Comparative Employment Law: Virginia, DC and Maryland

Jeffrey Rhodes is an accomplished civil litigator, and a leading business and employment lawyer.  In his over 16 years of practice, Mr. Rhodes has litigated in courts around the country.  Admitted in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., he advises companies and executives, representing them in the structuring, drafting, and defending of their corporate transactions to help accomplish their business goals.  He is also very active in arbitration and mediation, as appropriate.

Mr. Rhodes has litigated an unusually large number of jury and bench trials.  While most of his work has been on the defense side, where he has effectively defended multimillion dollar claims, he also has obtained a multimillion dollar verdict on the plaintiff side and fights for clients on both sides of the aisle.  Mr. Rhodes has litigated civil cases in the state and federal courts in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., as well as courts in Massachusetts, Ohio, and California.  In arguing before the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Mr. Rhodes had the privilege of presenting argument to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, sitting by designation. Jeff Rhodes currently concentrates his practice in employment law, business law, and civil litigation.

Education

• Washington & Lee University School of Law 
  • JD, Cum Laude (1999)
• George Washington University 
  • BA,  English Literature, Summa Cum Laude (1996)

  Honors

  • “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine (2013-2009)
  • “Power Players” by SmartCEO magazine (2013, Finalist)
  • “Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters (2013-2011, 2009)

  Publications

  • “Background Checks, What’s Allowed and What Isn’t” — Inside Business (Hampton Roads Business Journal) — February 7, 2011.
  • “6th Circuit: Changes in Relationship to Subsidiary Did Not Interfere with Pension Rights,” SHRM Court Report, March 29, 2010;
  • “The Civil Peace Order: An Effective Tool to Stop Harassment of Your Client,” The Advocate, Maryland State Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section, Vol. 24, No. 2, Winter 2008;
  • “Changes by Obama Will Reshape Labor Law,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly, November 17, 2008;
  • “Expedited Review of Temporary Injunctions,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Vol. 22, No. 16, September 24, 2007;
  • “Responding to Job Reference Requests,” Atlantic Coast In-House, January 2007;
  • “Keeping Up With Non-compete Law in Virginia,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Vol. 21, No. 16 (Sep. 25, 2006);
  • Virginia Wage and Hour Handbook, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, 2005.

  Court Admissions

  • Virginia State Bar (The Supreme Court of Virginia and all lower state courts) 
  • District of Columbia Bar (The District of Columbia Court of Appeals and Superior Court) 
  • Maryland State Bar (The Maryland Court of Appeals and all lower state courts)
  • United States Supreme Court 
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia 
  • United States District Court for the District of Maryland 
  • United States Court of Federal Claims