Overview

Jim has 40 years of experience in counseling employers on wage and hour matters, as well as defending employers in wage and hour class and collective litigation and administrative proceedings. His expertise includes in-depth knowledge of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and many comparable state wage and hour laws. Jim served as General Counsel for the National Council of Chain Restaurants for two decades, and through his representation of the trade association, as well as many of its member companies, he has developed significant expertise in addressing legal issues of particular concern to the restaurant and food service industry. Jim has also represented the chain restaurant industry before Congress in connection with legislative matters involving the FLSA and the NLRA. 

Jim is widely regarded for his expertise in counseling employers on numerous labor law issues, including wage and hour standards, child labor restrictions, occupational safety and health standards, and employment discrimination. He has successfully defended many large chain restaurant employers in litigation brought by the U.S. Department of Labor concerning wage and hour, child labor, and OSHA matters.  Most of Jim’s litigation practice today is focused on the defense of wage and hour class and collective actions. Jim serves as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Wage and Hour Practice Group. 

Honors & Recognitions

  • ALM’s Legal Leaders: Washington D.C. & Baltimore’s Top Rated Lawyers (2015)
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2005-2022, 2024-2025)
  • Chambers USA Guide®
  • Virginia Super Lawyers® (2006-2012, 2014-2021)
  • Washington DC Super Lawyers® (2007, 2008, 2010-2012, 2015-2017)

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence   

Professional & Civic Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Fairfax Bar Association
  • Boy Scouts of America, Assistant Scoutmaster
  • Youth Sports Leagues, Coach for Baseball, Basketball and Soccer

Press Room

About Me

Jim is married with four children.

News & Analysis

Client Presentations & Firm Publications

Speaking Engagements & Industry Publications

Blogs, Videos & Podcasts

  • "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my ax."
  • Abraham Lincoln

Practice Emphasis

  • Defense of wage and hour litigation, including collective/class actions
  • Defense of employment discrimination litigation, including class actions
  • Employment law counseling
  • Wage and hour law counseling and compliance auditing

Education

Georgetown University

  • J.D., 1981

Florida State University

  • B.S., Government and International Affairs, magna cum laude, 1978

Bar & Court Admissions

  • District of Columbia, 1981 
  • Virginia, 1987
  • Supreme Court of Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals 
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims  
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia 
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin 
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 
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