Richard Brown

Labor and Employment

Appellate

Background Check & FCRA Litigation

EEO/Contractor Compliance, Reporting & Analytics

Employment Litigation Prevention & Defense

Labor Relations

Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition

Transactional Solutions

Wage and Hour Compliance & Litigation

Whistleblower & Retaliation

Rick represents employers across the country in traditional labor and employment matters, offering strategic counsel on union relations, labor negotiations, and regulatory compliance.

He works closely with management teams to negotiate collective bargaining agreements, advise on grievance and arbitration procedures, and support efforts to maintain union-free workplaces. Rick’s experience spans a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, transportation, healthcare, food processing, financial services, and warehousing.

Rick provides guidance on all phases of union activity, including initial organizing campaigns, decertification and deauthorization efforts, and post-election matters. He has negotiated agreements with a broad array of unions, including the Teamsters, UAW, UFCW, USW, IBEW, URW, PACE, IAM, ACTWU, ILGWU, UNITEHERE, ILU, and RWDSU. In addition to advising on employee relations strategies and workplace policy development, Rick represents employers in administrative proceedings before federal and state agencies, including the NLRB, EEOC, OSHA, MSHA, and DOL.

Rick’s practice includes representing both private and public sector employers in a variety of complex labor matters. His deep understanding of the regulatory landscape allows him to offer practical, business-minded advice to clients navigating challenging workplace dynamics. In addition to his advocacy work, Rick is a registered mediator and arbitrator and has served as a neutral in labor and employment disputes.

American Bar Association

Alabama Bar Association

Alabama Law Institute

Georgia Bar Association

Birmingham Bar Association

Society for Human Resources Management

Labor and Employment Relations Association

Richard has been married to the former Joy Sawyer since 1973. They have four children and three grandchildren.

University of Alabama

J.D.

1978

Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor & Employment

The Best Lawyers in America®

2026

Super Lawyers

Mid-South Super Lawyers®

2021

Top 100 Labor Attorneys in the United States

Labor Relations Institute, Inc.

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent®