On Monday, April 3, Governor Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of Elarbee Thompson partner William D. Deveney to the Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Equal Opportunity Commission (see full press release from the Governor's Office here). The Georgia Equal Opportunity Commission (GEOC) is responsible for enforcement of the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978, which makes it unlawful for a state agency to discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, national origin, color or retaliation.  The Fair Housing Division of the GEOC is responsible for enforcement of the Georgia Fair Housing Law, which prohibits various forms of discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the basis of race, sex, religion, disability, national origin, familial status or color.  The GEOC also conducts outreach, information and educational activities and assists the GEOC Executive Director and Administrator, Gordon L. Joyner, in an advisory capacity.

Mr. Deveney is one of 9 board members, each of whom is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for a 3- year term. One-third of the board has experience in labor or Title VII law enforcement or other legal human rights experience and at least 3 are required to have a background in realty or the housing industry.

Mr. Deveney is a partner at the Atlanta law firm of Elarbee Thompson, where he specializes in the representation of management in labor law, employment law and litigation. Mr. Deveney previously worked with Kirwan, Goger, Chesin and Parks and held a clerkship with the Honorable Allen L. Chancey, a Chief Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and law degree from Emory University and is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia and the Atlanta Bar Association

Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp & Wilson, LLP is an award-winning law firm that has provided labor and employment solutions to employers nationwide since 1973. The firm is dedicated to representing management clients in matters ranging from preventive advice and training to litigation under federal and state laws. For more information, please go to www.elarbeethompson.com.

Contact Information:
Kim S. Weaver
Elarbee Thompson
Atlanta, Georgia
http://www.elarbeethompson.com  
kim@elarbeethompson.com  
(404) 582-8401