Thomas J. Woodford, with over 30 years of management-side labor and employment experience, focuses his employment practice on representing employers in litigation, arbitration and mediation in federal and state courts and in proceedings before federal enforcement and regulatory agencies including the EEOC and the Department of Labor (Wage Hour Division, OFCCP, OSHA, and ETA), as well as similar state agencies.

Tom’s traditional labor experience centers on representing employers in union-management relations under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Railway Labor Act (RLA). He provides union-avoidance training and counseling during salting and election campaigns, collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practice actions, withdrawal/decertification petitions and compliance proceedings.

Through individualized counseling, regular education and hands-on training of human resource professionals, attorneys and trade groups, Tom assists employers with employee recruiting, hiring, onboarding, retention, discipline and termination of employment. Additionally, he routinely works with clients to draft preventative employment policies and procedures, employee handbooks, employment contracts, non-compete agreements, trade secret agreements, affirmative action programs, and drug testing programs.

Tom moved to Mobile in 1996. Prior to joining Phelps, he previously practiced at a regional employment law boutique on the Gulf Coast and a large multi-national firm in Washington, D.C.