Douglas M. Towns (Doug)
Partner
Atlanta
Tel: 1.404.581.8632
Fax: 1.404.581.8330
Email:
dtowns@jonesday.com
Profile
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Experience
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Publications
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Speaking Engagements
Related Services
Doug Towns represents employers in all areas of the labor and employment relationship. His experience includes representing employers before administrative agencies, state and federal courts, and appellate courts in matters arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Executive Order 11246, and a variety of state law wrongful discharge, employment contract, and tort claims. Doug's extensive litigation experience ranges from defending employers in single plaintiff employment cases to large unemployment class and collective actions. In addition, Doug has considerable practical experience counseling and advising companies on employment issues involving structuring and implementing downsizing or other reductions in force, drafting and integrating corporate human resources policies, and structuring executive employment packages. His experience also includes representing management during union organizing efforts, labor disputes, and at the bargaining table.
Doug has authored several articles on employment law topics. For example, he has written extensively on employment class and collective actions, including "Section 216(b) Collective Actions: A Vehicle for Group-Initiated Claims" (Autumn 2001) and "Keeping the Monster in the Closet: Avoiding Employment Class Actions" (Autumn 2000), both of which appeared in the Employee Relations Law Journal. In addition, he has published other articles regarding managing complex employment litigation, avoiding age discrimination claims, accommodating mental disabilities under the ADA, employment law issues in corporate acquisitions, issues surrounding contingent workers, and challenges to the OFCCP's compensation analysis.
Furthermore, Doug currently serves on the editorial board for GigaLaw.com, an Internet clearinghouse for legal articles and commentary regarding technology issues. As a member of the board, Doug has written articles that address cutting-edge employment law topics of interest to technology companies. Most recently, he wrote several chapters on employment law that were published in The GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law (Random House 2002).
Doug has spoken at more than 150 employment law programs on a variety of employment law and litigation topics, including Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, sexual harassment, employment class and collective actions, workplace violence, union avoidance techniques, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, electronic discovery, and wrongful discharge claims. He has also conducted numerous in-house management training programs and has appeared several times on CNN Headline News as a commentator on employment law issues.
Additionally, Doug is actively involved in the community and serves as the pro bono coordinator for Jones Day's Atlanta Office. Doug's service to the community was recently recognized as he was selected for the Eighth Annual Justice Robert Benham Award for community service. Doug was one of only 11 individuals to receive this statewide honor. As an example of his commitment to the community, Doug serves as counsel for TEAM Georgia, a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible drinking on Georgia's highways and waterways. TEAM Georgia sponsors the Prom Promise, designated driver booths at sporting events, and other events to increase awareness of driving safety issues. He also serves as counsel for Angel Flight of Georgia, a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation to and from distant treatment facilities for those with medical needs who are financially distressed or unable to travel on public transportation, and on the board of directors for the PDK Park Restoration Project, a group that was formed to design and build Georgia's first aviation park. Doug also is a member of the board of directors for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, which promotes pro bono services throughout the Atlanta community, and is a committee member of "A Business Commitment" of the State Bar of Georgia, which promotes and services nonprofit corporations.
Admitted
Georgia
Education
Emory University (Phi Beta Kappa; B.A. 1989); University of Virginia (Law Review; J.D. 1992)