Dean Kpere-Daibo

Dean represents management interests in all areas of labor and employment law. Throughout his career, he has advised and represented employers, including General Counsels, CEOs, and other high-level executives, in labor and employment matters in state and federal court and before state, local, and federal administrative agencies.

Dean is passionate about helping employers build systems, cultures, and procedures that foster an environment where employees can perform at their best while being their authentic selves in the workplace. He leverages his unique background as a labor and employment attorney, a community advocate, and personal life experiences to address conflicts from all angles and create relationships that drive lasting organizational change.

A significant focus of Dean’s practice is representing employers in traditional labor matters. He has extensive experience counseling businesses of all sizes on unionization efforts, labor negotiations, and workforce management. He routinely advises employers on labor grievances, defends unfair labor practice charges in front of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and handles disputes involving collective bargaining agreements in arbitration. Dean also provides supervisor training and represents employers in representation proceedings before the NLRB.

As traditional labor continues to evolve, Dean works closely with clients to ensure they remain informed about the latest labor trends affecting their business, operations, and workforce. He has litigated complex labor disputes before Federal District Courts as well as Federal Courts of Appeal. Whether first-chairing labor negotiations, arbitrating grievances, or litigating unfair labor practice charges in front of the NLRB, Dean partners with clients to find the right balance between compromise and zealous advocacy, tailoring  labor strategies to each client’s unique business needs.

Dean applies this same strategic approach to employment litigation and counseling. An experienced employment defense litigator, he has represented clients in state and federal trial courts, the federal court of appeals, the Missouri Court of Appeals, and the Missouri Supreme Court, where he successfully litigated an issue of first impression. While always prepared to vigorously advocate for clients in litigation, Dean is equally dedicated to proactive legal counseling. He provides training on key workplace topics, including implicit bias and microaggressions, anti-harassment, workplace investigations, anti-discrimination, and positive employee-supervisor relations, helping employers mitigate risks and foster productive workplaces.

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® for Employment Law – Management (2024-2025), Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2025)
• “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Black Lawyers (2016)
• Who's Who Diversity in Color, Bold & Brightest Inductee (2017)
• The Power 100 Most Influential Black Professionals in St. Louis by Delux Magazine (2017)
• Rising Star, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers^® (2018-2021) 

• Chair, City of St. Louis Civil Service Commission
• Member, the Missouri Bar
• President of the Bar Association of Metropolitan Saint Louis, Labor & Employment Division
• Member, Human Resource Management Association of Greater St. Louis
• Member, Society for Human Resource Management
• American Bar Association, Employment and Labor Law Litigation Sections
• Board of Directors, Epworth Children & Family Services
• Board Member, Governing Board for Safe Connections
• Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.