Douglas M. Towns (Doug)

Partner

Doug Towns represents employers in complex labor and employment litigation, including class action and multiplaintiff employment discrimination lawsuits, wage-hour collective actions, and state law tort and contact claims. He has represented employers in bench and jury trials in state and federal courts, arbitrations, appellate courts, and administrative agencies, including the OFCCP and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, in matters arising under federal and state antidiscrimination laws, the FLSA and state wage-hour laws, ERISA, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, labor management relations laws, and state trade secret and unfair competition laws.

Doug has considerable practical experience counseling companies on global employment issues involving reductions in force, immigration compliance, human resources policies, and executive employment contracts. He has been involved in a number of public accommodation audits and lawsuits under Title III of the ADA, glass ceiling audits and compensation reviews with the OFCCP, Commissioner Charges, and senior-level harassment and discrimination investigations. He also has represented management during union organizing efforts, at the bargaining table, and in labor disputes, including emergency injunctions and in interest arbitrations.

Doug has written extensively on employment law, class and collective actions, management of complex employment litigation, e-discovery, avoidance of age discrimination claims, mental disabilities, employment issues in corporate acquisitions, contingent workers, and challenges to the OFCCP's compensation analysis. He has spoken at more than 150 employment law programs, conducted in-house management training programs, and appeared on CNN "Headline News" as an employment law commentator.

He serves as pro bono coordinator for the Atlanta Office and as counsel for two nonprofits.