Russell Gunter

Russell Gunter, a Director for Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus, P.C. in the Little Rock offices, practices labor and employment law before the EEOC, the National Labor Relations Board, the Wage & Hour Division of the Department of Labor, and in federal and state court employment litigation. He has been providing legal counsel to employers for more than 30 years and has extensive experience in labor relations, union negotiations and employment discrimination, unfair labor practices, and wage and hour matters. He also advises management regarding human resource systems, policies and procedures, and performs supervisory training.

Russell has served as Chair of the SHRM National Legislative Affairs Committee, ARSHRM ELLA Conference, ARSHRM State Conference and ARSHRM Government Affairs Director. He has also served as President and Board Member of the Central Arkansas Human Resources Association and Chair of the Arkansas Bar Association Labor Section and Arkansas Bar Association Labor Section Labor Law Conference. Russell has testified before U.S. Congress on behalf of SHRM’s legislative position and appeared on the Today Show on behalf of SHRM’s legislative positions.

Russell received the ARSHRM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, ARSHRM Outstanding Human Resources Professional in 2001, ARSHRM Legislative Advocacy Award 2005, CAHRA Outstanding Member Award in 1989, 1993, and 2001 and CAHRA Legislative Advocacy Award in 2006. Other honors include being named to Best Lawyers of America for over 25 years, Mid-South Super Lawyers from 2006 – 2010, and Chambers USA for the past eight years.

Speech Title: Legal Pit Stop: New and Developing Legislation for 2010

The presentation will outline federal and state employment law trends and enacted and proposed legislation. With a new President and Congress come new laws to regulate how businesses must operate. We have already seen changes to discrimination law penalties and protected classifications, a wider view of retaliation claims and more targeted enforcement of civil rights, safety and immigration laws. Employers can expect legislative action on a variety of workplace initiatives that will re-shape the legal landscape.