Jenna Bedsole represents employers in a broad range of employment matters, including the defense of cases under federal and state discrimination laws, and the enforcement of non-compete agreements.

Featured Videos

The Fight for the Noblest Democracy August 26, 2020

Managing Employees in a Challenging Environment and Reducing Legal Risks March 5, 2020

Transgender Individuals in the Workplace September 27, 2016

Compliance with U.S. Employment Laws March 24, 2016

Featured Experience

Successfully negotiated resolution of individual wage and hour law claim when employer failed to appropriately classify the employee.

Professional Biography

Overview

Ms. Bedsole is a shareholder in the Birmingham office and leads the Firm's Labor & Employment Group. With the recent increase of wage and hour law cases, she has defended employers successfully in both single plaintiff cases and collective actions.

Ms. Bedsole is originally from Montreal. She advises U.S. companies with U.S. workers in foreign jurisdictions about the effect of U.S. law on those workers, and advises foreign companies in the U.S. on compliance with U.S. labor and employment laws. Ms. Bedsole conducts management and employee training relating to employment issues in the workplace, drafts handbooks and employment agreements, provides policy review and regularly counsels employers to ensure compliance with applicable employment and labor laws.

Ms. Bedsole also represents educational institutions and school boards regarding issues with the Teacher Tenure Act, the Fair Dismissal Act, No Child Left Behind, the IDEA, due process proceedings, special education, FERPA issues, truancy proceedings, attendance zoning and the First Amendment. She has defended education clients before the EEOC, the Office of Civil Rights and FMCS Arbitrators.

Ms. Bedsole is also a registered mediator with the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution.

Representative Matters

Successfully negotiated resolution of individual wage and hour law claim when employer failed to appropriately classify the employee.
Successfully defended employer in a RICO and collective action case.
Defeated EEOC in a same-sex harassment and retaliation case for a petroleum recycling company on a motion for summary judgment and the EEOC withdrew its appeal.
After employees left and began their own defense contracting company, successfully represented new entity against multi-billion dollar former defense contractor-employer who was intent on crushing the small business.
Won jury trial in an age discrimination case on behalf of a media company.
Won jury trial in race discrimination case for a national movie theater company.
Won jury trial in an age discrimination claim for computer software company which included successfully demonstrating after-acquired evidence.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of a publicly traded energy company for allegations of sexual harassment, race discrimination and retaliation.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of a school district in a case filed by the Alabama Disability Advocacy Program alleging violations of § 504.
Served as lead counsel in a trade secret and breach of fiduciary duty claim against a former employee of a major regional petroleum products distributor. Successfully argued to temporarily restrain and then preliminarily enjoin the former employee from soliciting client's customers. Obtained civil contempt sanctions against the former employee for violating the temporary restraining order. Negotiated settlement in favor of the client against the employee and his subsequent employer to compensate employer for theft of its trade secrets.
Served as co-counsel in a trade secret and breach of fiduciary duty claim representing a heavy machinery distributor. Successfully obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the rogue former vice president of sales and his competing company. The rogue former employee and his competing company conspired with a Chinese-based manufacturer to steal trade secrets. On the eve of trial, the rogue former employee and his company declared bankruptcy. Ultimately, due to the successful litigation, the court entered a $13.1 million default judgment against the Chinese-based manufacturer.

Professional Honors & Activities

AV^® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Listed in Best Lawyers in America^® since 2015 in Labor and Employment Litigation; Employment Law - Management
Listed in Birmingham Business Journal's "Best of the Bar" (2019)
Named by Birmingham Magazine as one of the "Women Who Shape the State" (2019)
Named by Birmingham magazine as one of "Birmingham's Top Attorneys" in Employment Law (2014 – 2015)
Recipient of the Alabama State Bar's Edward M. Patterson Servant Leadership Award (2018)
Named by B-Metro Magazine as a "Top Flight Attorney" (2018)
Named by B-Metro Magazine as one of "Birmingham's Top Women Lawyers" (2015 – 2018)
Recipient – Birmingham Business Journal's 2015 Women to Watch Award
Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, Labor & Employment (2014 – 2019); listed as one of the top 50 female attorneys (2016 – 2019)
Listed in Alabama Rising Stars, Labor & Employment (2011)
Recipient of the Susan E. Rich Women's Initiative Award (2015)
Named by National Diversity Council as one of the "Top 15 Business Women in Alabama" (2015)
Chairwoman – Women's Business Council
Member – Alabama Bar Association
- 19th Amendment Centennial Celebration Task Force (2018 – 2019)
- Leadership Forum (inaugural class)
- Former Member – MCLE Committee
- Former Member – Mentoring Task Force
Member – Birmingham Bar Association
- Women's Section
- Long Range Planning Committee
- Federal Court Practice Task Force
- Board of Directors – Birmingham Bar Foundation
Member – Economic Development Association of Alabama

Publications

"Baker's Dozen: Best Self-Care Tips," Women's Initiative Newsletter (April 2019)
"New Salary Threshold Is One Step Closer to Reality" (March 2016)
"Leading While learning: Making the Most of Being a Mentee," Inside Counsel (September 2014)
"Review of 2012 and What to Expect in 2013," Association of Legal Administrators (April 2013)
"Controlling Costs in e-Discovery," The Alabama Lawyer (March 2011)

Speaking Engagements

"Handling Workplace Bullies w/ Jenna Bedsole," The HR Risk Podcast (April 2019)
"Diversity and Inclusion in the Birmingham Business World," Birmingham Business Journal's Executives of Influence Event (March 2019)
"The Government Shutdown and Employment Law: How It's Affecting Employers" (February 2019)
"How the #MeToo Movement Affects Employment Law," Employment Law Update program, Cumberland School of Law (December 2018)
Moderator – "#MeToo in Long Term Care – When Resident Rights and Employee Rights Clash," 2018 Baker Donelson Long Term Care Symposium (November 2018)
"Vegas, Baby! When Off-Duty Conduct Needs Correction" (August 2018)
"Sexual Harassment and Internal Investigation Best Practices: Lessons from the Fox News Scandals" (November 2017)
"The Fair Labor Standards Act: Past, Present and Future" (August 2017)
"FMLA and ADA Master Class" (March 2017)
"HR Goes into Overdrive to Comply with New Overtime Regulations" (June 2016)
"Birmingham Regional Enterprise Council Lunch" (June 2016)
"Cultivating an Enviable Workplace Culture," Birmingham Regional Enterprise Council (June 2016)
"The New Age of Department of Labor FMLA Audits," IACP 2015 Conference (October 2015)
Co-presenter – "Independent Contractors vs. Employees: Avoiding Costly Myths and Mistakes," Birmingham Business Alliance (August 2014)
"Wage and Hour Laws for the Urgent Care Industry," webinar for Urgent Care Association of America (December 2013)
Panelist – "Affirmative Action and OFCCP Regulations and Audits: When and How They Apply to Your Business," Employment Law Alliance webinar (June 2013)
"Navigating the Challenges of Same-Sex Marriages, Domestic Partnerships and Civil Unions," Alabama State SHRM Conference (May 2013)
"Wage and Hour Law Update," Birmingham Society for Human Resources Management seminar (April 2013)
"Workplace Violence: Identification, Prevention and If the Worst Happens, Evaluating Exposure," HR.com webinar (October 2012)