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Brian R. Garrison

Partner

Overview

Brian Garrison represents and counsels employers on a broad range of complex labor and employment matters, with a particular focus on traditional labor issues. Businesses nationwide rely on Brian for practical guidance on challenging labor matters — including clients in the automotive, construction, health care, gaming, logistics, manufacturing and utility industries. 

Brian leads the firm's Indianapolis office.

Labor-Management Relations

Brian represents management by serving as the primary spokesperson in collective bargaining negotiations, handling grievance arbitrations, and counseling clients on union organizing issues, work stoppages, and day-to-day contract administration issues. He also has extensive experience in unfair labor practice and representation proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board. Brian assists clients with the labor implications of corporate transactions, providing strategic advice and counseling on the labor law issues that can arise in mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations, and in facility consolidations, relocations and closings involving union and non-union facilities.

Human Resource Counseling and Training

Brian also guides clients through challenging day-to-day human resource issues involving the application and practical impact of the full range of employment laws, including:

  • Disciplinary and termination issues
  • Workplace investigations
  • Workforce reductions
  • Employment agreements
  • Restrictive covenant issues
  • Employment policy administration
  • Wage-hour issues
  • Compliance with federal, state and local employment laws

Brian trains managers and supervisors on their responsibilities under employment laws and proactive steps they can take to help manage risk and inoculate their organizations from liability.

Employment Litigation and Defense

Brian’s broad employment law experience includes defending employers faced with discrimination, retaliation, harassment and other employment claims in federal and state courts and agencies across the country. He has handled appeals in multiple federal Circuit Courts of Appeal and the Indiana Supreme Court.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Indiana

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Education

University of Illinois College of Law
J.D. magna cum laude (2006)

DePauw University
B.A. (2000)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Drafting Employment Contracts: Covenants Not to Compete, Independent Contractor Agreements, IP Rights Agreements and Other Employment Contracts
    Contract Drafting Seminar and Webcast, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, December 2015
  • Title VII and ADA Case Update
    Recent Developments in Employment Law, ICLEF, December 2014
  • Ten Things You Can Do Today to Stay Out of Court Tomorrow
    Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association Value Added Series, October 2014
  • Employee Policies and Work Rules: Up-to-Date Best Practices for Employers
    Indiana Electric Cooperatives HR & Administrators Seminar, October 2014
  • Labor Law in a New Era: Understanding and Applying the NLRB's Recent Decisions Affecting Employee Handbooks, Work Rules and Policies
    LeadingAge Indiana HR Day, June 2014
    Tippecanoe Area Human Resources Association, May 2014
  • Top 10 Ways to Ensure Legal Action Under Wage and Hour Laws
    Tippecanoe Area Human Resources Association, May 2014
  • Six Things Every Employment Lawyer Should Know About Labor Law
    54 Practical Issues, Tips and Traps for Employment Lawyers, ICLEF, April 2014
  • Common Ways to Get Into Trouble After Deciding to Terminate an Employee 
    20th Annual Indiana Chamber Employment Law Seminar, Indianapolis, 2014
  • Employment Law Seminar
    Indiana Chamber of Commerce, 2013

Firm Blog Contributions

  • LaborSphere – a resource providing coverage and insights on breaking cases, recently enacted legislation and a broad range of labor issues

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association — Section of Labor and Employment Law (Committee on Practice & Procedure Under the NLRA, Management Co-Chair, Indiana Region)
  • Electric Cooperative Bar Association
  • Indiana State Bar Association
  • Indianapolis Bar Association

Civic Activities

  • KIPP Indianapolis, Inc. — Board of Directors, 2011-present (Chair, 2013-16)
  • Teach For America Indianapolis — Regional Advisory Board & Regional Alumni Board, Member, 2009-13
  • The Penrod Society — Member, 2008-present
  • United Way of Central Indiana — Board of Directors, 2016-present; Leadership United, 2007-08
  • Faegre Baker Daniels United Way Campaign — Co-Chair, 2008-09

Firm Leadership

  • Office Leader, Indianapolis, 2024-present

Honors

  • Chambers USA — Indiana, Labor & Employment, 2024
  • Indianapolis Business Journal — Forty Under 40, 2017
  • Indiana Super Lawyers — Rising Star, Employment & Labor, 2015-18
  • University of Illinois College of Law — Order of the Coif; Rickert Award; Harno Scholar; National Moot Court Team; Frederick Green Moot Court, Best Brief, 2004; Dean's List; CALI Award for Excellence in Sports Law
  • DePauw University — Charles and Mary Beard Senior Seminar Award, 2000; William Wallace Carson History Scholar
Awards Methodology
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.