Dana L. Rust

Dana was a member of the Board of Partners from 2007-2013. He presently is a member of the Finance Committee and served for many years as its chair. He graduated from the College of William and Mary and received his J.D. from the University of Virginia where he was a member of the Virginia Law Review. Upon graduation, he clerked for the Honorable Robert Beezer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in Seattle, Washington. After completing his judicial clerkship, he joined McGuireWoods, where he has concentrated in the areas of labor and employment law since 1987. As described below, he has experience in multiple practice areas in the labor and employment field.
Employment Litigation

Dana is an experienced litigator in the employment discrimination area, having handled hundreds of discrimination cases and charges of discrimination in state and federal courts and administrative agencies throughout the country. He has tried to verdict age discrimination, sex discrimination, race discrimination, Equal Pay Act, Family Medical Leave Act, workplace defamation and disability discrimination cases. He has litigated Title VII class actions in federal court and before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Traditional Labor

Dana regularly represents unionized employers. This experience includes negotiating collective bargaining agreements, defending unfair labor practice charges and defending arbitrations. He has also defended Section 301 LMRA litigation in which unionized employees sue both their employers and their unions. Dana also counsels employers on how to remain union-free and represents employers in NLRB-sponsored elections.
ERISA

Dana defends employers in both pension and welfare benefit litigation. Representative cases include class action pension benefit litigation and single plaintiff claims for pension benefits, severance pay, disability and health benefits.
Noncompete/Trade Secret Litigation

Dana represents employers as both plaintiffs and defendants in claims involving breach of noncompete agreements, theft of trade secrets and employee raiding. He is experienced in the use of forensic computer evidence to prove the improper taking and use of electronic information.
OSHA/MSHA

Dana has represented employers before the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration and state OSHA agencies. He has tried cases before OSHA and MSHA administrative law judges. His expertise includes manufacturing and construction companies and he has represented employers in several cases involving workplace fatalities. He tried the first OSHA whistleblower case brought by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.
Counseling

Dana regularly counsels employers in all aspects of the employment relationship including layoffs, plant closings, the discipline and termination of union and nonunion employees, compliance with Title VII, the ADA, the FMLA, the WARN Act and the handling of OSHA and MSHA inspections. He also regularly assists employers in the drafting of policies and procedures, noncompete, employment and separation agreements.

Good to know

Areas of Practice 1) Labor and Employment, 2) Employment Litigation, 3) Labor-Management Relations, 4) ERISA Litigation and 5) Occupational Safety and Health
Law School University of Virginia School of Law, J.D.,1986
Education College of William & Mary, B.A., 1982
Bar Member / Association Virginia State Bar Association
Most recent firm McGuireWoods LLP
A. Harrison Barnes
A. Harrison Barnes

Due to his extensive activities in the legal market, A. Harrison Barnes is a well-known attorney throughout the United States. As a member of the Malibu community, Harrison is committed to serving the needs of Malibu residents and businesses in legal

Barbara A. Fitzgerald
Barbara A. Fitzgerald

Ms. Fitzgerald represents employers in a wide range of industries, including the entertainment, financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, and transportation industries.

Benjamin P. Smith
Benjamin P. Smith

Benjamin P. Smith is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. He is a trial lawyer with a particular focus on high-stakes disputes in the biotechnology, medical device, and internet industries.