Ronald’s practice focuses on labor management relations law and policy.

Ronald is a former National Labor Relations Board member and general counsel.

Prior to joining the firm, Ronald co-chaired the labor-management relations practice at an international law firm. Over the course of his 40-year career, which began with the Office of the Solicitor of the US Department of Labor, Ronald has handled matters arising under federal labor and employment law in complex business transactions before federal agencies and courts.

Ronald joined the NLRB in 2004, following a recess appointment by President George W. Bush. Two years later, President Bush appointed Ronald to a four-year term as NLRB General Counsel, a position independent from the Board. Serving under the Bush and Obama Administrations, Ronald was the chief prosecutor under the National Labor Relations Act and chief administrator of the agency’s  regional offices and regional and headquarters staff, including execution of the agency’s congressionally appropriated budget.

Ronald has been quoted as a labor law authority by numerous national publications and news organizations, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, SHRM Online, Associated Press, Corporate Counsel Magazine, Bloomberg, Reuters, Employment Law 360 and BNA. He has been a frequent speaker at national conferences sponsored by trade associations, professional groups and educational institutions, including the US Chamber of Commerce,  law schools and universities in the United States and abroad, the Council on Labor Law Equality, Committee for a Democratic Workplace, Labor and Employment Research Association, Equal Employment Advisory Council, Human Resources Policy Association, Labor Relations Advisory Committee, National Retail Federation, Retail Leaders Industry Association, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, American Arbitration Association and numerous bar associations. Ronald has also been recognized by Legal500 USA.

Ronald is admitted to practice in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth and District of Columbia Circuits, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Relevant Experience

• Represented numerous national trade associations as amicus counsel in major cases involving challenges to NLRB decisions.
• Represented large national trade group composed of the nation’s leading companies in developing and drafting comments for NLRB representation election regulations and presented testimony before NLRB.
• Advised major automobile manufacturer on issues and strategy in bargaining national labor contract.
• Assisted in advising professional sports leagues in collective bargaining disputes.
• Represented company in obtaining stay of NLRB proceedings pending attempted mediation of major dispute involving contempt proceedings and bankruptcy and RICO litigation.
• Testified before congressional subcommittee and briefed Senate and House staff on various labor issues.
• Presented in-house training and seminars for Fortune 500 companies and PE fund portfolio companies.
• Argued cases before federal courts of appeals and agencies.
• Lecture on business law, University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business (2001-2003, 2015-2016).

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville, 1974BA, Carson-Newman University, 1969