Gordon L. Blair

Profile

Gordon L. Blair began his professional career practicing general civil litigation, with a focus on commercial and employment litigation.  He also served as the associate general counsel of a publicly traded manufacturing company.  Gordon joined Ogletree Deakins in 2002.

At Ogletree Deakins, Gordon still practices general litigation.  However, he devotes most of his practice to representation of employers in workplace-related matters, ranging from administrative proceedings to federal litigation. He routinely counsels employers on day-to-day employment decisions, conducts training seminars, and works to develop effective workplace policies and procedures. Gordon lectures to human resources personnel and related groups on topics such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Alabama Workmen’s Compensation Act.

In 2012, Gordon is adding alternative dispute resolution to his practice.  Having represented employers and businesses in negotiation, mediation, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution for more than a decade, he recently became registered on the Alabama State Court Mediator Roster.  Gordon brings to his mediation practice extensive experience resolving employment, tort, and contract actions.

Gordon’s principal interest outside of work is his family.  He and his wife have one son.  They live in Birmingham and are active in their church.  Gordon is also involved in historic preservation organizations, wetland and marine conservation organizations, and scholastic foundations. 

Experience

Experience: 

Gordon litigates primarily in Alabama state and federal courts.  His litigation experience includes:

  • Representing employers, ranging from large multi-national corporations to small local businesses, in discrimination actions;
  • Representing employers before administrative entities, such as the EEOC and the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations; and
  • Representing businesses in premises liability, personal injury, wrongful death, commercial contract, and business tort actions.

Highlights from the past few years of Gordon's practice include:

  • A defense jury verdict in an FMLA interference and retaliation action for a manufacturing company;
  • Directed verdict at trial of a state court personal injury action for a retail company;
  • Nominal award at trial of breach of employment contract action;
  • Numerous summary judgments in sex, race, age, and disability discrimination actions, as well as summary judgments in USERRA and FMLA actions; and
  • Entry of permanent injunction in favor of Alabama manufacturer to prohibit contact by at risk former employee.

Outside of the courthouse, Gordon devotes a substantial portion of his practice to counseling employers on day-to-day human resources issues and litigation avoidance.

Education and Honors

Education: 

J.D., Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, 2001
B.A., University of Richmond, 1998

Honors and Awards: 
  • 2010 Super Lawyers – Rising Stars

Professional Activities

Professional Activities: 
  • Birmingham Bar Association (Medical Liaison Committee)
  • SHRM - Birmingham Chapter
  • Birmingham Diversity Summit, hosted by the Birmingham Business Alliance (ODNSS Birmingham representative)
  • Registered on the Alabama State Court Mediator Roster
Speeches:
  • Birmingham SHRM Chapter - "Utilizing Social Networking Media in the Workplace" - Birmingham - March 9, 2011
  • Ogletree Deakins Seminar - "How Plaintiffs Plan to Take Your Money In 2011" - Birmingham - December 10, 2010
  • Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing - "Beware the Dark Side of Social Networking (Utilizing Social Networking Media, Employer and Employee Rights and Interests)" - Birmingham - March 25, 2010

In The News

Published Works:
  • November 2003 - The Alabama Lawyer - "What’s Left After Davis v. Southern Energy Homes, Inc."