Robert L. Ortbals, Jr.

As a senior associate, Bob takes a lead role in exclusively defending employers and managers in employment-related disputes.  His varied experience includes defending claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, failure-to-accommodate, FMLA interference, wage-and-hour, noncompetition and non-solicitation covenants, trade secret, and other related state- and common-law claims.

Bob consistently adds value to his clients’ matters by embracing a responsive client-services approach and by resolving his clients’ employment disputes in a manner that is consistent with his clients’ business goals.  In doing so, Bob has achieved successful results at every stage of the litigation process.  At the administrative charge stage, he has successfully defended witness interviews, onsite investigations, and obtained “no probably cause” findings.  He has won cases at the litigation stage through second-chairing a state court jury trial and writing successful summary-judgment motions.  He has also represented employers at court hearings, at mediations, by taking numerous plaintiffs’ depositions, and by defending witness depositions.  Finally, Bob has successfully briefed and argued several cases at the appellate level.

Bob is also active in the professional community.  He is a graduate and former Chair of The Missouri Bar Leadership Academy, which trains a select group of young attorneys for future leadership in The Missouri Bar.  He also regularly publishes and speaks on topics related to employment law.  Bob was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and he currently lives there with his wife, Kathy, and their young son, Noah.