Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon | Labor & Employment Litigation

Education

Vanderbilt University Law School

J.D., 2006,
National Moot Court Team; Trial Advocacy Club; Black Law School Association, Women Law Students’ Association
Hampton University

B.A., Mass Media/Public Relations, 1998, Dean’s List; Alpha Tau Alpha (Mass Media Honors Society)

Bar Admissions

Georgia, 2006

Tashwanda is recognized for her ability to provide counsel to large and small corporations on complex and emerging employment laws and for her experience helping HR teams develop clear policies to guide their workforce.

Which courts or agencies do you most often appear before on behalf of your clients?

Georgia’s Federal and State Courts (including appellate courts) and the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
What types of clients do you represent?

Corporate employers and State legislative assemblies.
What type of matters do you work on most often?

All matters of employment including claims arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). I also defend companies against personal injury claims.
What previous experience, prior to your work at Balch, influence your practice?

Prior to becoming a lawyer, I worked in public relations. During that time, I wrote a lot of press releases and articles, and spoke on behalf of my clients regularly. That experience has made me a more confident orator and litigator and a solid writer. It also shaped my understanding of the business side of my clients’ industries. I also know how to relate to plaintiffs in a way, which facilitates compromise during contentious and potentially contentious situations.

Select Matters

Successfully litigated a three-day bench trial before an administrative law judge with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Litigated and successfully mediated a three-plaintiff/three-defendant race discrimination case and a high-profile sexual harassment case – both of which resulted in low settlement amounts that saved the client’s exposure to damages in excess of $1 million and unwanted publicity.
Obtained summary judgment in a case brought by a former employee alleging age discrimination, disability discrimination, retaliation under the Family Medical Leave Act, and Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) violations.
Obtained summary judgment and attorney’s fees for client in a case brought by a current employee alleging race discrimination and retaliation.
Obtained multiple case dismissals of ERISA and general employment claims.
Designed and presented trainings and seminars on labor and employment laws, including the production of an interactive training video designed specifically for the client’s business.
Conducted investigations into harassment and discrimination across various industries.
Successfully arbitrated grievances brought by labor unions.
Litigated four separate OSHA fatality cases that resulted in favorable settlements for the employers and a dismissal of the citation by the administrative law judge.
Litigated multiple OSHA trials ranging from three-days to two weeks before administrative law judges with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, and subsequent appeals.
Represented clients in OSHA proceedings following fatalities and mass casualties where the citations included Willful and Repeat violations.
Represented clients in OSHA 11(c) whistleblower complaints, all of which have resulted in favorable outcomes.
Advised clients on safety and health policies and related employee concerns in multiple areas including lockout/tagout, electrical switching procedures, process safety management, OSHA’s shipyard and general industry standards, and accident investigation procedures.
Advised clients on protecting employees from COVID-19 and OSHA requirements and expectations of employers.
Represented clients during OSHA Investigations into employee complaints and workplace accidents, many of which did not result in OSHA citations.
Provided training on how to respond to OSHA investigations and inquiries.
Negotiated the settlement of OSHA citations at the informal conference and litigation stages.

Publications

News

Speaking Engagements

Credentials

Education

Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 2006,
National Moot Court Team; Trial Advocacy Club; Black Law School Association, Women Law Students’ Association
Hampton University, B.A., Mass Media/Public Relations, 1998, Dean’s List; Alpha Tau Alpha (Mass Media Honors Society)

Courts

Georgia Superior Court, 2006
Georgia State Courts, 2006
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Bar Admissions

Georgia, 2006

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Georgia
American Bar Association
Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys; Employment Section chair, 2011-2012
Atlanta Bar Association
The Gate City Bar Association
National Employment Law Counsel, Programming Committee
Women’s Energy Network

Awards & Accolades

The Best Lawyers in America^®, Litigation – Labor and Employment

Community Involvement

Chocolate Hearts, Inc., 2015 - Present
Atlanta Business League, general counsel, 2010 – Present
Atlanta Volunteer, pro bono partnership, 2007 – Present
D.M. Therrell High School, Atlanta, mock trial team coach, 2009 – 2012
State Bar of Georgia Diversity Pipeline Program, presenter, 2009
The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) Street Law Diversity, Pipeline Program, presenter and co-host, 2009

Clerkships

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama, Honorable Myron H. Thompson