell, Sara Partin, and Camille Ward. They previously practiced with Dow Lohnes.
“Russell brings more than a decade of expertise that covers the entire gamut of employment issues affecting management today,” said Randy Avram, Chair of Kilpatrick Townsend’s Labor & Employment Team. “With companies facing ongoing changes in federal and state laws, the firm’s nationally recognized Labor & Employment Team is charged with ensuring that clients are protected and in compliance. Russell and his tremendous team are a significant and timely addition. We welcome Russell, Kathryn, Sara, and Camille.”
“I have always respected Kilpatrick Townsend and its outstanding work in the labor and employment arena,” said Mr. Jones. “What appealed to me was that we both shared the philosophy of making client service a priority. Kilpatrick Townsend’s expansive geographic footprint is an absolute advantage in serving clients.”
Mr. Jones’ comprehensive practice is national in scope and represents management in all aspects of the employment relationship, including HR policy design and implementation, day-to-day counseling, employment audits, supervisory training, drafting and offering advice on employment and restrictive covenant agreements, and handling reductions in force. His well-known practice includes handling agency charges of discrimination and litigation in federal and state court.
Mr. Jones also has an extensive background counseling employers on matters such as union avoidance, training, campaign management, collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, and handling unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board.
Mr. Jones has authored numerous articles addressing industry trends and issues and is a Member of Order of the Coif. He earned a J.D. from University of Tennessee College of Law,magna cum laude, and a B.S. from Appalachian State University, summa cum laude.
Ms. McConnell, who will also be working with the Kilpatrick Townsend’s Complex Business Litigation Team, regularly defends employers in state and federal courts across the U.S. in lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, emotional distress, FLSA and FMLA violations, and other employment-related claims. She has far-reaching experience defending and mediating charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and equivalent state and local administrative agencies, as well as the National Labor Relations Board. Ms. McConnell also counsels and advises employers on compliance with state and federal employment laws. She graduated from the College of Law, London, Distinction. Ms. McConnell also earned a B.A and M.A. from Cambridge University.
Ms. Partin counsels and advises employers on all aspects of the employment relationship, including compliance with state and federal employment laws, avoidance of employment discrimination and retaliation claims, employee discipline and termination practices, and workforce rightsizing through reorganization and reduction in force. She works closely with her clients to develop employee policies and frequently designs and delivers management training programs on a wide variety of employment-related topics, with an emphasis on the administration and management of employee leave and disability accommodation processes. Ms. Partin has represented employers in a broad range of federal and state employment litigation and in administrative investigations and proceedings before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and equivalent state and local administrative agencies. Ms. Partin earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Stanford University. She is active in the community and has served as a Board Member of the Atlanta Children’s Shelter.
Ms. Ward’s practice includes providing daily legal employment counseling for employers nationwide with regard to all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, performance management, restrictive covenants, employment and separation agreements, employment policies and best practices, and terminations. She regularly advises employers on state and federal wage and hour laws, including large scale analyses for nationwide workforces. Ms. Ward also represents employers in investigating and responding to administrative charges and employment litigation in federal and state courts. She earned a J.D. at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.A. at Emory University. While in law school, she served as a Senior Editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.
