James V. Meath

Formerly chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice (1984 to 2004), Jim Meath now serves as vice chairman of the firm’s board of directors. In practice for nearly 30 years, Mr. Meath possesses extensive experience representing businesses throughout the U.S. and internationally in all areas of labor and employment law. A primary concentration of his practice is assisting clients in maintaining their non-union status. Mr. Meath advises employers on petition avoidance and on conduct and strategy during the course of an election campaign. He has acted as chief spokesperson in numerous collective bargaining negotiations. Mr. Meath has served as lead counsel in cases involving state and federal injunctions against labor unions, union officials and union members involved in work stoppages. In addition, Mr. Meath has represented employers in connection with union organizing campaigns and unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Mr. Meath has nearly 30 years of traditional labor law experience. Additionally, he regularly defends employers in arbitration and litigation involving all types of employment and labor matters.

Formerly chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice (1984 to 2004), Jim Meath now serves as vice chairman of the firm’s board of directors. In practice for nearly 30 years, Mr. Meath possesses extensive experience representing businesses throughout the U.S. and internationally in all areas of labor and employment law. A primary concentration of his practice is assisting clients in maintaining their non-union status. Mr. Meath advises employers on petition avoidance and on conduct and strategy during the course of an election campaign. He has acted as chief spokesperson in numerous collective bargaining negotiations. Mr. Meath has served as lead counsel in cases involving state and federal injunctions against labor unions, union officials and union members involved in work stoppages. In addition, Mr. Meath has represented employers in connection with union organizing campaigns and unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Mr. Meath has nearly 30 years of traditional labor law experience. Additionally, he regularly defends employers in arbitration and litigation involving all types of employment and labor matters.

Throughout his career, Mr. Meath has been hailed by the legal and business communities as a top attorney. Mr. Meath is a fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and the Virginia Law Foundation. He was listed as the number-one “Employment: Defendant Attorney” in Virginia by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers in 2003 and went on to receive top honors in subsequent editions. Year after year, Mr. Meath has been recognized on Virginia Business magazine’s list of “Legal Elite” and in The Best Lawyers in America for Labor and Employment Law. In 2010, Best Lawyers named Mr. Meath the Richmond Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Labor & Employment. In addition, Mr. Meath has been named a “Super Lawyer” for Employment Litigation: Defense by Virginia Super Lawyers magazine. In 2009, Virginia Super Lawyers magazine identified Mr. Meath as one of the "Top 50 Virginia Attorneys” and in 2007 he was listed in the "Top 10 Virginia Attorneys." Martindale Hubbell has ranked Mr. Meath an AV attorney, its highest rating available.

Mr. Meath has been a member of the American Arbitration Association since 1985. In that time, he has served as an arbitrator on the Commercial Panel, Employment Panel, and Large Complex Case Panel. In addition, Mr. Meath is active in the American Bar Association, serving on a variety of committees, including the Alternate Dispute in Labor and Employment Law Committee. Mr. Meath is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Sections of the American Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar, Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association. He has held numerous leadership roles in these organizations including, section or committee chair and in particular, has served as chairman of the board of governors of the Virginia Bar Association in 2003 and was the 115th president of the Virginia Bar Association in 2005.

Mr. Meath serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council of the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond, the board of associates and is an adjunct professor of law. He also conducts seminars for industry groups in both the public and private sectors on a variety of legal topics. From 1990 to 2002, Mr. Meath served as an editor of the Virginia Employment Law Letter, a monthly newsletter produced by a national publisher.

Mr. Meath is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is admitted to practice before the federal courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

He earned his juris doctor degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond and holds a master’s degree in urban affairs from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Mr. Meath earned a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University. In 2007, Old Dominion University presented Mr. Meath with the Distinguished Alumni Award from College of Arts and Letters.