Larry J. Rector

Representative Experience

• Obtained Defense Verdict in a class/collective action litigation involving a nationwide class asserting claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act
• Negotiated pre-suit settlements for clients in sensitive employment matters
• Assisted clients in Department of Labor/OSHA investigations
• Drafted employment policies and handbooks
• Drafted and revised policies for faculty, staff, and student handbooks for colleges and universities
• Handled numerous FLSA/Wage and Hour issues, including class actions, for clients both in litigation and in the investigative stage by the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division
• Defended discrimination claims of race, gender, age, disability, and national origin as well as retaliation claims in state and federal courts, as well as claims brought before the EEOC and state human rights agencies in West Virginia, Texas and Washington State
• Counseled employers on a variety of state and federal employment laws, including the ADA, PWFA, FMLA, USERRA, FLSA, OWBPA, and WARN
• Assisted several clients in planning and implementing large scale voluntary and involuntary reductions in force
• Argued several appeals before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Secured Defense Verdict in a jury trial for Regional Hospital involving wrongful discharge, breach of contract and West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act Claims
• Federal Court trial for a construction company disputing the validity of a collective bargaining agreement with a local trade union and asserting fraud by the union. Verdict for construction company.
• Defended a national industrial cleaning enterprise in a “bet the company” collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Tried the case to a jury and obtained a complete defense verdict.

Licensed In

• West Virginia
• Texas

Education

• J.D. University of Nebraska College of Law

• B.A. Morningside College

Memberships

• Fellow, West Virginia Bar Foundation, 2023 – present
• Registered Lobbyist, West Virginia
• JAG Officer, United States Army Reserves and Nebraska National Guard (Retired)
• Member, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Harrison County Chamber of Commerce
• Corporate INTL 2017 Employment Lawyer of the Year in West Virginia
• Super Lawyers®
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• West Virginia Member, National Employers Counsel Network
• Leadership Harrison 2002
• Leadership West Virginia 2009
• Charter Member, Wage & Hour Defense Institute
• Member and former Board Member, Harrison County Bar Association
• Editor, West Virginia Employment Law Letter (1995-2023)
• Executive Editor, Nebraska Law Review
• National Moot Court Team, University of Nebraska
• The Order of the Coif, University of Nebraska College of Law
• Silver Beaver Award, Boy Scouts of America
• Council Key 3 Award, Mountaineer Area Council, BSA 2024
• Served on Board of Directors and as General Counsel for Mountaineer Area Council of Boy Scouts of America
• Former Co-Coach of the West Virginia University National Moot Court Team for many years
• Former Board Member, Allohak Council, Boy Scouts of America
• Former member of the Board of Directors, Prickett’s Fort Memorial Foundation
• Former Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 40, BSA

Achievements

• Named Honorary Consul General of Japan in West Virginia by the Government of Japan in 2023
• 2022 Graduate, FBI Citizens Academy
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2011-Present), Employment Law – Management (2011-Present), Labor Law – Management (2011-Present), Litigation – Labor and Employment (2011-Present)
• Best Lawyers® 2021 Morgantown, WV Labor Law – Management, Lawyer of the Year
• Best Lawyers® 2020 Morgantown, WV Employment Law – Management, Lawyer of the Year
• Best Lawyers® 2018 Morgantown, WV Labor Law – Management, Lawyer of the Year

Speaking Engagements

• November 2017 – Client Presentation on West Virginia Drug Testing Programs
• Mr. Rector has regularly addressed professional organizations and clients in the areas of labor and employment law and workplace safety and has been a lecturer at the West Virginia University College of Law.
• “The Sarbanes-Oxley Act: A Parent Corporation’s Duty to Disclose Safety and Environmental Issues Related to Its Subsidiaries, and How the Internal Controls Necessary to Carry Out That Duty May Expose a Parent Corporation to Liability for the Torts of Its Subsidiaries,” The Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, January 2007.