Kenneth N. Winkler
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Employment & Labor Attorney in Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA 30305
- Employment & Labor: Employer (60%),
- Employment Litigation: Defense (20%),
- Business Litigation (20%)
Kenneth N. Winkler, a shareholder at Berman Fink Van Horn, has practiced employment law since 1994. His practice concentrates on counseling employers and business owners on the numerous laws and regulations that govern the workplace.
Ken performs legal audits of client operations to ensure compliance. He also drafts company policies, employee handbooks, employment agreements, independent contractor agreements and severance agreements. Ken conducts #MeToo compliance training and other types of training for management and employees to proactively reduce the risk of litigation.
Ken has represented employers in employment litigation in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board, as well as handling discrimination and harassment claims brought under the spectrum of employment laws including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the American With Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Equal Pay Act (EPA) and other federal, state and local statutes and regulations.
Ken’s practice also includes representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in disputes involving restrictive covenants including non-compete, non-solicitation of customers, non-recruitment of employees, non-disclosure/confidential information and trade secrets provisions, as well as disputes involving tortious interference with business and contractual relations, breach of fiduciary duty and/or duty of loyalty.
Ken leads the firm’s hospitality team and serves as the General Counsel to the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association. He is a member of the Industry Board of the Cecil B. Day’s School of Hospitality at Georgia State University.
Ken was named Georgia “Super Lawyer” based on research and surveys by Law and Politics Media (2010 – present, 2004); Super Lawyer Business Edition – Employment & Labor (2013-2012); and Best Lawyers in America: Litigation – Labor & Employment (2014-present). Based on peer reviews, he received a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating for his legal ability and ethical standards. Ken has also been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as a “Legal Elite.”
Ken is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and serves as a member of the Atlanta Students of the Year Leadership Committee of the Georgia Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Ken graduated from The Ohio State University and obtained his law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Ken is married to Lauri Winkler and has two children.
- 60%Employment & Labor: Employer
- 20%Employment Litigation: Defense
- 20%Business Litigation
Employment Law - Employee, Wage & Hour Laws, Whistleblower, Sexual Harassment, Labor Law, Employment Discrimination, Wrongful Termination, Employment Law - Employer, Trade Secret, Non-Compete Agreements
Selections
Super Lawyers: 2004, 2010 - 2021
To: Kenneth N. Winkler
Super Lawyers: Potential Client Inquiry
Additional Sources of Information About Kenneth N. Winkler
About Kenneth Winkler
Admitted: 1994, Georgia
Professional Webpage: https://www.bfvlaw.com/attorney/kenneth-n-winkler/
Honors/Awards:
- Georgia Super Lawyer, Law and Politics Media, 2004, 2014-2017
- The Best Lawyers in America,, Best Lawyers, 2013-Present, 2013
- Esther Leah Ritz Next Generation of JCC Leadership Award, Jewish Community Centers Association of North America, 2006
- Georgia "Super Lawyer" Business Edition – Employment & Labor, 2012-2013
- AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
- One of Georgia’s Legal Elite , Georgia Trend magazine, 2011
Bar/Professional Activity:
- United States Courts of Appeals: Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits
- United States District Court: Central District of Illinois
- American Bar Association
- Ohio Bar Association
- Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association
- United States District Courts: Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio
- Ohio, 1993
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Georgia State University: Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Industry Board
- United States District Courts: Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
- Georgia, 1994
- Georgia Bar Association
- Society For Human Resource Management
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, 2018
- Chair Board of Directors- Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 2018
- Judge, 2013 NBLSA International Negotiation Competition, National Black Law Students Association
- Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 2016
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- 5 Key Employment Issues for 2016, Berman Fink Van Horn E-News, Winter 2015/2016.
- Contracts – Matter Anymore?(Presentation on how contracts can make workplace expectations certain if the contracts are legal and enforceable, Community Bankers Association of Georgia Annual Southeast Financial Human Resource Conference, “Creating Some Certainty in the Midst of Workplace Uncertainty.” He also discussed if/when contracts should be used or avoided and the proposed New Gig Act of 2017, November 3, 2017).
- Protecting Trade Secrets and Confidential Information, published in “Hospitality Law – Managing Legal Issues in the Hospitality Industry,” 5th Edition, 2017.
- Featured in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Newsmakers” for his newly appointed role as chair of board of directors at MJCCA, May 6, 2018.
- Quoted in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, “Sex scandals prompt new response: Consequences,” November 24, 2017.
- Department Of Homeland Security Issues Final Rule Regarding No-Match Letters, 2007
- EEOC Initiatives Require Operators To Be Proactive, 2007
- Employers Beware when Drafting and Proposing Severance Agreements, 2007
- Race Discrimination Remains Challenging Issue For Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer Newsletter, 2006
- Contributing Editor, How Arbitration Works, Sixth Edition (American Bar Association) Baseball, Apple Pie and Section 10(j)
- The Americanization of Injunctive Relief under the NLRA, CCH Labor Law Journal, Vol. 46 N. 8, 1995
- Winkler quoted: "Recent union developments can’t be ignored", Nation’s Restaurant News, 2005
- Winkler quoted: "Big teen work force can cause big migraines without training in proper on-the-job conduct", Nation’s Restaurant News, 2005
- Winkler quoted: "Despite myriad problems the biggest issue facing industry is rise in racial discrimination", Nation’s Restaurant News, 2001
- Legal and Legislative Update, The Disability Management Employer Coalition GA/Atlanta Chapter Meeting, 2015
- A Sports Fan’s Guide to Human Resources, The Buckhead Club, 2014
- Preventing Discrimination & Harassment in the Hospitality Industry, GSU Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality, 2005- Present
- The New Era & Legal Challenges Facing the Hospitality Industry, Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association Forum, 2009
- Sexual Harassment Update: Uber's Latest Controversy and the EEOC's Renewed Focus on Workplace Harassment Policies and Training, Atlanta Bar Association L&E Section Spring Newsletter, 2017
- All that Glitters is not Gold: U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Challenges Pay Disparity, Atlanta Bar Association L&E Section Summer Newsletter, 2016
- Author, LinkedIn and Restrictive Covenants: Issues and Potential Pitfalls to Consider in the Age of Social Media, Altanta Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section LE News, 2010
- Keynote speaker to business community and clients of Whaley Hammonds Tomasello CPA firm. Seminar held at the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, October 18, 2016
- 5 HR Actions Every Emerging Business Should Take in 2010, 2010
- Guest speaker, Workplace Sexual Harassment: How Much Do You Know - Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB), Atlanta Chapter, February 15, 2018
- Co-Presenter, Social Media and Human Resources - A Dangerous Pair or an Essential Duo for a Club?, 85th CMAA World Conference & Club Business Expo, 2012
- Co-presenter, Protecting your Business in the Wake of #MeToo" - Georgia Hospitality Lodging Association members, September 21, 2018
- A Sports Fan's Guide to Human Resources, 22nd SHRM-Atlanta HR Conference, 2012
- Co-presenter, Worried About Leaving Employees Becoming Thieving Employees? - SHRM Atlanta Legal Summit, May 3, 2018
- Speaker, Simple Practices to Protect your Company and its Trade Secrets and Confidential Information - National Restaurant Association Human Resources/Risk & Safety Managers Executive Study Group, 2013
- Co-presenter, Update on Georgia Employment Law - Atlanta Bar Association Advanced Employment Law CLE program, March 29, 2018
- Speaker, Social Media and Human Resources – A Dangerous Pair of and Essential Duo for a Club - CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo, 2012
- Guide to Human Resources Laws in the Workplace (Shared imperative information that every employee handbook should contain and discussed disciplining and firing employees. National Business Institute seminar, December 5-6, 2017)
- Speaker , New Return to Work Strategies, Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC), 2013
- New Overtime Rules in 2016?, BFV E-News, 2015
- The Impact of Domestic Violence in the Workplace: Why Employers Should Pay Attention to the Ray Rice-NFL Controversy, Atlanta Bar Association Labor & Employment Bar Section Newsletter, 2014
- Lessons to Learn From the 2013 NCAA Football Season, BFV E-News, 2013
- Top 3 Employment Law Issues to be Aware of at the Start of 2013, BFV E-News, 2013
- The Game Has Changed: What Will Litigation Under The New Restrictive Covenants Act Look Like?, 2011
- Status Update: Risks to Employers from Social Media Use By Employees, 2011
- Employee or Independent Contractor? Avoiding Misclassification Pitfalls, 2009
- The American Recovery and Restoration Act Imposes New COBRA Subsidy Requirements, 2009
- Georgia’s New Law Permits Concealed Weapons, 2008
- President George W. Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), 2008
- President Signs New Act Expanding FMLA for Military Families, 2008
Videos:
Educational Background:
- The Ohio State University, B.S.B.A., summa cum laude, 1990
- The Hazard Pay Overtime Rule & Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow: https://t.co/K632M4EPYH #USDOL #joeburrow #overtimerule
- In light of the CDC’s revised definition of close contact, #employers should alter their workplaces to help reduce… https://t.co/dCH1F57GfU
- Really BIG news, as reported in today's @Law360. The Court certified a class ruling in #databreach case. #banks… https://t.co/iKIjHDPweB
- The Supreme Court hears landmark #Copyright case between industry giants, #Google & #Oracle . The implications may… https://t.co/b1Pkqii0Q4
- We're proud to support the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association. Below is BFV's Ken Winkler at a recent GHLA event.… https://t.co/5MZsA2VeZa
- In light of the CDC’s revised definition of close contact, #employers should alter their workplaces to help reduce… https://t.co/dCH1F57GfU
Kenneth N. Winkler:
Last Updated: 9/9/2020