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Biography

Rob has overย 25 years of experience representing management clients in all phases of labor relations. His practice includes various aspects of labor and employment consulting for management, equal employment opportunity, legal compliance training, union avoidance, collective bargaining, labor arbitration, and employment litigation, practicing regionally before various administrative agencies and courts.ย  Rob focuses on preventative legal work, both with his counseling and responsibly managing controversies to successful outcomes.

Robโ€™s history of distinguished service to the business community has included chairing Northern Kentuckyโ€™s two largest business organizations. In addition, Rob authored several successful business books, including:ย  “The HR Lawyer Within You โ€“ Human Resource Strategies for Legal Success” (Saratoga Press LLC, 2014);ย  “Our Best Tomorrow โ€“ Students Teaching Capitalism to America” (Headline Books, 2013); andย ย “A Better Tomorrow โ€“ Fighting for Capitalism and Jobs in the Heartland” (Saratoga Press LLC, 2012). Rob’s 2013 guest newspaper columns on business issues were submitted for a Pulitzer Prize.

Other Info About Rob

Education

Law School

University of Kentucky College of Law, J.D., 1987

Undergraduate School

University of Kentucky, B.S., 1984,ย with high distinction

Bar Memberships

Rob is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Kentucky

Ohio

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Best Lawyers in Americaยฎ (recognized since 2006)
Employment Law โ€“ Management, 2011-2023; Labor Law โ€“ Management, 2011-2023

Appeared on the Stossel Show, Fox Business News, โ€œDefending the Free Market,โ€ and Fox & Friends, Fox News, โ€œOur Best Tomorrowโ€ ย 2013

Walter R. Dunlevy Frontiersman Awardย  2013, for distinguishedย  community, profession, and business leadership

Northern Kentucky Area Development District Community Leadership Awardย  2010, for distinguished regional service

Selected for inclusion inย Kentucky Super Lawyersยฎ,ย Labor and Employment Law, 2010-2016ย The Best Lawyers in Americaยฎ,ย Labor and Employment Law, 2006-2016

Cincy โ€œLeading Lawyerโ€ List Cincy Magazine, 2007-2009

Directorโ€™s Award Covington Business Council, for distinguished ย leadership of ย Covingtonโ€™s business community, 2008

Taking Care of Business Hall of Fame, Northern Kentucky, 2008

Leadership Northern Kentucky Graduate, 1995

Kentuckyโ€™s Outstanding Young Lawyer Finalist, 1993

Founder, Northern Kentucky Human Resource Professional Series, Northern Kentucky Human Resource Webinar Series

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Chair 2008-2009; Chair-Elect 2007-2008; Board Member 2000-2010; Chairman, Human Resources Committee 1996-2000, Chair Political Involvement Committee 2010-2013

Northern Kentucky Business PAC, Board Member 2010-2013 Covington Business Council, Chair 2007-2008; Board Member 2004-2010; Chair, Business Advocacy 2004, 2012, Chair Covington Business Council Foundation 2010

Tri-Ed Entrepreneurial Committee, E-zone Board, Member 2008-2010

Tri-County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, Member 2008-2010

Northern Kentuckyโ€™s Education Alliance, Vice Chair 2008-2009

Northern Kentuckyโ€™s Workforce Development Collaborative, Vice Chair, 2008-2009

Ken-Tron Manufacturing, Board Member 2000-2013

Northern Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management, President 1994; Legislative Chair 1994-1997

Covington Business Council, Chair 2007-2008, Covington Business Council Foundation, Chair 2009

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Northern Kentucky Bar Association, Vice President, 2024; Labor and Employment Section, Chairman 1993-1994; Vice-Chairman 1991-1992

University of Kentucky Alumni Association, National Director 2009-2010

Be Concerned, Inc., President 2000-2001; Board Member 1992-1999, 2013-2014

University of Kentucky Alumni Association, Cincinnati Chapter, President 1996; Board Member 1990-1996, 2012-2013

Industrial Relations Research Association, Cincinnati Chapter, Board Member 1995-1996

Kentucky Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Management Co-Chair 1994; Secretary 1991-92

 

Presentations

Rob was invited to speak at the following events:

Robert has conducted several hundred management training sessions and seminars

โ€œThe ADAAA and Its Impact on The Workplaceโ€ Cincinnati Bar Association

Union Organizing, Topic:โ€™Discipline, Discharge and Documentation โ€“ Supervisor Training and Supervisor Training on Union Avoidance,โ€ Northern ย ย ย  Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œLabor and Employment Law Update,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

4th Annual Kentucky Workersโ€™ Compensation Conference, Topic: โ€œNote Just Workersโ€™ Comp Anymore โ€“ How Workersโ€™ Comp Involves Other Laws Such as FMLA and ADA,โ€ Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œFederal and State Legislative Update,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œADA, FMLA & Workersโ€™ Compensation,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œ2006ย Ohio Employment Law Update,โ€ GCHRA HR Academy

โ€œAdditional Leave/Absenteeism Control Restrictions,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œFrom Hiring To Firing,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Corporate Law Update, Topic: โ€œEmployment,โ€

โ€œHow to Structure Your Employee Complaint and Grievance Procedures,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œPreventing Labor and Employment Suits in Ohio,โ€ National Business Institute

โ€œTopic Labor Law: Legal Update,โ€ KPHRA Spring Conference

โ€œSubstance Abuse,โ€ City Clerk Association

โ€œEnforcing Non-Competes in Ohio and Kentucky,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œWhat Your Supervisors Need To Know About Labor And Employment Law,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œLegal Update and The Implications of the New White Collar and Hour Regulations,โ€ Greater Cincinnati Human Resource Association

โ€œDiscipline, Documentation and Grievance Procedures,โ€ 20thย Annual KY SHRM Conference

โ€œWage and Hour Law Update,โ€ UK/CLE Biennial Employment Law Institute

Employee Discharge & Documentation in Ohio, Topic: โ€œPre Employment Documentation and Hiring; Implementing Termination Decisions and Post Discharge Considerationsโ€

โ€œThe White Collar Wage and Hour Regulations,โ€ American Council of Engineering Companies

โ€œThe White Collar Wage and Hour Regulations,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Fundamental Issues in Ohio Human Resources Law, Topics: โ€œSexual Harassment: Employer and Employee Rights and Responsibilities; A Guide to Employee Handbooks and Manualsโ€

โ€œHow to Defend Against and Win Unemployment Compensation Claims,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œA Review and Comment on the Department of Laborโ€™s Proposed Wage and Hour White Collar Exemption Regulations,โ€ Greater Cincinnati Compensation & Benefits Association

โ€œAย Review and Comment on the Department of Laborโ€™s Proposed Wage and Hourย White Collar,โ€ SHRM Conference

โ€œNon-Compete & Non-Solicitation, Agreements that are Effective & Enforceable, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œArbitration Provisions: The Aftermath ofย Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams and EEOC v.ย Waffle House,โ€ UK/CLE 8th Biennial Employment Lawย Institute

โ€œRightsizing the Workforce: You better not be wrong โ€” Reductions-In-Force,โ€ Cincinnati Bar Association Employment & Labor Seminar, Cincinnati Bar Association

โ€œEmployment Discrimination Update in Ohio,โ€ National Business Institute

โ€œArbitration Agreements โ€“ How to Reduce Legal Costs and Exposure,โ€ Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œEmployment Issues of Local Officials,โ€ KPHRA

โ€œFundamental Issues in Ohio Human Resources Law,โ€ National Business Institute

โ€œReducing Legal Exposure on Employee Issues,โ€ Tenth Annual AARC Conference

โ€œThe EEOC Strikes Again โ€“ A Review and Comment on the EEOCโ€™s Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA,โ€ Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œLabor Law and Union Case Law Update,โ€ Greater Northern Kentucky Labor-Management Council, 2001

โ€œDrafting Personnel Policies,โ€ Dept. of Local Government PAS Training

โ€œThe Truth is Told: Right to Work versus Not Right to Work,โ€ Kentucky Industrial Development Council, Inc.

โ€œAvoiding Employment Litigation,โ€ Mid-America Human Resources Symposium

โ€œTechnology in the Courtroom,โ€ KBA Annual Convention

โ€œWage & Hour Issues,โ€ 7th Biennial Employment Law Institute, University of Kentucky

โ€œMaintaining Positive/Union Free Employee Relations,โ€ The Japan/America Society of Kentucky

โ€œKentucky General Assembly Review,โ€ NKSHRM

โ€œA Checklist of Twenty-Five Steps to Reduce your Legal Exposure on Employment Issues,โ€ Management to the New Millennium, Kentucky Rural Water ย ย ย  Association

โ€œEmployment Contracts,โ€ KCMA

โ€œEmerging Trends in Human Resources Issues โ€“ ADA โ€“ Recent Supreme Court Decision under the ADA Cases,โ€ KPHRA

โ€œKentucky Wage and Hour Law Update โ€“ Minimum Wage and Overtime Requirements,โ€ Lorman Education Services

โ€œReasonable Accommodation Under the ADA โ€“ A Review of the EEOCโ€™s Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation,โ€ Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

โ€œDrug Testing In The Workplace,โ€ Cincinnati Bar Association

โ€œAdvanced FMLA Update โ€“ FMLA Steps for Compliance,โ€ย  Council on Education in Management

โ€œSexual Harassment: What it is and What to Do About it,โ€ Thomas More College

โ€œHow to Conduct an Internal Investigation,โ€ Council on Education in Management

Major Publications

Rob is an author or contributor to the following publications:

Chief Editor and Contributing Author:ย Humanย Resources File Cabinet, Fourth Edition

Contributing Author:ย Workersโ€™ย Compensation Handbook, Chapter entitled ย ย ย  โ€œManaging ย ย ย  Leaves of Absenceโ€

Contributing Editor and Author:ย Kentuckyย Employment Law Letter, 1992-2008

Contributing Author:ย Employmentย Law in Kentucky, Third Edition, 2006/UK/CLE Practice Handbook,ย Chapter entitled โ€œWageย and Hour Classificationsโ€

Guestย Columnist โ€“ Cincinnati.com and various regional newspapers, 2008-2014

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