Our People

Emphasis

Collective Bargaining
Arbitrations
Union Elections
NLRB Representation
Labor Relations
Plant Closures
Mergers and Acquisitions

Biography

Mr. Sumner practice focuses on traditional labor law, and he specializes in collective bargaining and handling representation matters for a wide variety of employers. His experience includes addressing positive employment and union-related issues, including collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, election campaigns, proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, and other labor agencies in the United States and Canada, and guiding clients through the myriad of labor and employment issues associated with business restructuring. Mr. Sumner is a member of the firm’s National Labor Relations Practice Group. From an industry perspective, Mr. Sumner is a member of the firm’s Health Care and Hospitality Practice Groups and represents employers in a wide variety of other industries including Government Contracting, Warehouse and Distribution, Manufacturing, Printing, Security and Corrections, Freight Transportation, Construction, and Higher Education.

In addition, Mr. Sumner is one of the leaders of the Littler Governmental Affairs Team and edits Littler’s Washington DC Employment Law Update blog. He also edited and co-authored the Littler Report “Transition to a New (Work)Day: An Initial Look at Workplace Change in the Obama Era” and is a frequent speaker on what labor and employment changes may occur during the Obama Administration and the possible impact on employers. Mr. Sumner has been quoted by: BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal Online, BNA, CCH, and Seacoastonline.com. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Sumner served with the Democratic Leadership Council during the Clinton Administration working on legislative initiatives and political outreach.

Education

J.D., University of Tennessee School of Law, summa cum laude, 1997
B.A., Rhodes College, 1993

Activities

District of Columbia Bar
State of Tennessee Bar

State of New Mexico Bar