Atty. David B. Walston
After more than 25 years of practicing labor and employment law, David Walston has developed a formula for building successful client relationships. He believes that all good engagements begin with a face-to-face meeting to perform an assessment of the current policies and practices of the client’s human resources operations.
Profile Summary
About David B. Walston at a glance
David B. Walston is a employment and litigation attorney based in Birmingham, Alabama, practicing at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC. Admitted to practice in Alabama, Alabama State Bar Association. Educated at Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1987) and Vanderbilt University (BA, 1984). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Birmingham, AL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- After more than 25 years of practicing labor and employment law, David Walston has developed a formula for building successful client relationships
- He believes that all good engagements begin with a face-to-face meeting to perform an assessment of the current policies and practices of the client’s human resources operations
- David’s assessment is designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and agency and court interpretations
- David then offers day-to-day employment advice on workplace issues and suggests possible courses of action available to the client – suggestions to aid the avoidance of administrative charges and lawsuits
- He provides these services through the client’s election of a flat-fee retainer arrangement or on an hourly-rate basis
- If an issue evolves into administrative proceedings or a lawsuit, before any response or pleading is filed David conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the underlying facts, and the claims and applicable defenses
- He then has an extremely candid conversation with the client regarding the risks the matter presents so the client can make a fully informed decision regarding how to address the matter
- With the client’s goals developed, David maps out a strategic case management plan
- David keeps in constant contact with the client regarding all significant developments so he and the client modify the model as the defense of the matter proceeds
- This approach has served David well, whether he is planning the defense of employment discrimination, hostile work environment or retaliation claims, FLSA individual and collective actions, defending unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB, directing the opposition to a union organizational campaign, or negotiating with governmental agencies in audits or charges of violations of employment laws or regulations
Practice Areas Explained
David B. Walston's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases David B. Walston handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
David B. Walston is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Alabama →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
David B. Walston is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Alabama →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Alabama
Practicing law in Alabama. Legal matters in Alabama are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Birmingham are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Alabama state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Alabama brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Alabama courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Alabama attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Birmingham or all attorneys in Alabama.
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