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Biography

George represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including union negotiations and arbitrations. George also has extensive experience in employment and labor litigation, and on the basis of that experience counsels employers about how to avoid employment liability. George also represents professional sports leagues and teams, having served as chief outside counsel to Minor League Baseball since 1988.

George served as the firm’s chief executive officer for nine years (2009-2017).

George's Relevant Experience

Legal Work Highlights

George has represented management in labor negotiations and in hundreds of labor arbitration cases (including Major League Baseball player salary arbitration and grievance cases), has handled class and collective action defense of discrimination, ERISA and wage/hour claims, and has defended government contractors targeted by the OFCCP for back pay awards. George was lead trial counsel in a federal trial that resulted in a multimillion-dollar jury verdict against the United Steelworkers of America for misconduct that occurred in connection with a lockout at a steel mill.

  • Bickers v. Western & Southern Life Insurance Co. (Ohio S. Ct. 2007) – reversing decision that expanded wrongful discharge tort remedies.
  • Titanium Metals Corp. v. NLRB, 176 LRRM 2073 (D.C. Cir. 2004) – vacating NLRB order reinstating employee who published newsletter critical of management.
  • Smallwood v. Titanium Metals Corp., No. CV-S-01-0968 (D. Nev. 2003), aff’d 03-16078 (9th Cir. 2004) – summary judgment dismissing public policy wrongful discharge claim upheld by Ninth Circuit.
  • Norris v. Cincinnati Bell Telephone, No. C-1-02-183 (S.D. Ohio 2003) – lawsuit dismissed after motion to stay discovery granted based on defense argument that an employee who was discharged for threatening workplace violence is precluded from suing for alleged discrimination.
  • Stoll v. Western Southern Life, Case No. 01-3401 (6th Cir. 2003) – plaintiff’s ERISA and Title VII claims for failure to credit service time prior to maternity leave toward pension benefit dismissed.
  • Armco, Inc. v. United Steelworkers of America, et al., No. 1:99 CV 1803 (N.D. Ohio 2002) – jury verdict for $4.4 million against International and local unions on LMRA § 301 breach of contract and tortious interference claims in connection with slowdowns and violence during labor negotiations.
  • Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation, Case 28-CA-16916 (2001) – post-trial bench decision dismissing NLRB complaint alleging unlawful discharge of union officer.
  • Sofco Erectors, Inc., 1999 OSHD (CCH) ¶ 31,882 – OSHA citation and penalty vacated.
  • Aldridge, et al. v. Mosler, Inc., 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 2985 (6th Cir. 1995) – Court affirmed dismissal of ERISA and LMRA § 301 claims by class of replaced strikers who claimed benefits were unlawfully changed.
  • New Orleans Pelicans Baseball, Inc. v. National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, Inc., et al., 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21468 (E.D. La. 1994) – summary judgment dismissing federal and state antitrust claims against Major League and Minor League Baseball.
  • Gates v. Cincinnati Bell, No. C-1-87-227 (S.D. Ohio 1988) – post-trial bench decision dismissing retaliation claims.
  • Rennick v. Champion International Corp., et al., No. C-1-84-1487 (S.D. Ohio 1988) – jury verdict for defendants in retaliation and race discrimination case and awarding damages to one of the defendants.
  • Browne v. Warner Amex Communications Inc., No. C-1-83-1530 (S.D. Ohio 1985) – jury verdict for defendant in age discrimination trial.
  • Roundtree v. Cincinnati Bell Inc., 90 FRD 7 (S.D. Ohio 1979) – denial of race discrimination case class certification.

Other Info About George

Education

Law School

University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1977, cum laude

Undergraduate School

The Ohio State University, B.A., 1974, summa cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Memberships

George is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Ohio, 1977

Courts

George is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

United States Supreme Court

Ohio Supreme Court

Courts of Appeals for the Sixth, Fourth, Ninth, Eleventh and D.C. Circuits

United States District Courts in Ohio’s Northern and Southern Districts

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, Fellow

AV¼ Rated, Martindale-Hubbell¼, Highest level of “ethical standards and professional ability”

Selected for inclusion in Ohio Super LawyersŸ, 2017-2018

The Best Lawyers in America©, 1995-2019

The Best Lawyers in America©, Cincinnati Litigation-Labor & Employment Lawyer of the Year, 2012, 2013

Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2015-2021; Eminent Practitioner
2009 Ranked Band 1 (Top 7) Labor & Employment Attorneys in Ohio; 2008 Ranked Band 1 (Top 7) Labor & Employment Attorneys in Ohio –  “George Yund receives wide acclaim as one of the leading attorneys in the field. ‘A considerable force in the Ohio market.’”, “He is credited with having excellent business sense and the ability to recognize when his client has a problem, and peers admire his work ethic and expediency: ‘He knows the facts inside-out.’”; 2010-2012 Ranked Band 1 (Top 7) Labor & Employment Attorneys in Ohio; 2012 Band 2 Labor and Employment

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

The Ohio Labor Letter, 1996-2001, Editor-in-Chief

Commercial Club

Queen City Club

Coldstream Country Club

Management Labor & Employment Roundtable, a nationwide, invitation-only network of experienced management labor and employment lawyers

Ohio Management Lawyers Association, an invitation-only network of experienced management labor and employment lawyers formed to represent Ohio employers’ interests in amicus and legislative activities

Sports Lawyers Association

Cincinnati and Ohio Bar Associations, Labor and Employment Sections

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

CBA/BLAC Roundtable (founded in 1987 to promote diversity in Cincinnati law firms), 1987-present

United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Board Member, 2011-2017

United Way Foundation, Board Member and Chair, 2014-2018

Visiting Nurse Association, Board Member, 2009-2018

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Board Member, 2012-present

Inroads of Greater Cincinnati, past Board Member

Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, past Board Member

School Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, past Board Member

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