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I work to get as much information as possible about a client’s situation and the legal issues facing them because I know that proper preparation at the beginning of a case and along the way should produce a good result. If I’m working with a client on an employment policy issue, it’s not just a matter of drafting a policy, but making sure that the policy works in the context of their business, that their managers understand the reasons for the policy and practice.

Scott Hetrick is a management rights advocate who represents employers with federal and state labor and employment law compliance and dispute resolution. Scott also represents insurers with analysis of their defense and coverage obligations under a wide variety of insurance policies, including commercial liability, errors and omissions, property and casualty and liquor liability, in a wide range of third-party claims against their insureds.

Scott counsels employers with an eye to preventing claims arising from day-to-day employment decisions, particularly terminations of employees and large-scale layoffs.  An important component of his practice involves drafting and revision of employee handbooks, personnel policies and procedures, employment applications, background check disclosure and consent agreements and employment contracts, including non-compete agreements, trade secret agreements and arbitration agreements.  

Scott drafts comprehensive leave-of-absence policies designed to coordinate employer obligations under federal disability/medical leave laws and state workers’ compensation laws while, at the same time, advising on how to navigate conflicting obligations under those laws to avoid litigation.  He helps employers to run their companies in compliance with labor and employment laws by providing training to managers, supervisors and employees on discrimination and harassment prevention.  He also advises on investigations, documentation of discipline and discharge and payroll compliance, as well as other procedures and practices associated with employment decisions.

Scott routinely defends management decisions against legal challenge, including responding to hundreds of charges of discrimination filed against employers with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, assisting employers with investigations and audits of wage and hour law compliance by the U.S. Department of Labor and litigating numerous discrimination and retaliation lawsuits and minimum wage and overtime law claims in federal and state courts.

In addition, Scott advises on and prepares affirmative action plans for United States government contractors and subcontractors and represents them in responding to compliance audits of those plans by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). He has prepared more than 200 affirmative action plans and defended against more than 15 OFCCP compliance audits.

Scott speaks frequently on employment law and human resource management issues at seminars for personnel managers and business owners and has published several articles on employment law topics.

As technology evolves, so do its effects on the workplace. Text messages have come to be important in some cases. Wearable technologies – like smart watches that can record audio and video – are going to pose challenges for workplace management and protection of trade secrets. I will be working with employers to craft workplace policies that address these challenges.

Education

  • University of Alabama, J.D., 1994
  • Tulane University, B.A., 1991

Bar Admissions

  • Alabama

Court Admissions

  • Alabama Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Community Involvement

Scott is a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program, Inc. (SAVLP) and served as SAVLP’s President from 2013 to 2015. In addition to his commitment to pro bono legal services, Scott further helps the community through his membership in the Knights of Columbus in which he also has held several leadership roles.

Acknowledgements

  • Best Lawyers®  Lawyer of the Year - Mobile Employment Law - Management, 2019
  • Best Lawyers®  - Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Leadership Mobile, Class of 2012
  • Lorman Education Services Distinguished Faculty

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • Alabama State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
  • Mobile Bar Association
  • South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program, Board of Directors; President (2012-2015); Treasurer (2011-2012)
  • Society for Human Resource Management, Mobile and Baldwin County; Past President of Baldwin County Chapter
  • Knights of Columbus, District Deputy; Grand Knight and Financial Secretary for Council 13163
  • Employee Head Knowledge and The Alabama Trade Secrets Act, 47 Ala. L. Rev. 513 (1996)
  • The Employer's Duties Regarding Communicable Disease in the Workplace, 24:1 American Journal of Trial Advocacy, 35 (Summer 2000)
  • Alabama Municipal Employees' Rights to Paid Military Leave, The Alabama Lawyer, vol. 64, p. 65 (Nov. 2003)
  • The Fair Labor Standards Act, 2008 Cumulative Supplement, Contributing Editor
  • The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Play Act of 2009 and Your Business, Mobile Bay Business Journal, March 2009
  • Inside the Minds: Government Contracts Compliance -- Leading Lawyers on Navigating Evolving Requirements, Developing Compliance Programs, and Collaborating with Government Agencies, Aspatore Books© 2010