Overview

Daniel E. Turner counsels and represents employers in all aspects of litigation in employment law issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, and leaves of absence. Serving as lead counsel in more than 70 class and collective actions throughout the country, he has litigated cases under:

  • Title VII and Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
  • The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and various wage and hour laws

Dan's extensive litigation practice also includes state law tort, contract, restrictive covenant claims, and various types of civil rights litigation. He has jury and non-jury trial experience in both federal and state courts.

Dan has defended clients in over 25 states, including serving as lead and coordinating counsel in class and collective actions in more than 20 states. He regularly provides counseling to help clients navigate both legal and practical considerations in all area of employment law, including mechanisms to avoid class and collective actions. Some of his representative experiences include:

  • Obtaining dismissal of class allegations in numerous class and collective actions
  • Opposing plaintiffs’ Motion for Multidistrict Litigation for a national retailer in a wage and hour case
  • As lead counsel, defending corporations in a number of alleged employment discrimination class actions
  • As lead counsel, defending nationwide pharmaceutical and restaurant chains in multiple collective actions concerning pharmacists brought pursuant to the FLSA
  • As lead counsel, defending a non-profit corporation in alleged race and gender discrimination class action
  • Representing employers in wage and hour and Family Medical Leave Act investigations by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
  • Representing employers in state wage and hour claims
  • Defending a defense contractor in alleged nationwide race discrimination class actions
  • Defending and obtaining dismissal of class and collective actions utilizing arbitration agreements
  • Defending numerous broad scale DOL audits
  • Representing clients in internal investigations and audits; developing strategies to resolve potential violations of the law and avoid litigation 

Dan has been recognized as a leading employment lawyer by the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Georgia Super Lawyers and Chambers USA. He has been an adjunct professor at the Georgia State University College of Law. During law school, he was an assistant managing editor of the Georgia State University College of Law Review.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Atlanta Bar Association

Member

American Bar Association

Member

American Employment Law Council

Member

Lawyers Club of Atlanta

Barrister

Bleckley Inn of Court

Treasurer, Executive Committee

Mount Vernon Presbyterian School

2010-2017

Chair, Finance Committee

Mount Vernon Presbyterian School

2010-2017

Recognition

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2015-2025

Named, Thought Leaders

Labour, Employment and Benefits

Who's Who Legal

2024

Named, Leading Practitioner

Labour, Employment and Benefits

Who's Who Legal

2023

Ranked, Labor & Employment

Chambers USA

2008-2024

Named, Top 10 Most Influential Labor & Employment Lawyers in Georgia

Business Today

2023

Recommended, Labour & Employment

Who's Who Legal

2010-2015, 2024

Named, Super Lawyer

Georgia

Super Lawyers

2010-2018

Named, Rising Star

Georgia

Super Lawyers

2005-2009

Named, Recommended Lawyer

Labor and Employment Disputes in Defense

Legal 500 United States

2016

Books & Book Chapters

  • Application of Adverse Impact to Employment Decisions, Chapter 4, Employment Discrimination Law, 4th Ed., Bloomberg BNA, chapter co-author, 2007

Speaking Engagements

Defending Employment Class and Collective Actions

Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Class Actions, Atlanta, GA

September 10, 2015

Early Strategic Considerations in Wage and Hour Class and Collective Actions

ABA National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law, Miami, FL

April 17, 2015

Wage and Hour Class and Collective Actions: Early Litigation Issues

Firm Presentation

July 17, 2014

Wage and Hour Audits and Remedies – Avoiding a Cure Worse Than the Disease

Firm Presentation

May 9, 2014

Wage and Hour Class and Collective Actions: Early Litigation Issues

Practical Law Webinar

March 29, 2014

Panel Discussion: Employment Litigation – New Claims, Trends, and Tips

Firm Presentation, New Orleans, LA

May 10, 2013

Advanced OFCCP Issues/Pay Discrimination

National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law - American Bar Association, Savannah, GA

April 5, 2013

Impeaching Witnesses

State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA

January 29, 2010

Cross examination of witness in mock trial

Annual CLE Conference, Section of Labor and Employment Law - American Bar Association, Philadelphia, PA

November 7, 2007

Impeachment

Institute of Continuing Legal Education

2007

Wage and Hour Litigation: Strategy and Substantive Issues Under FLSA and State Law

National Teleconference - American Bar Association

May 3, 2006

Defensive Strategies for Preventing and Defending Certification of Wage and Hour Collective and Class Actions

National Conference - American Bar Association, La Jolla, CA

March 2006

Objections

Institute of Continuing Legal Education

2006

The Use of Statistical Evidence in Employment Discrimination Cases

32nd Annual Labor & Employment Law Institute - Institute of Continuing Legal Education

2005

Defending Against Class and Collective Actions

Eighth Annual Labor and Employment Section Forum - Tennessee Bar Association

2005

Ethics Panel

29th Annual Labor & Employment Law Institute - Institute of Continuing Legal Education

2002

Education

  • J.D., Georgia State University College of Law, 1995cum laude
  • B.A., University of West Georgia, 1992cum laude

Bar Admission

Georgia

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia