An extensive knowledge of employment law whose focus never wavers from his clients’ needs
Chip Temple has been drawn to the complexity of employment law since law school. In his more than three decades as an attorney, his interest and understanding of the intricacies of the practice area have strengthened as the field has expanded, creating new challenges and new areas for study. Chip says employment law is an area rich with possibilities and rapidly evolving questions to tackle, making it an endlessly compelling field. His clients range from mom-and-pop small businesses to very large companies.
“Virtually all of my clients call me about employment law, and most of them call me every week with a question. The field contains so much and businesses must deal with new issues as part of it all the time,” Chip says. “I’m fortunate, too, in that I’ve got a wide variety of clients.
Chip represents employers and management in all areas of employment law. The most common issues his clients face are allegations of various forms of alleged discrimination, harassment, improper wage payments, and non-competition conflicts. He has tried a wide variety of cases to verdict, and has briefed and argued successfully several cases of first impression before the United States Court of Appeals, the United States District Court and the National Labor Relations Board. Chip also regularly practices before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, and various state agencies and self-regulatory organizations.
In addition to trial and administrative representation, Chip provides ongoing counseling to employers on the full spectrum of workplace practices and policies.
Chip sees himself as a problem-solver who seeks to resolve issues quickly without wasting time on unrelated issues, narrowing his gaze adeptly to his client’s needs and keeping his focus trained on what is relevant to his client.
“I’m cognizant of the ‘What if?’ questions, but I don’t get distracted by them,” Chip says. “I think my clients value me because I focus on the problem at hand and understand where the rubber is going to hit the road for them.”
Chip has authored many articles and essays on workplace law, and provides commentary for television, radio and print media. He also frequently lectures on these topics at legal and management seminars, judicial conferences, and at local universities. Chip says he has two core motives for his interest in public analysis of employment law – he loves the topic and enjoys the opportunity to talk and write about it and he likes making connections with potential clients who have new, unique issues he can tackle.
Chip, who served as the 126th President of the Bar Association of the City of Richmond, practiced law with DurretteCrump and its predecessors for 30 years before joining ThompsonMcMullan in 2018.
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