EXPERIENCE
Private Practice—Devon L. Gosnell, Attorney (2016 to Present)
- Employment, Litigation, General Practice
- Listed Tennessee Mediator
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (Morgantown, WV)
Of Counsel, 2013-2015
• Represented clients in business disputes, lawsuits against municipalities, real estate and personal injury. Served on firm CLE committee.
The University of Tennessee (Memphis and Knoxville TN)
Associate General Counsel, 2004?2013
• Represented the University in litigation involving federal constitutional claims, employment discrimination and harassment, breach of contract, torts, bankruptcy, and collections from initial complaint through trial and appeal in federal and state courts. Responded to EEOC, THRA, and OCR charges. Advised clients regarding age, sex, race, religion, disability, and national origin discrimination, and harassment claims under Title VII and state human rights laws, FMLA, and USERRA claims. Provided counsel on compliance with University policy and federal regulations on scientific misconduct, HIPAA, and FERPA. Represented the University in administrative hearings for disciplinary matters concerning students, faculty, and staff. Drafted and reviewed contracts for procurement of goods and services, on-site licenses and software licensing; reviewed affiliation agreements with healthcare providers. Handled licensing issues before the TN Board of Medical Examiners. Responded to regulatory matters involving laboratory compliance under CLIA. Represented the University in negotiation and mediation of claims. Responded to subpoenas and records requests.
Ford & Harrison, and predecessor McKnight Hudson Lewis & Henderson (Tampa FL and Memphis TN)
Partner, 1998?2004; Associate 1995?98
• Advised corporate clients on litigation avoidance and compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations concerning hiring, firing, and discipline of employees, wage and hour requirements, discrimination, and harassment claims regarding age, disability, gender, race, religion, and national origin, workers’ compensation retaliation, FMLA, torts, non-competition agreements, and employment contracts.
• Represented corporate clients in all phases of litigation from initial investigation and agency inquiries through discovery, dispositive motions, jury trial, and appeal. Responsible for arbitration of claims, including selection of arbitrator, motions to dismiss claims outside scope of arbitration, discovery, and representation of corporate clients at arbitration hearings. Negotiated with federal and state agencies and opposing counsel to resolve discrimination, wage, tort, and contract cases.
• Served on review committee for re-nomination of United States Magistrate Judge at request of then Chief Judge Julia Gibbons of United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.
United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, U.S. Department of Justice (Memphis TN)
Assistant United States Attorney, 1975-1994; Criminal Chief, 1987?94; Acting Director, Office of Legal Education (Washington DC), 1991?92
• Tried in excess of 100 jury cases, civil and criminal, and handled over 40 appeals before Federal Courts of Appeal.
• Represented agencies of the Federal government in civil litigation involving tort claims, employment discrimination, regulatory matters, contract actions, environmental issues, bankruptcy, antitrust, and forfeitures.
• Coordinated criminal investigations of internal theft; fraud against corporations, banks, federal agencies, and individuals; healthcare fraud; real estate fraud; currency and counterfeiting crimes; smuggling and other customs violations; drug distribution and possession; weapons; tax evasion; and environmental crimes with Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Postal Inspection Service, Secret Service, Inspectors General of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and local police and sheriff departments.
• Supervised ten attorneys and support staff as Chief of the Criminal Division. Trained and evaluated attorneys and staff. Served as spokesperson to media. Responsible for coordination with U.S. Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, DC.
• Served on local rules committee for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee with Chief Judge and members of the legal community to revise local criminal rules.
• Appointed Director of Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute for Criminal Training. Served as Acting Director of the Office of Legal Education responsible for training attorneys in Civil, Criminal, and Appellate Litigation.