
Paul Ross is a trial lawyer whose primary practice involves the representation of employers in labor and employment disputes. His experience includes first-chair management of discrimination, retaliation and wrongful discharge matters in both federal and state courts, trial and appellate, as well as in arbitration and before governmental agencies. He routinely represents employers in a wide variety of matters, including claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and other federal and state laws governing employers.
Paul also provides training and on-demand advice to employers regarding litigation avoidance and assists in day-to-day planning and decision-making, discrimination and harassment investigations, development of policies and procedures, employment contracts, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, reductions-in-force, and alternatives to reductions-in-force. His diverse client base includes municipalities and nonprofit organizations as well as companies engaged in a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, energy, telecommunications, retail and business services.
Paul previously served as leader of the firm’s Labor and Employment Group, one of the largest of its kind in the region. He is a highly regarded speaker on issues in employment law, regularly addressing various human resource groups and management-level employees, and is an editor and contributing author to the Oklahoma Employment Law Letter. He has also provided training to other Oklahoma lawyers on employment law topics through the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Law of the Workplace program in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
In 2011, Paul was appointed to serve as an administrative law judge for the Oklahoma Department of Labor.
Outside of the labor and employment arena, Paul’s experience includes representation of business clients in a variety of complex commercial disputes. He has actively participated in litigation surrounding commercial contracts and business relationships, as well as shareholder derivative claims and toxic mold exposure. He also actively represents Oklahoma Native American tribes with respect to gaming and other regulatory issues with the federal government.
Paul’s achievements have earned him inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (employment law – management; labor law – management; labor and employment litigation) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers.
Prior to embarking on his legal career, Paul taught mathematics at Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Oklahoma. He also supervised a 100+ member customer service staff at one of the nation’s largest mortgage servicing companies.
Paul and his wife Tristi are the proud parents of two daughters and one son.
Download Bio (PDF)Representative Experience
- Managed the defense of a national manufacturing and service center in a lawsuit alleging discrimination on the basis of age, religion, disability and workers’ compensation retaliation. Paul achieved a victory for the client without the need for trial with a successful motion for summary judgment.
- Successfully defended a national telecommunications company in multi-plaintiff age discrimination and retaliation litigation in federal court.
- Successfully managed and negotiated resolution of shareholder derivative suit against publicly traded construction company.
- Successfully resolved female-on-male harassment litigation against an international waste management company.
- Successfully resolved fraud and negligent construction action on behalf of homeowners exposed to toxic mold.
- Managed the defense of a national retail distribution company in a lawsuit involving claims of disability discrimination and workers’ compensation retaliation.
- Secured early dismissal with prejudice on behalf of a small local construction company facing race discrimination allegations.
- Received defense verdict in favor of a local municipality before the personnel review board validating the termination of a high-ranking city official.
- Multiple successful appeals before the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission regarding unemployment compensation benefit awards.
Honors and Awards
- Named a “Labor & Employment Star – South” by Benchmark Litigation
- Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (employment law — management; labor law — management; labor and employment litigation)
- Listed in Oklahoma Super Lawyers
Professional Organizations and Memberships
- Oklahoma County Bar Association
- Oklahoma Bar Association
At The Podium
Top Gun: Restrictive Covenants and Retaining “the Best of the Best”
Employment Compliance Strategies for a Changing Workforce
Navigating the Challenges of Intersecting Employee Leave Laws
Navigating the Challenges of Intersecting Employee Leave Laws
The Continuing and Lingering Impact of COVID-19 in the Workplace
Wage and Hour Hot Spots of Compliance
COVID-19: The Pandemic’s Impact on ADA/FMLA Claims and Complying with the FFCRA
COVID-19 Employment, Finance and Regulatory Issues
Tele-Town Hall: HR/Funding/Business Issues Forum
2020 Employment Law Outlook
Medical Marijuana in 2019: Rights and Responsibilities of Employers
Medical Marijuana in 2019: Rights and Responsibilities of Oklahoma Colleges and Universities
The Changing Landscape of Wage and Hour Regulations at the U.S. Department of Labor
Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act
Oklahoma Employment Law Update
Medical Marijuana and the Employee Relationship
Clear and Present Danger: Preparing for litigation
Clear and Present Danger: Preparing for litigation
ICYMI: 2018 Employment and Labor Law Update
What Hospital Administrators Need to Know to Implement Oklahoma Legalization of Medical Marijuana
Medical Marijuana: An Action Plan for Oklahoma Employers
Medical Marijuana: Next steps for Oklahoma employers
Battling Sexual Harassment Claims in the Court of Legal Opinion and Court of Public Opinion
Battling Sexual Harassment Claims in the Court of Legal Opinion and Court of Public Opinion
2017 in Review — Impacts of a New Administration on Employment Law
Workplace Investigations: Your Action Plan for Probing Complaints, Interviewing Witnesses, Reaching Reasoned Conclusions, and Taking Action
A Look Ahead: What to expect and plan for
A Look Ahead: What to expect and plan for
Keep Calm and Train On: HIPAA training made easy
Employers Under Pressure: Key workplace compliance and training strategies
Restraint or Response? The NLRB’s stance on responding to employee outbursts on social media
Restraint or Response? The NLRB’s stance on responding to employee outbursts on social media
Guns or No Guns? Weighing workplace weapons policies
Importance of Employee and Supervisor Training in Employment Law
Social Media Policies and Employment Law
2015 Employment Law Trends
Employee Handbooks: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Failure to train
Failure to train
Strategies for Shielding Owners and Board Members from HR and Benefits Liability
Same-Sex Spouses: What the changing legal landscape means for employers
Hot button pre-employment issues
Hot button pre-employment issues
Employment Law Update: What’s New in 2013
Hiring and Interviewing
Leave Management
Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Update
2013 Employment Law & Litigation
Sexuality in the Workplace
Sexuality in the Workplace
Department of Labor
Ticking Time Bombs — How to diffuse bullying in the workplace
Ticking Time Bombs — How to diffuse bullying in the workplace
The ADAAA and Final EEOC Regulations: A Whole New Ballgame for Employers
The ADAAA and Final EEOC Regulations: A Whole New Ballgame for Employers
EmployerLINC Webcast: When the Feds Come Knocking
Employment Law Update
FMLA Compliance Challenges and Solutions
Articles
Setting the record straight on “free speech” rights in the workplace
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | January 12, 2021Coronavirus alert for employers: It’s about facts over fear, planning over panic
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Alert | March 3, 2020Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act addresses workplace safety concerns for employers
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | March 15, 2019SCOTUS declines to determine whether Title VII covers sexual orientation
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | December 11, 2017Federal court ruling means OSHA drug testing limitations are now live
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Update | December 16, 2016DOL issues final rule on paid sick leave for federal contractors
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | October 5, 2016OSHA prohibition on post-accident testing requires immediate action by employers
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Alert | July 25, 2016Supreme Court recognizes constitutional right to same‑sex marriage
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | June 26, 2015NLRB rules employee’s vulgar, unprofessional social media post is protected concerted activity
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | April 3, 2015Despite settlement, EEOC continues and expands discrimination investigation
EmployerLINC | November 24, 2014Sixth Circuit decision bucks trend on same-sex marriage
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | November 7, 2014Group health plans for same-sex spouses: Equal treatment required or not?
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC | November 4, 2014EEOC issues new guidance memorandum on employee criminal records
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Update | April 26, 2012Layoffs: WARN Act violation results in seven-figure settlement
Oklahoma Employment Law Letter | December 1, 2010Employee performance reviews and pretext: A hard lesson from the Tenth Circuit
Oklahoma Employment Law Letter | April 1, 2010Media
