For more than thirty years, Mr. Ames has represented public and private sector employers with regard to all aspects of labor relations and employment law. He is experienced as a chief negotiator and strategist in collective bargaining negotiations, as well as lead counsel in labor arbitrations and employment discrimination litigation.

Mr. Ames is accomplished at providing effective, practical counseling to employers on implementing union avoidance strategies and compliance with the multitude of labor and employment laws applicable to their operations. As an outgrowth of his experience defending claims of employment discrimination on the basis of disability, Mr. Ames has frequently represented defendants confronted with claimed violations of Title III (Public Accommodations and Services Operated by Private Entities) of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Mr. Ames is a seasoned labor relations and employment lawyer who has successfully negotiated labor contracts incorporating merit pay concepts and other cost containment features. He has a track record as an effective counselor who assists his clients in avoiding the disruption and cost of litigation. He also is able to express legal principles and requirements in simple terms easily understood by lay persons. His extensive experience in labor and employment law enables Mr. Ames to identify potential problems quickly and recommend appropriate solutions.

Significant Matters

Mr. Ames has been recognized by Chambers & Partners since 2003 in its annual surveys of client and peer recommendations as one of the leading Labor and Employment lawyers in the United States. More recently, Mr. Ames was selected by the Washington Business Journal as the Top Employment Contracts Lawyer in Washington, D.C. for 2007 and also has been selected for inclusion in the 2007 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. In his most recent case tried before a jury, Mr. Ames successfully defended an employer in an eight-day trial on a former employee's age and sex discrimination claims. On behalf of one of his public sector clients, he obtained an "interest" arbitration award allowing his client to make significant cost saving modifications to its employee health insurance plans.