Bret focuses his practice on all aspects of employment litigation and traditional labor matters with Avodah Legal. He litigates in a wide range of single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and collective/class action cases in both federal and state courts. Bret also regularly represents clients before administrative agencies such as the EEOC, DOL, NLRB, and HUD. In addition to employment matters, Bret defends landlords against claims brought by tenants under the Fair Housing Act and equivalent state housing discrimination laws.
In his traditional labor practice, Bret represents management in union elections, collective bargaining negotiations, and unfair labor practice charges, and advises clients on union avoidance, CBA administration, and labor law generally. He also counsels clients regarding employment policies, regulatory compliance, workplace safety, accommodation and leave issues, employee mobility, and other workplace matters.
Employment Litigation
Bret has extensive experience defending employers against claims under federal and state law, including claims involving:
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Virginia Overtime Wage Act (VOWA)
Title VII
42 U.S.C. § 1981 (Section 1981)
Equal Pay Act (EPA)
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Section 1983)
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Various state law claims, including breach of contract, wrongful termination, and other tort claims arising out of workplace conflicts
Traditional Labor
Bret is an advocate for management, whether already unionized or trying to stay union-free. He advises clients on union avoidance, effective campaign strategies, labor relations, and CBA administration. Bret also represents clients before the NLRB and in labor arbitrations.
Advice and Counseling
In addition to his litigation and traditional labor practices, Bret serves as a resource to his clients on a wide range of labor and employment issues, including employee handbooks, personnel policies, hire/discipline/termination decisions, regulatory compliance, workplace safety, accommodation and leave issues, workplace investigations, restrictive covenants and other employment agreements, reductions in force, and other workplace matters.
Bret also conducts workplace trainings, such as anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training, best practices for workplace investigations, and labor relations for supervisors.
Bret graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law, where he was a John Marshall Scholar and served as an articles & comments editor for the University of Richmond Law Review. Before attending law school, Bret spent four years in sales and as a capital equipment consultant for acute care hospitals and inpatient, outpatient, and compounding pharmacies.
Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2026 and 2027