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Missy is an associate in the litigation department and focuses her practice on employment law. She advises clients on a broad range of issues involving the employer-employee relationship. Missy's practice and experience includes handling matters before administrative agencies, including the EEOC, the ESC, federal and state Departments of Labor, and other administrative agencies. She also handles issues involving employment discrimination, civil rights, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage and hour law, non-competition, trade secret protection, and other employment-related cases in both state and federal court. In addition, Missy advises and assists clients on avoiding litigation through workplace training, wage and hour guidance, and human resources best practices education. She has also been involved with drafting employee handbooks and a variety of employment agreements and policies and is a frequent speaker on various employment-related matters from the employer's perspective.
Representative Matters
Represented management in a variety of agency proceedings, including Equal Employment Opportunity Commission proceedings, Employment Security Commission unemployment determinations and Department of Labor inquiries and proceedings.
Defended large company in national collective action lawsuit under the Fair Labor Standards Act and related state law claims, based on classifications of exempt employees.
Represented companies in both prosecution and defense of actions to enforce non-compete agreements.
Represented a North Carolina county school board in appeal of the Board's administrative decision regarding the employment of a teacher. Obtained favorable trial court result, which was affirmed by published decision of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Represented national company in Title VII harassment, discrimination, and retaliation matter and obtained summary judgment in favor of the employer in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Assisted with representation of national brokerage firm in lawsuit against former brokers involving alleged NASD rule violations, as well as allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets and improper solicitation of clients.
Publications, Presentations and Awards
Legal Elite, Business North Carolina Magazine, Employment Law, 2008
"2007 Employment Law and Immigration Update for Employers," presentation, Arrowood Association Human Resources Roundtable, Charlotte, NC, May, 2007
"Preventing Mistakes in Designating Leave and Providing the Employee with Written Notification," presentation, FMLA Update 2007, Council on Education in Management Seminar, Charlotte, NC, May 2007
"Employer's Obligations under N.C. State Law, Employment Agreements and Covenants Not to Compete," presentation, Montreat College Lunch & Law series, Charlotte, NC, April 2007
"General Labor & Employment Law Issues: Management's Perspective," presentation, Montreat College Lunch & Law series, Charlotte, NC, March 2007
"Hiring, Documentation & Termination," presentation, Montreat College Lunch & Law series, Charlotte, NC, February 2007
"Protecting Against Identity Theft for Employers," presentation, Arrowood Association Human Resources Roundtable, Charlotte, NC, May 2006
"Designation of Leave" and "Managing Pregnant Employees," presentations, FMLA Update 2005, Counsel on Education in Management Seminar, Greensboro, NC, September 2005
Professional, Civic and Community Involvement
Professional: North Carolina Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section
Mecklenburg County Bar, Young Lawyers' Division
North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. |
