Bennett, Joseph F.

Mr. Bennett's primary area of practice includes representing employers in all aspects of employment and labor relations law, including appearances before state and federal agencies, state and federal court litigation, and employer counseling. He represents employers charged with employment discrimination, wrongful termination, violations of the FMLA, breach of contract, enforcement of covenants not to compete, claims of overtime violations, and other wage and hour issues. He also handles contract negotiations, collective bargaining disputes, arbitrations, union election campaigns and unfair labor practice violations before the NLRB. Mr. Bennett's other areas of practice include general civil litigation, construction contract and lien disputes, government relations, business formation and counseling for small businesses. In his practice, Mr. Bennett represents a wide variety of businesses, such as health care, manufacturing, food services, computer/information technology, construction, warehousing, service industry, trucking and daycare operators. Mr. Bennett has represented clients before numerous state and federal trial courts, Sixth and Eighth Courts of Appeals, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is also an active member of the Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations. Mr. Bennett is a member of the Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations' Labor and Employment Law sections, having served on the Board of Directors of the Memphis Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law section. Mr. Bennett is also a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). He has served on the Board of Directors and as the General Counsel for the Associated Builders and Contractors of West Tennessee since 1989. Mr. Bennett is active in community and civic organizations, including serving as President of the Germantown Kiwanis Club, where he was recognized as a Distinguished President by the District. Mr. Bennett is a 1998 graduate of the Leadership Germantown Program and later served three years on the Board of Directors of Leadership Germantown. He is also a 2008 graduate of the Leadership Collierville Program. Mr. Bennett has served as a member of the personnel committee for the City of Germantown, Tennessee. He also served two years on the Economic Development Committee for the City of Germantown. He currently serves on the City of Germantown's Planning Commission where he has served since 2004. In 2000 he was named a Hometown Hero by the City of Germantown. He serves on the PAC Committee for the Associated Builders and Contractors of West Tennessee. Mr. Bennett has been a volunteer coach for his daughter's GYAA soccer team, his son's basketball team and as Cubmaster of his son's Cub Scout Pack.

Classes/Seminars Taught:

He is a nationally recognized authority on the FMLA and has given numerous seminars on the FMLA and other employment and labor law issues, including before the North Carolina Bar Association, South Carolina Bar Association, New Mexico Bar Association and the Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations. Mr. Bennett is a frequent speaker at labor and employment law seminars sponsored by the National Business Institute and Lorman Educational Services, and has spoken at labor and employment law seminars sponsored by the Cambridge Institute, the Bank Administration Institute, and A.E. Roberts Company.