H. Rowan Leathers III
Office Information
Rowan is a member of the Labor and Employment and Commercial Litigation Groups. He concentrates his practice in the areas of advising and representing employers in a broad spectrum of employment related matters; advising and representing CPAs in ethical, regulatory, operational and professional liability matters; and advising and representing financial institutions concerning fiduciary, transactional and operational disputes.
Biography – View PDF Bio
- Associations
- Bar Admissions
- Distinctions
- Education & Honors
- In the News
- Papers, Presentations, & Publications
- Recent Blogs
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee, 1982
- U.S. District Courts
- Tennessee: Eastern, Western, Middle
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 6th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Tax Court
Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Employment Law – Management, 2021
- Martindale-Hubbell®
- AV®– Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2009-2017
- Certified Public Accountant, Tennessee
Education & Honors
- Emory University, J.D., 1982
- Lipscomb University, B.S., Accounting, 1979
Papers, Presentations, & Publications
- Presenter, “Straight Answers to Tough Questions – a Q&A Panel,” Tennessee Bankers Association, HR Hot Topics: Conquering COVID Chaos, November 5, 2020.
- Author, “Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Reiterates That a Plaintiff’s Conjecture and Speculation Are Not Enough to Create Pretext,” Tennessee Bar Association Labor & Employment Connect, July 31, 2020.
- Author, “LGBTQ status now protected by Title VII,” Nashville Business Journal, June 22, 2020.
- Presenter, “Ethics for Accountants: A Road Map for 2020,” The Knowledge Group, March 24, 2020.
- Quoted, “Use of Website Not Necessary to Sue for Discrimination,” American Bar Association’s Litigation News, January 27, 2020.
- Presenter, “Service Animals: Legal Obligations for Providing ADA Accommodations for Employees, Clients, and Third Parties,” BLR Webinar, January 16, 2020.
- Presenter, “Managing Risks: Insurance, Claims & Litigation,” Lipscomb University, Updating the Professional Accountant – 39th Annual Seminar, December 12, 2019.
- Author, “Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Valera: Do Ambiguous Arbitration Agreements Provide ‘Consent’ Necessary for Class Arbitration?” Tennessee Bar Association Labor & Employment Connect, August 13, 2019.
- Presenter, “Emotional Support & Service Animals: Legal Obligations for Providing ADA Accommodations for Employees, Clients, Customers & Other Third Parties,” BLR Webinar, August 1, 2019. More...
- Panelist, “Developing Standard Operating Procedures,” Tennessee Bankers Association Human Resources Conference, April 3, 2019.
- Presenter, “Pigott v. Battle Ground Academy,” University of Minnesota School of Law, Law In Practice Program, April 2, 2019.
- Panelist, “Deconstructing an EPLI Policy from the Inside Out,” American Bar Association ERR Committee Mid-Winter Meeting, “Deconstructing an EPLI Plicy from the Inside Out,” March 25, 2017.
- Panelist, “Worklife Balance,” Tennessee Society of CPAs, Nashville Chapter, March 21, 2017.
- Presenter, “From the Trench to the Bench - Expert Witness Testimony,” AICPA Litigation Support Conference, November 6, 2016.
- Panelist, “Worklife Balance,” Tennessee Society of CPAs, Nashville Chapter, March 17, 2016.
- Presenter, "Risk Management in the Accounting Practice," Lipscomb University College of Business, December 16, 2014.
- Author, "Supreme Court Extends Coverage of Sox Anti-Retaliation Provisions," Tennessee Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section Newsletter, April 14, 2014.
- Presenter, "Corporate Governance," Lipscomb University College of Business, December 16, 2013.
- Presenter, "Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel," Butler Snow Corporate Counsel Legal Update, November 28, 2013.
- Presenter, "Engagement Letters," Tennessee Society of CPAs Federal Tax Conference, November 20, 2013.
- Presenter, "Malpractice: The Risk is Real," Rodeter Morr & Co. PLLC Annual Seminar, May 22, 2013.
- Author, "The Labor and Employment Environment for the Next Four Years - Will Anything Really Happen?" Tennessee Bar Association's Labor and Employment Section Newsletter, February 5, 2013.
- Tennessee Editor, Covenants Not to Compete: A State-by-State Survey, Eighth Edition, Bloomberg BNA.
- Presenter, "Tennessee Employment Law: Trends, Recent Cases, and New Laws," M. Lee Smith Publishers Webinar, December 2012.
- Presenter, "Expert Roundtable Panelist-Legal Forum," Tennessee Society of Association Executives, November 27, 2012.
- Presenter, "Avoiding Malpractice: A Primer, Tennessee Society of CPAs," Federal Tax Institute, November 15, 2012
- Presenter, "TBA Court Square Series," Labor & Employment Law Update, September 20, 2012.
- Author, "State Deceptive Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Acts: Should Accountants Be Held Liable?," DRI, Riding the E & O Line, Vol. 4, Issue 2, The Newsletter of the Professional Liability Section, Spring 2012.
- Chapter Monitor, Employment Discrimination Law, Fourth Edition, 2010 Cumulative Supplement & 2011 Cumulative Supplement, ABA and BNA Books.
- Author, "Court of Appeals Weighs In on Refusal to Participate in Illegal Activities," Tennessee Employment Law Letter, February 2010.
- Presenter, "Employment Law Risk Management," 2010 Nashville HR/Finance Conference, November 2010.
- Presenter, "Auditor Liability," Lipscomb University Business School, December 17, 2009.
- Presenter, "An Accounting Malpractice Primer," Federal Bureau of Investigation, September 14, 2009.
- Presenter, "Employment Law From A to Z in Tennessee," Lorman Educational Seminars, September 12, 2007.
Recent Blogs
- Protecting Employers From Liability for Certain Non-Malicious Statements Made About Employee Performance, Discipline or Termination
- LGBTQ Status Now Protected by Title VII
- Ramping Up to Return to the Workplace in the “Post” Pandemic Environment
- The Supreme Court Concludes that Title VII’s Charge Filing Requirement is not Jurisdictional
- D.C. Circuit "Refines" the NLRB's Joint Employer Test
- Federal Court Says a Great Website Comes with Great ADA Responsibility