David B. Walston

David B. Walston


Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

Recognized since 2010

Birmingham, Alabama

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

Litigation - Labor and Employment

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Labor and Employment
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After more than 25 years of practicing labor and employment law, David Walston has developed a formula for building successful client relationships. He believes that all good engagements begin with a face-to-face meeting to perform an assessment of the current policies and practices of the client’s human resources operations. David’s assessment is designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and agency and court interpretations. David then offers day-to-day employment advice on workplace issues and suggests possible courses of action available to the client – suggestions to aid the avoidance of administrative charges and lawsuits. He provides these services through the client’s election of a flat-fee retainer arrangement or on an hourly-rate basis.

If an issue evolves into administrative proceedings or a lawsuit, before any response or pleading is filed David conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the underlying facts, and the claims and applicable defenses. He then has an extremely candid conversation with the client regarding the risks the matter presents so the client can make a fully informed decision regarding how to address the matter. With the client’s goals developed, David maps out a strategic case management plan. David keeps in constant contact with the client regarding all significant developments so he and the client modify the model as the defense of the matter proceeds.

This approach has served David well, whether he is planning the defense of employment discrimination, hostile work environment or retaliation claims, FLSA individual and collective actions, defending unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB, directing the opposition to a union organizational campaign, or negotiating with governmental agencies in audits or charges of violations of employment laws or regulations.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 420 Twentieth Street North, Suite 1900
    Birmingham, AL 35203
Languages
  • English
Education
  • Vanderbilt University, J.D., graduated 1987
  • Vanderbilt University, BA, graduated 1984
Bar Admissions
  • Alabama, Alabama State Bar Association
Affiliations
  • Alabama Association of Municipal Attorneys - Member
  • Alabama State Bar - Member, Labor and Employment Section
  • Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council - Pro Bono Legal Counsel
  • American Bar Association (ABA) - Member, Labor and Employment Section
  • Birmingham Bar Association - Member
  • DRI - Member
  • King’s Ranch and Hannah Homes - Pro Bono Legal Counsel

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Labor and Employment
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Birmingham (2018)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Special Focus:
  • Management
Awards:
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2016 in the field of labor and employment litigation and employment law
  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Labor Law - Management

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Publications

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