Trip Umbach chairs the firm's labor and employment law practice group. Practice Trip represents both public and private employers in all types of labor and employment litigation in state court, federal court, and before administrative agencies. In response to the recent surge in overtime litigation, he has developed extensive experience in wage and hour matters. He regularly advises clients concerning non-competition agreements and litigates cases arising from the interpretation of such agreements. A significant aspect of his practice is helping clients make employment decisions and develop policies that reduce the risk of being sued by employees or becoming unionized. Highlights * Obtained a jury verdict for an employer against claims of retaliation brought by a current employee. * Advised clients on strategies to respond to union activity. * Member of the trial team representing a national retail store chain in the two-week trial of a nationwide collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act challenging the exempt status of store managers. This case is one of the few of its type in the country to have been tried to a jury. * Investigated complaints of sexual harassment and workplace violence. * Obtained summary judgment for a national cell phone company in a case brought by a former employee under the Family and Medical Leave Act. * Obtained summary judgment for a national retail pharmacy chain on age discrimination and harassment claims. * Negotiated a collective bargaining agreement for a nursing home. * Enforced a non-compete agreement for an employer against a former employee. * Defended an employer and its employee against non-compete claims. * Advised an employer regarding the termination of an older employee and the offer of severance pay in return for an agreement not to sue the company. * Developed an equal employment opportunity training program to be viewed by supervisors and employees on the company's intranet. * Defended a real estate management company and a city against claims brought under the Americans With Disabilities Act alleging that facilities are not accessible to wheelchair-bound citizens. * Defended companies and individuals against citations issued by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. * Served as both a mediator and an arbitrator. Honors And Awards Trip graduated first in his class from the University of Alabama School of Law and was an editor on the Alabama Law Review. Following law school, Trip clerked for the Honorable Patrick E. Higginbotham on the United States Supreme Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Trip has been recognized as a "leading individual" in the field of Labor and Employment by the 2008 - 2011 editions of Chambers USA. Trip was also selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2008 - 2012, has been named one of the top attorneys in the state of Alabama by Alabama Super Lawyers® magazine, 2008 - 2011, and was named a "Future Star" for the state of Alabama in the 2011 and 2012 editions of Benchmark Litigation. Community Involvement Trip has served as Vice President of Legal and Legislative Affairs for the Birmingham Society for Human Resource Management. He is involved in Boy Scouts at the Council and Troop levels. He and his wife are active in their church, Covenant Presbyterian Church. He also enjoys all sports and outdoor activities. Reported Cases McNeal v. City of Tarrant, 325 Fed. Appx. 794, 2009 WL 1132348 (11th Cir.). Rigby v. Springs Industries, Inc., 156 Fed. Appx. 130, 2005 WL 3076542 (11th Cir. 2005). Scott Bridge Company v. Wright, 888 So.2d 1221 (Ala. 2003). Michele C. Taylor v. Alabama Intertribal Council, 261 F.3d 1032 (11th Cir. 2001). Cynthia Lunde v. Big B, Inc., d/b/a CVS Pharmacy, 117 F. Supp. 2d. 1275 (M.D. Ala. 2000). Cropp v. Raytheon Engineers & Contractors, Inc., 2000 WL 731523 (N.D. AL 2000). Glenn Holiness v. Moore-Handley, Inc., 114 F. Supp. 2d 1176 (N.D. Ala. 1999). Maddox v. Cash Loans of Huntsville, 21 F. Supp. 2d 1336 (N.D. Ala. 1998). Pouncy v. Vulcan Materials Company, 920 F. Supp. 1566 (N.D. Ala. 1996). Duncan v. Icenogle, 873 F. Supp. 579 (M.D. Ala. 1994). Speeches And Publications * Selecting Causes of Action and Available Defenses, ABA Labor and Employment Law Conference, 2011 (speech) * Managing the Risk of Employment Claims, Alabama MGMA Conference, 2009 (speech). * Public Facilities and ADA Compliance, AAMA Fall Municipal Law Conference, 2007 (speech). * Arnold W. Umbach III & Allison J. Garton, Alabama Supreme Court Clarifies Enforceability of No-Hire Agreements, The Alabama Defense Lawyers Association Journal, October 2007. * Arnold W. Umbach III, Discrimination Law Developments in the Supreme Court: Sexual Harassment, Statute of Limitations for Race Claims, Age Discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Eleventh Amendment, Employment Law Update, 2005, at 1. * Anatomy of a Discrimination Lawsuit from Both Sides, Council on Education in Management, Personnel Law Update, 2004 (speech). * Fair Credit Reporting Act and Background Checks, National Association of Women in Construction, 2002 (speech). * Lisa A. Schreter & Arnold W. Umbach III, Using Rule 23 to Define FLSA Class Actions: A Solution to the "Similarly Situated" Debate, Employment Law Update, 2002, at 117. * Labor & Employment Law in the Electronic Age, Lorman Education Services, 2001 (speech). * Untangling the Confusing - and Often Conflicting - Web of Leave Laws: FMLA, ADA and Worker's Comp., Council on Education in Management, FMLA Update, 2001 (speech). * Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Employee Leave: An Introductory Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act, Lorman Education Services, 2000 (speech). 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