Sheryl McCalla, Esq. ALDC Presenter and Board Member

Sheryl McCalla is a member of Doffermyre, Shields, Canfield, Knowles & Devine, LLC.  She works with entrepreneurs, community leaders, bankruptcy trustees and others to recover damages on their behalf. She litigates primarily in the areas of commercial and environmental toxic tort law and has substantial experience in litigating disputes involving business matters, contracts, restrictive covenants, trade secrets and employment.  She has played critical roles in jury and bench trials in state and federal courts. She has argued in courts including the Georgia Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and has successfully represented parties in other appellate courts throughout the country. 

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STEVEN M. BERNSTEIN, Vice President of ALDC,  Partner, Fisher &  Phillips  LLP

Steve has practiced labor and employment law on behalf of management for the past 14 years.  During that time period, he has counseled employers in the southeast, and throughout other areas of the United States and Canada in their efforts to remain union free.  Previously, he worked for brief periods with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and with Senator Kennedy's Minority Labor Committee staff.

Steve currently represents employers in the state and federal courts, as well as before the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other state and federal agencies.  A significant portion of his practice is devoted to the implementation of preventive employee relations programs that include supervisory training and the development and administration of effective workplace policies and procedures.

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Sam Matchett, President of ALDC, Partner, King & Spalding LLP

Sam Matchett is a partner on King & Spalding's Atlanta Labor & Employment Practice Group. He concentrates his practice on employment relationship matters, with an emphasis in labor and employment law litigation in both state and federal courts, governmental agencies, and arbitration tribunals. Mr. Matchett routinely defends employers in litigation involving the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1964 (Title VII), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and employment-related state law claims. Mr. Matchett's practice entails extensive experience in employment discrimination. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Matchett provides general client advice on the avoidance of employee-related problems and presents seminars concerning all aspects of employment law. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and several appellate courts.

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Thomas Wardell – Founder of ALDC, Partner, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP

Tom Wardell serves as Co-Chair of the Corporate Department and focuses on corporate counseling, corporate finance and securities, acquisitions and dispositions, and corporate reorganizations and restructurings. He represents public and private companies, and he also counsels companies on compliance and governance matters, including investigations both internal and with regulatory significance. 

While residing in Boston, Tom was an adjunct professor at Boston University School of Management and a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School. He also spoke at other law and business schools conducting courses in investment banking, commercial transactions and public finance. Tom was president and CEO of Versyss from 1988 to 1993. Versyss was a provider of computer systems for small business applications. It was the largest provider in the U.S. for the physician practice and credit union industries and one of the top three providers for the construction and building supply industry.

Tom was involved with the financial restructuring of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Penn Central Railroad Company.

Atlanta Magazine has recognized Tom as a “Georgia Super Lawyer” in 2004 and 2006 for his advisory services to publicly held companies.

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