Richard M. Escoffery – Partner
escoffery@elarbeethompson.com
(404) 582-8419
Practice Areas
Labor & Employment Litigation
Employment Discrimination Litigation
Restrictive Covenants & Unfair Competition Litigation
Online Reputation Management
Employer Counseling & Litigation Prevention
Hospitality & Service Industries
Education
J.D., with distinction, Emory University, 1995
B.A., Emory University, 1992
Clerkship
Judicial Clerk to United States Magistrate Judge Gerrilyn G. Brill, Northern District of Georgia, 1995-1997
Admitted to Practice
Georgia
Profile
Rich represents employers nationwide in labor and employment law matters. He devotes a significant portion of his practice to defending employers in the full range of employment-related litigation, and he frequently counsels employers regarding difficult day-to-day employment decisions.
Areas of Practice
Employment Discrimination Defense
Rich has successfully represented numerous businesses, including restaurants, large manufacturers, and educational institutions in lawsuits filed by employees claiming harassment and unlawful discrimination under federal employment discrimination laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; violations of other federal employment laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act; and violations of various state laws.
Restrictive Covenants & Unfair Competition
Rich has helped numerous companies protect their competitive interests by drafting carefully-tailored non-compete, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure agreements. He has also successfully represented employers in unfair competition litigation, including claims for breach of contract based upon restrictive covenants, breach of the duty of loyalty, misappropriation of trade secrets, and tortious interference.
Online Reputation Management
Rich helps his clients proactively manage online consumer reviews and address reputation attacks. In the Internet age, online consumer reviews inevitably help shape the reputation of many service-oriented businesses, and Rich has been a pioneer in developing tailored reputation management solutions to these twenty-first century issues.
Professional Associations
State Bar of Georgia
Atlanta Bar Association
American Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
The Lawyers Club of Atlanta
St. Thomas More Society
Community Involvement
Emory University Annual Fund Board
Arbor Montessori Board of Trustees
Honors & Awards
Super Lawyers Rising Star 2005, 2006, 2010
AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
