Peter N. Farley, an accomplished litigator and former general counsel for one of North America’s largest privately-held flooring producers, has joined McGuireWoods LLP’s labor and employment practice as a partner in the firm’s Atlanta office.
Farley represents clients in a wide range of labor and employment, ERISA, and general business litigation matters. He handles individual, class action, and collective action employment and ERISA litigation and all phases of labor and employment advice, counseling, and training. He also has experience conducting internal investigations.
At McGuireWoods, Farley joins a labor and employment practice group with 75 lawyers in 12 U.S. cities and London that BTI Consulting Group lists on its 2014 Litigation Outlook honor roll for complex employment litigation and that Law360 lists among the largest in the area of employment law.
Farley comes to McGuireWoods from the Atlanta office of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan LLP, where he was a member of the firm’s litigation practice group. Before that, he was vice president and general counsel for Georgia-based Beaulieu Group LLC, one of the largest flooring manufacturers in the United States. In 12 years as Beaulieu’s top lawyer, Farley reduced the company’s federal and state litigation by more than 80 percent; managed a wide range of complex legal matters including corporate finance, tax, product liability and compliance, employment and benefits, and intellectual property; and oversaw the company’s code of ethics, compliance program and internal audit department. He continues to serve as outside general counsel to the company.
“Peter’s diverse experience as a litigator and corporate counsel is impressive and will be a tremendous asset for us,” said Joel H. Spitz, chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice. “He brings with him a special perspective from working in a big company, and our clients can benefit from that.”
“Peter is very knowledgeable about what clients and their internal counsels expect from their outside counsels in terms of knowing their business, being responsive to their legal needs, and delivering measurable value to their clients,” added Hilary P. Jordan, managing partner of the firm’s Atlanta office.
“Expansion of our Atlanta office is a strategic focus for McGuireWoods and Peter’s joining us kicks off a series of planned additions to this office,” Jordan added. “Peter’s practice and clients dovetail nicely with our existing practices and clients. We look forward to working with Peter and his clients in the future.”
McGuireWoods LLP received a Tier 1 ranking in the 2014 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” in the practice areas of Employment Law-Management and Litigation – Labor & Employment. In addition, seven lawyers on the firm’s labor and employment team are ranked in the 2014 Chambers USA guide.
“I am excited to be part of McGuireWoods because of its excellent reputation and national labor and employment practice,” Farley said.
Farley also will complement the community service and pro bono work that are hallmarks of the firm’s Atlanta office. He serves on the board of the Metro Atlanta March of Dimes and assists with the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta and the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation.
Farley received his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University in 1989 and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1992.