Overview

David A. Kadela represents management in all aspects of labor and employment law. He has extensive experience representing employers in traditional labor matters including:

  • Union representation campaigns
  • Unfair labor practice cases
  • Collective bargaining negotiations
  • Arbitrations

David has also litigated scores of employment cases, a number of which he has tried, giving him considerable bench and jury trial experience. He has handled cases involving a wide variety of claims, including ones under:

  • Federal and state anti-discrimination statutes
  • State wrongful discharge laws
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act
  • The Fair Labor Standards Act
  • The Employee Retirement Income Security Act
  • The Occupational Safety and Health Act

Additionally, David counsels management on preventive labor relations measures and the formulation and administration of human resources policies and procedures. He also frequently makes presentations to and authors materials for business and professional groups on labor and employment related topics.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Labor and Employment Law Section

American Bar Association

Former Management Co-Chair

Committee on Practice and Procedure Before the NLRB, Labor and Employment Law Section

American Bar Association

Member

Litigation Section

American Bar Association

Member

Employee Benefits Section

American Bar Association

Member

Labor and Employment Section

Ohio State Bar Association

Member

Labor and Employment Section

Columbus Bar Association

Member

Human Resources Association of Central Ohio

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2013-2024

Awarded, AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, Super Lawyer

Ohio

Super Lawyers

2011-2020

Fellow

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Inducted 2010

News, Analysis & Press

Congress May Cripple NLRB Post-Liebman, Becker

Employment Law360

August 28, 2011

NLRB Election Rule Amendments Jeopardize Fairness and Accuracy

San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal

August 2, 2011

New Process Steel v. NLRB – Supreme Court Holds Two-Member NLRB not Authorized to Issue Hundreds of Decisions

LEL FLASH

American Bar Association (ABA)

August 2010

Managing the Post-9/11 Workplace, How to Avoid New Legal Landmines

Columbus CEO

October 2006

Big Settlements Feed Rush to Sue Firms

East Bay Business Times

October 29, 2004

Class Action Lawsuits Rising as More Grievances Emerge

Columbus Business First

April 19, 2004

Telecommuting Requires Firms Connect with Policies

Columbus Business First

April 1, 2002

Books & Book Chapters

  • How to Take a Case Before the NLRB, Bloomberg BNA, 8th Ed., Co-Editor-In-Chief, 2011

Speaking Engagements

2020 Hot Topics in Employment and Labor Law

Columbus, OH

February 26, 2020

Labor Law Issues for Non-Unionized Employers

2014 Ohio Employer Conference

Littler Mendelson, Warrensville Heights, OH

October 23, 2014

Employer’s Beware: The NLRB’s Pro-Labor Agenda Is Tipping the Scales Toward Unions

American Gas Association

July 15, 2014

Practical Tips for Navigating the Obama Administration’s Labor Agenda for Non-Union and Union Employers

Association of Corporate Counsel, Central Ohio Chapter

June 12, 2014

Translating the Trends: Mobile Communications, the Consumerization of IT, Social Media, the Cloud and Big Data Meet the Workforce

Human Resources Association of Central Ohio

July 18, 2013

Labor Relations 2013—Employer Preparedness, Compliance, and Strategy

The 2013 Executive Employer® Conference

Littler Mendelson, Scottsdale, AZ

May 8, 2013

Traditional Labor Law Issues at Local Distribution Companies

American Gas Association

July 17, 2012

Labor and Employment Law Roundtable

Association of Corporate Counsel, Central Ohio Chapter

August 4, 2011

NLRB Meeting on Proposed Election Rule Elements

July 19, 2011

Legislative Update: A Brand New (Work) Day Revisited

Human Resources Association of Central Ohio

April 27, 2010

Workplace Change in the Obama Era

November 10, 2009

The Employee Free Choice Act: The Employer View

Ohio State Bar Association

September 20, 2007

Recent NLRB Decisions

2007 Mid-Winter Meeting, Committee on Practice and Procedure Under the NLRA - American Bar Association (ABA)

March 10, 2007

Blogging and Other Technology in the Workplace

Association of Corporate Counsel, Central Ohio Chapter

September 13, 2006

The Contingent Workforce: Legal Risks Associated with Using Independent Contractors and Staffing Firms

Association of Corporate Counsel, Central Ohio Chapter

May 9, 2005

Navigating the Wage-Hour Minefield: New DOL Exemptions Compliance and Wage-Hour Class Action Litigation

Association of Corporate Counsel, Central Ohio Chapter

August 15, 2004

Ethical Issues in the Trial of Unfair Labor Practice Cases

Annual Meeting - American Bar Association

August 3, 2001

Education

  • J.D., University of Detroit School of Law, 1981
  • B.A., University of Michigan, 1978

Bar Admission

Ohio

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia