Mr. McDermott has dedicated his legal career of 20+ years to representing public and private employers in individual and class/collective employment actions, including cases involving the FMLA, the ADA, Title VII, the ADEA, ERISA, the FLSA, the NLRA, covenant not to compete/trade secret maters, state wage laws, and wrongful discharge. He has represented employers in federal and state courts, labor arbitrations, and administrative agencies (including the EEOC and NLRB) throughout the country. Mr. McDermott also has represented employers before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Seventh Circuits on multiple occasions.Mr. McDermott devotes a substantial portion of his practice to litigation avoidance and counseling. To this end, he works with employers to provide valuable employment training, including sexual harassment, hiring/interviewing, employee terminations, union avoidance, diversity, and FMLA training. he also assists employers in developing employee handbooks, personnel policies, employment contracts, noncompete agreements, severance agreements, and other employment-related documents.For 2014, Best Lawyers selected Mr. McDermott as Indianapolis Labor and Employment Litigation "Lawyer of the Year."Mr. McDermott has served as the Chairperson of the Indiana State Bar Association's Labor and Employment Section.The Indiana Chamber of Commerce chose Mr. McDermott to author several of its popular publications, including The FMLA Guide: Everything Indiana Employers Need to Know About the FMLA; Managing Employee Leaves of Absence: A Guide for Indiana Employers; The Interviewing Guide: Helping Indiana Employers Utilize Lawful and Effective Interviewing Techniques; The Indiana Employer's Guide to the ADA and FMLA; and Religion in the Workplace: A Guide for the Indiana Employer. Mr. McDermott also serves on the Indiana Chamber's Human Resources and Employment Law Policy committees.In identifying Mr. McDermott as a "Leader in [the] Field." Chambers USA reported in 2005 that Mr. McDermott is a "talented" attorney whose "employment litigation practice is burgeoning." In 2006, Chambers USA stated that "clients say [Mr. McDermott] does a 'quality job.'" In 2007, Chambers USA identified Mr. McDermott as a "full-service employment lawyer" whome clients find "efficient and knowledgeable" and "a great guy who is easy to work with." In its 2009 publication, Chambers USA identified Mr. McDermott as an "FMLA Expert." The 2010 Chambers USA report stated that Mr. McDermott "receives praise for his FMLA and ERISA work...and is really developing his practice." In 2012, Chambers USA stated that Mr. McDermott is "praised for his ability to guide his clients successfully through all stages of an employment lawsuit."In 2011, Mr. McDermott was honored with the Indiana Chamber's Samuel C. Schlosser Indiana Chamber Volunteer of the Year award. He has been recognized annually by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business; Best Lawyers in America; and Indiana Super Lawyers.Mr. McDermott proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Japan American Society of Indiana and The Gathering Together.
Lawyer Profile
Brian L. McDermott
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Recognized Since:2006
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Recognized in:Employment Law - ManagementLabor Law - Management...
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Law School:The University of Iowa
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Website:
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E-mail:
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Location:111 Monument Circle, Suite 4600Indianapolis, IN 46204
Mr. McDermott has dedicated his legal career of 20+ years to representing public and private employers in individual and class/collective employment actions, including cases involving the FMLA, the ADA, Title VII, the ADEA, ERISA, the FLSA, the NLRA, covenant not to compete/trade secret maters, state wage laws, and wrongful discharge. He has represented employers in federal and state courts, labor arbitrations, and administrative agencies (including the EEOC and NLRB) throughout the country. Mr. McDermott also has represented employers before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Seventh Circuits on multiple occasions.Mr. McDermott devotes a substantial portion of his practice to litigation avoidance and counseling. To this end, he works with employers to provide valuable employment training, including sexual harassment, hiring/interviewing, employee terminations, union avoidance, diversity, and FMLA training. he also assists employers in developing employee handbooks, personnel policies, employment contracts, noncompete agreements, severance agreements, and other employment-related documents.For 2014, Best Lawyers selected Mr. McDermott as Indianapolis Labor and Employment Litigation "Lawyer of the Year."Mr. McDermott has served as the Chairperson of the Indiana State Bar Association's Labor and Employment Section.The Indiana Chamber of Commerce chose Mr. McDermott to author several of its popular publications, including The FMLA Guide: Everything Indiana Employers Need to Know About the FMLA; Managing Employee Leaves of Absence: A Guide for Indiana Employers; The Interviewing Guide: Helping Indiana Employers Utilize Lawful and Effective Interviewing Techniques; The Indiana Employer's Guide to the ADA and FMLA; and Religion in the Workplace: A Guide for the Indiana Employer. Mr. McDermott also serves on the Indiana Chamber's Human Resources and Employment Law Policy committees.In identifying Mr. McDermott as a "Leader in [the] Field." Chambers USA reported in 2005 that Mr. McDermott is a "talented" attorney whose "employment litigation practice is burgeoning." In 2006, Chambers USA stated that "clients say [Mr. McDermott] does a 'quality job.'" In 2007, Chambers USA identified Mr. McDermott as a "full-service employment lawyer" whome clients find "efficient and knowledgeable" and "a great guy who is easy to work with." In its 2009 publication, Chambers USA identified Mr. McDermott as an "FMLA Expert." The 2010 Chambers USA report stated that Mr. McDermott "receives praise for his FMLA and ERISA work...and is really developing his practice." In 2012, Chambers USA stated that Mr. McDermott is "praised for his ability to guide his clients successfully through all stages of an employment lawsuit."In 2011, Mr. McDermott was honored with the Indiana Chamber's Samuel C. Schlosser Indiana Chamber Volunteer of the Year award. He has been recognized annually by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business; Best Lawyers in America; and Indiana Super Lawyers.Mr. McDermott proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Japan American Society of Indiana and The Gathering Together.
Lawyer Bio
Education:
- The University of Iowa, J.D., graduated 1991
- Loras College, BA, graduated 1988
Bar Admissions:
- Indiana, Indiana State Bar Association
- Iowa, The Iowa State Bar Association
Affiliations:
- American Bar Association - Member
- American Staffing Association - Member
- Avon Chamber of Commerce - Member
- Employment Law360 - Advisory Board 09-10
- Indiana Bar Association - Member
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce - Human Resource and Labor Committees
- Indianapolis Bar Association - Member
- IndySHRM - Strategic Leadership Forum Committee
- Japan American Society of Indiana - Board Member
- National Association of Professional Employer Organizations - Legal Advisory Counsel, 2010
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:
- Litigation - Labor and Employment, Indianapolis (2014)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:
- Employment Law - Management
- Labor Law - Management
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
Awards:
- AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
- Indiana Super Lawyer, Law & Politics and Indianapolis Monthly (2005-present)
- Chambers USA (2004-07, 2009-present)
- Indianapolis Labor and Employment Litigation "Lawyer of the Year", Best Lawyers (2014)
- Samuel C. Schlosser Volunteer of the Year, Indiana Chamber of Commerce (2011)
Areas of Expertise:
- Class Actions
- Covenants Not to Compete
- Defense
- Discrimination
- Management
- National Labor Relations Board
- Title VII Litigation
- Wage-Hour Law
Firm Details
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
http://www.ogletree.com
Headquarters
One Ninety One Peachtree Tower, Suite 4800
191 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 881.1300
52
Office Locations
in 7
Countries
News & Media
Featured Publications
Attorney Case History
Other Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth and Seventh Circuits
Litigation Experience
- Prevailing on summary judgment for international food company in plant closing case under the ADEA
- Obtaining Seventh Circuit appellate victory in ERISA Section 510 case for national retailer
- Securing dismissal in FLSA “misclassification” collective action for regional retailer
- Obtaining directed verdict at trial on behalf of automobile dealership in a state-law employment action
- Obtaining Seventh Circuit victory in ADEA case for national retailer
- Defeating union representation petition filed with the NLRB against Indiana-based hotel
- Obtaining appellate victory at the NLRB on behalf of a major utility charged with violating Section 8(a)(1) of the NLRA
- Prevailing on summary judgment for a national telecommunications company in an FMLA action
- Obtaining Seventh Circuit appellate victory in ERISA Section 502 case for national telecommunications company
- Securing appellate victory before the Sixth Circuit in an ADEA case
- Obtaining dismissal of race case in Iowa on behalf of national biomedical company
- Prevailing at summary judgment on behalf of national retailer in FLSA action
- Obtaining dismissal of Section 1981 claim for national aeronautics company
Attorney Client Comments