Tonya Braun has more than 15 years of experience representing and counseling management clients in a wide range of labor and employment matters. Among other issues, her practice includes those arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act, National Labor Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), as well as other federal and state employment-related laws and workplace considerations regarding privacy and the use of social media. Representative clients include Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, IBM, Kraft Heinz, and Verizon.
Tonya has extensive experience defending employers in class and collective wage and hour litigation and counseling employers regarding wage and hour compliance. She also routinely represents employers in state and federal employment discrimination and wrongful discharge litigation. Tonya's practice further includes representing employers in large-scale investigations conducted by administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in charges of discrimination filed with state and federal agencies. Tonya's traditional labor experience includes representing clients before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in representation hearings and unfair labor practice charges. She also represents employers throughout the arbitration process, including post-hearing briefs. In addition, she has advised clients in response to union organizing campaigns and decertification petitions.
Tonya sits on the board of the Central Ohio Chapter of The First Tee, an organization devoted to making a difference in the lives of young people with educational programs that build character and instill life enhancing values through the game of golf.
Experience
Additional Publications
- September 2009
Don't Win The Battle But Lose The War - A Practical Guide To Reducing Labor Costs Legally, 2009 Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute West - September 2008
How to Handle a Reduction in Force and Comply with the WARN Act, coauthor, 2008 Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute West
Additional Speaking Engagements
- December 7, 2017
Considerations for New Technology in the Workplace, JD CLE Academy - January 31, 2017
Drafting and Responding to Discovery Requests in Employment Litigation - December 6, 2016
Hot Topics in Labor & Employment Law - December 8, 2015
The NLRB's Agenda Leading Up To The 2016 Elections - May 14-15, 2015
2015 Health Care Labor & Employment Symposium - February 19, 2015
Key Health Law Issues for Non-Healthcare Lawyers, Live CLE, Ohio State Bar Association - February 11, 2015
Key Health Law Issues for Non-Healthcare Lawyers, Ohio State Bar Association (Webcast) - December 9, 2014
Key Health Law Issues for Non-Healthcare Lawyers, Jones Day CLE Academy - May 9, 2014
Other Labor & Employment Issues of Interest to Healthcare Providers, Ohio Hospital Association Spring Conference - November 13, 2013
The U.S. Department of Labor's New Agenda, Ohio Chamber of Commerce Stanley Weiner - May 23, 2013
Ohio Hospital Association Spring Labor Conference - December 4, 2012
Emerging Privacy & Data Security Issues, Jones Day Columbus CLE University - December 9, 2010
Hot Topics In Wage and Hour Litigation, Jones Day CLE University - May 7, 2010
Workplace Technology and Privacy, Ohio Hospital Association Spring Labor and Employment Conference - November 17, 2009
Wellness Initiatives In The Workplace, New Disability Standards, and Related FMLA Issues, Ohio Hospital Association Fall Labor and Employment Conference - June 21, 2006,
Avoiding The FMLA's Land Mines In Ohio: Top Ten FMLA Traps And How To Avoid Them, Lorman Education Services - October 26, 2005
Workplace Technology and Privacy: Regulating Employee Conduct In A Brave New World: Jones Day Columbus Quarterly Executive Session
- The Ohio State University (J.D. cum laude 2002; Order of the Coif; Associate Editor, Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution); Ohio University (Master of Sports Administration 1997); Duke University (B.A. in Political Science cum laude 1994)
- Ohio; U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third and Sixth Circuits; and U.S. District Courts for Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio, Central District of Illinois, and Eastern District of Michigan
Ohio Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2011)
The Legal 500 "recommended" (2017)
Appointed to the Labor and Employment Law Section Council of the Ohio State Bar Association (2019)
The Best Lawyers in America (2025)