Commissioner | EEOC

Keith E. Sonderling

Keith E. Sonderling was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 22, 2020, to be a Commissioner on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for a term expiring July 1, 2024. He previously served as the Commission’s Vice Chair.

The EEOC’s mission is to prevent and remedy unlawful employment discrimination and advance equal opportunity for all in the workplace. The EEOC does so by enforcing federal laws prohibiting discrimination against employees and job applicants based on the person’s race, age, sex, national origin, color, religion, disability, or genetic information. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits. The EEOC investigates and litigates discrimination charges against employers and governments. The EEOC also prevents discrimination through providing education, outreach, and technical assistance programs.

Prior to his confirmation, Commissioner Sonderling served as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the U.S. Department of Labor. The Wage and Hour Division administers and enforces federal labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the labor provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. At the Wage and Hour Division, Sonderling oversaw enforcement, outreach, regulatory work, strategic planning, performance management, communications, and stakeholder engagement.

During his tenure, the Division accomplished back-to-back record-breaking enforcement collections and educational outreach events. Sonderling oversaw the development and publication of large-scale deregulatory rules, and authored numerous Opinion Letters, Field Assistance Bulletins, and All Agency Memorandums. Additionally, he was instrumental in developing the Division’s first comprehensive self-audit program, which collected more than $4 million for nearly ten thousand workers.

Before joining the Department of Labor in 2017, Commissioner Sonderling was a partner at the Gunster Law Firm in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he practiced labor and employment law. In 2012, then-Governor Rick Scott appointed Sonderling to serve as the Chair of the Judicial Nominating Committee for appellate courts in South Florida.

Sonderling received his B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Florida and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University

Partner and Managing Attorney | Barrett & Farahany

Kira Fonteneau

Kira Fonteneau is a partner and the managing attorney of the Alabama trial group of Barrett & Farahany. Kira chose to specialize in employment law because she wanted to help employees take back power. She loves disproving the notion that employers can do whatever they want and not suffer the consequences. As someone who was once mistreated at work, Kira can empathize with her clients. She understands all the ways an employer’s conduct can harm a worker and is ready to zealously seek justice on her clients’ behalf.

Before founding the Fonteneau Firm, Kira served as the first public defender of Jefferson County in Alabama. She has been an employee advocate for over a dozen years, in positions both before and after her tenure as public defender. Upon graduation from the University of Georgia School of Law, Kira spent a year and a half representing employers in discrimination cases and gained valuable knowledge of the other side of employment law. She is licensed to practice in Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia.

Prior to attending law school, Kira double majored in government and African American studies at the University of Virginia. She was born in Detroit, but also spent some of her growing up years in Hawaii and Virginia.

Kira has received several awards and distinctions for her excellent work on behalf of employees. She has been named a SuperLawyer of the MidSouth and received the highest recognition (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell for her professional excellence and high skill level. She was named to the University of Georgia’s prestigious Top 40 under 40 list, which recognizes graduates who have achieved great personal, professional, and philanthropic success under the age of 40.

Kira is a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar, a board member of the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, and president of the ACLU Alabama. She is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association, National Employment Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, and Alabama Association for Justice.

Shareholder | Ogletree Deakins

Natalie N. Turner

Natalie’s practice primarily focuses on working with employers in three ways: providing proactive advice and training to employers on workplace policies and procedures to comply with employment related laws; conducting investigations, including at the C-Suite level; and litigating cases on behalf of employers Natalie works with local and national clients to implement policies and practices that comply with applicable local, state and federal law. Additionally, Natalie takes pride in learning about her client’s business and their values so that she can provide advice that makes practical sense for that client’s operations. Natalie also regularly provides training to both rank and file employees and management regarding a wide range of employment related topics, including anti-discrimination/harassment, best practices for investigations, and how to engage in the reasonable accommodation process.

Natalie frequently conducts high level internal investigations for clients focused on complying with the applicable law and identifying any potential areas of risk. Natalie’s emphasis on understanding her client’s business is essential to conducting these investigations in a manner that is both effective and practical.

Natalie has successfully defended employers against allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, racial harassment, and retaliation in state and federal court. Natalie has also handled numerous charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Florida Commission on Human Relations, and the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.

Natalie is recognized by Best Lawyers® in the Litigation – Labor and Employment category for her work in this area.

Attorney | Elarbee Thompson

Keely Collins

As both counselor and advocate for businesses large and small across all sectors, unionized and non-unionized, Keely takes a practical approach to advising and advocating for businesses nationwide. Both small family businesses and corporate boards of directors have benefited from Keely’s attention to the details of law and business, creative solutions, and zealous advocacy for businesses in negotiations before numerous administrative agencies, and in all levels of state and federal court. As an experienced collaborator with large organizations’ in-house counsel and general and employment counsel, Keely is trusted by other attorneys to strengthen the value they offer to the organizations they serve.

Keely was selected by her peers as a 2019 Super Lawyers Rising Star. She holds an LL.M. in tax, with a specialization in employee benefits, from Villanova University School of Law, and she earned her Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

Shareholder | Ogletree Deakins

Greg Hare

Greg Hare has been an employment lawyer at Ogletree his entire career, ever since 1991. He assists companies with human resources and employment-related litigation matters, including wrongful termination claims, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, employment contracts, trade secrets, and non-compete agreements.

He advises clients on a wide range of human resources topics, such as drug testing, employee discipline and discharge, severance planning, independent contractor classifications, wage payment, family and medical leave, disability law, military leave, joint employment issues, affirmative action and reductions in force.

Mr. Hare also counsels clients on traditional labor relations matters involving union avoidance, decertification, strike contingency planning, double-breasting, grievance administration and arbitration, collective bargaining, unfair labor practice litigation, and other matters involving the National Labor Relations Board, including “protected concerted activity” cases.

Mr. Hare encourages companies to develop proactive human resources strategies that are designed to minimize exposure to costly litigation and disputes. This commonly includes conducting comprehensive employment law compliance audits, employment policy design and review, management training and counseling, and simulated problem solving workshops.