Overview

As an experienced advisor licensed in multiple jurisdictions, Nicole Bermel Dunlap has practiced labor and employment law since entering private practice in 2009. Most recently, Nicole served as in-house employment counsel for a Fortune 200 managed care company. She was one of a two-person team advising human resources and other business partners on a range of employment issues including:

  • Discrimination and hostile work environment allegations
  • Leave and accommodation requests
  • Employee terminations
  • Noncompete agreements
  • Hiring policies and practices
  • Other employment policy-related inquiries

Nicole also managed the investigation and early case assessment protocols for threatened and actual employment litigation and directly responded to both federal and state charges of discrimination, including regularly investigating and preparing position statements.

Nicole also has extensive experience as outside counsel in both employment and labor litigation. Coupled with her in-house knowledge, she offers a unique perspective that enables her to appreciate the day-to-day challenges her clients face, to effectively problem-solve potential legal and business solutions, and to develop litigation strategies consistent with each client’s unique philosophy. She has defended employers in a variety of different industries, including healthcare, transportation, manufacturing and service industries. Additionally, she has litigated all facets of employment claims including:

  • Race, gender, national origin, religion, age, and disability claims
  • Whistleblower and other retaliation claims
  • Disability and religious accommodations
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Leave issues

Nicole particularly enjoys partnering with her clients to obtain results-oriented outcomes, including taking the initiative to engage in early case assessment and to drive the litigation consistent with client objectives. 

Highly skilled at developing overall case and trial strategies for her clients, Nicole has substantial experience in labor litigation and has first-chaired several labor arbitrations and served as second chair for multiple unfair labor practice bench trials before administrative law judges. In addition, she has gone to trial on issues related to the enforcement of a noncompete agreement in a federal jury trial. In each case, Nicole was an integral part of the trial team, involved in developing trial strategy, managing documents, preparing and questioning witnesses, and preparing necessary written pre- and post-trial persuasive arguments. 

Prior to entering private practice, Nicole served as the judicial clerk to the Hon. David R. Farmer of the Tennessee Court of Appeals; interned with the Hon. Diane K. Vescovo, Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee; interned at the National Labor Relations Board, District 26; and served on the editorial board of the University of Memphis Law Review. Nicole’s broad array of clerkships has given her insight into the judiciary that continues to guide her day-to-day litigation practices.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Tennessee Bar Association

Member

American Bar Association

Member

Board of Directors, Young Lawyers Division - Memphis Bar Association, 2012-2014

Assistant coach

Mock Trial Team - White Station High School, 2007-2011

Member

Board of Directors, YMCA Community Action Program (Y-CAP), 2008-present

Barrister

Leo Bearman, Sr. Inn of Court

Recognition

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, Rising Star

Super Lawyers

2016-2019, 2022

Named, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges

Recipient, CALI Excellence for the Future Awards

Property II and ADR/Mediation

Recipient, Dean's Award for Excellence in Best Memorandum

News, Analysis & Press

Fifth Circuit Takes Another Jab at the NLRB - The Fifth Circuit’s Reversal of the NLRB Decision in Murphy Oil Delivers a Hard Upper Cut to the Board

Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer

January-February 2016

Supreme Court “Delivers” New Life to Pregnancy Discrimination Claims in Young v. UPS

Florida Bar Journal

November 2015

What to Expect When Employees Are Expecting – Managing Pregnant Employees in the Healthcare Setting

American Health Lawyer’s Newsletter

May 2015

The Family and Medical Leave Act

American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law

2013 Cumulative Supplement

New NLRB Election Rules are Short Lived

HR Professionals of Greater Memphis

Vol. 2, No. 6

June 2012

Annual Review of Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation

Sixth Circuit Updates in Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association

2010-2012 editions

A Good Time for Employers to Audit ADA Policies and Practices: The Effect of Final ADAAA Implementing Regulations

Employment Practices Liability Consultant

Summer 2011

Rule 23 Class Action and FLSA Collective Action Update

Annual Labor and Employment Law Forum

Tennessee Bar Association

2011

Supreme Court and Sixth Circuit Updates

Labor and Employment Section Annual Program

Memphis Bar Association

2009-2011

Books & Book Chapters

  • The Family and Medical Leave Act, 2013 Cumulative Supplement, Section of Labor and Employment Law - American Bar Association, contributing author
  • Sixth Circuit Updates, Annual Review of Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation, American Bar Association, 2010-2012 Eds.

Speaking Engagements

Help Wanted: Navigating Post-Pandemic Remote and Hybrid Work Arrangements and Florida’s Stop WOKE Act Challenges

ACC Tampa Bay

June 16, 2022

Two Years Later . . . Managing Remote Work Requests

April 1, 2022

Conducting Investigations in a Virtual World

ACC Webinar

November 19, 2020

When an Employee’s Behavior Crosses the Line

Greater Memphis Chamber

September 23, 2014

Top 10 Things Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Labor & Employment Law

General Practice 2014: Memphis Fast Track - Tennessee Bar Association, Memphis, TN

August 2014

Top 10 Things Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Labor & Employment Law

Memphis Bar Association, Memphis, TN

July 2013

Workplace Violence & Evolving Gun Laws in Tennessee

Memphis Bar Association, Memphis, TN

July 17, 2012

Best Practices for Effective Investigations

Sterling Education Services, Inc., Memphis TN

September 2011

Education

  • J.D., University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, 2008magna cum laude
  • B.A., Sewanee, the University of South, 2005magna cum laude

Bar Admission

Florida
Tennessee
Mississippi

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • Tennessee Supreme Court
  • Mississippi Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi