George Johnston has a nationally recognized labor and employment practice.

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Labor and Employment Law (Woodward/White), where he's been listed for more than 15 years, Mr. Johnston handles the full range of employment litigation -- discrimination, wrongful discharge, breach of contract and other employment-related actions.

In major employment class actions, he applies his extensive experience in statistical analysis to defeat certification and to structure powerful arguments in litigation. In fields as diverse as biotechnology, food service, government contracting, education, banking/financial and others, his subject-matter knowledge is combined with his legal experience to produce compelling advocacy for his clients.

His focus is on preventing litigation and obtaining strategic advantages in areas of salary equity, employee performance and workforce sizing. He regularly counsels significant clients on affirmative action compliance and workforce diversity. He has significant experience defending clients in OFCCP compensation reviews.

Mr. Johnston is widely respected in the employment bar. He is invited to serve on major federal court committees. For more than 30 years, he has worked effectively with enforcement agencies on the federal, state and local levels, and has trained agency personnel.

Mr. Johnston has served as Venable's Chief Operating Officer and head of its Litigation Division.

Representative Clients

• Johns Hopkins University
• Kellogg Company
• Sodexo
• Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
• Fortune 20 Retailer

Significant Matters

• National compensation program review
• Diversity audits and/or implementation of national diversity programs for FORTUNE 150 companies
• One of the largest employment class actions in federal court history
• Glass-ceiling/corporate management reviews related to Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
• Defense of a public entity's restructuring of its IT operations

Activities

Mr. Johnston is a prominent lecturer and has participated in Industry Liaison Group (ILG) seminars, as well as speaking across the country on recent developments in employment law and new directions in affirmative action.

He is a civic leader in both technology training and the arts. He has chaired the Baltimore Urban League Advisory Board, the Information Processing Training Center Board and served on the Affirmative Action Subcommittee of the United Way.

He has chaired Maryland Citizens for the Arts and Arts Education in Maryland Schools.

Mr. Johnston has served as a trustee of the Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Opera Company.

He currently serves on the board of Free State Legal Services.