Trish Dunn has been negotiating collective bargaining agreements for employers for more than 30 years. She focuses on renegotiating legacy union contracts to remove operational restrictions and burdensome economic terms. She also has significant experience in negotiating first union contracts for newly organized employers to preserve strong management rights and operational flexibility from the start. Trish represents employers in proceedings before the NLRB, in litigation under Section 301 of the LMRA, and in labor arbitrations.
Trish practiced labor law at Jones Day from 1983 to 1997, before becoming The Washington Post's vice president/labor for 10 years. She rejoined Jones Day in 2011. Representing employers in media, education, and other industries, Trish typically serves as the lead negotiator at the bargaining table and works with clients to develop bargaining strategies to preserve their flexibility to meet their business needs. She has extensive experience in negotiating sustainable wage provisions, discretionary merit pay programs, and complex benefits provisions, including insurance plan flexibility and multiemployer pension plan withdrawals. She also advises employers on contract compliance and other issues with labor implications, including business restructuring.
Trish has been named a Leading Lawyer in Labor-Management Relations by Legal 500 US, one of the Top 20 Lawyers in Traditional Labor & Employment Law by Lawdragon, and one of the "Nation's Most Powerful Employment Attorneys" by HR Executive. Recognized in Chambers USA, clients say that she "is very knowledgeable, gets very good results, is responsive and gives excellent advice."
Trish is a Fellow in The College of Labor & Employment Lawyers and a member of the ABA (Labor and Employment Law Section) and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia.
Experience
Speaking Engagements
- May 2019
"Developments at the National Labor Relations Board," HR Policy Association: Spring Labor and Employment Conference - Fall 2018
"Developments at the National Labor Relations Board," HR Policy Association: Fall Labor and Employment Conference - May 1, 2018
Jones Day's Media Labor & Employment Law Roundtable - November 17, 2016
2016 Health Care Labor & Employment Symposium - Post Election Conference: What's Next? - May 2016
Recent NLRA Developments, National Employment Law Institute (NELI) - May 14-15, 2015
2015 Health Care Labor & Employment Symposium - May 14, 2015
Recent NLRA Developments, National Employment Law Institute (NELI) - January 15, 2015
Another Round of the Obama Board: Controversial Decisions by a Closely Divided NLRB - November 21, 2013
What's the Deal? The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Labor Contract Negotiations - April 9, 2013
2013 Government Contractor Labor & Employment Discussion Group - December 13, 2012
What to Expect From the NLRB During President Obama's Second Term: Impact on Both Union and Non-Union Workplaces - November 15, 2012
Recent NLRA Developments, National Employment Law Institute (NELI) - June 7 - 8, 2012
Jones Day 2012 Railway Labor Act Symposium - May 18, 2012
Recent NLRA Developments, National Employment Law Institute (NELI) - March 2012
Maintaining A Peaceful and Tranquil Environment: Promulgating and Enforcing lawful Policies in a Changing Regulatory Environment, 2012 Health Care Labor & Employment Symposium - April 13, 2011
Executive Roundtable Series - Labor and Employment: What Should Employers Expect in 2011?
- The George Washington University (J.D. with honors 1983); University of North Carolina (B.A. with honors 1980; Phi Beta Kappa)
- District of Columbia
Lawdragon: 2021, 500 Leading Employment Lawyers; 2018-2019, Top 20 Lawyers in Traditional Labor Law
Chambers USA, 2018-2020, Notable Practitioner in Labor & Employment, described by clients as "fabulous at negotiations" and "definitely client-focused"
HR Executive, 2018-2019, Most Powerful Employment Attorneys
Legal 500 US, 2020, Leading Lawyer, Labor-Management Relations
Fellow, The College of Labor & Employment Lawyers