Scott Simmons focuses his practice heavily on: (1) provision of general-counsel and dispute-resolution services; (2) preventative employment counseling, including due-diligence review of private-equity mergers and acquisitions; and (3) defense of workplace-related disputes. Mr. Simmons regularly counsels his clients on a myriad of employment-related topics, including wage-and-hour compliance, restrictive covenants, hiring, termination, leave laws, and general personnel policies. He also has significant experience defending employment-related disputes in multiple forums, including both state and federal courts, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (and similar state agencies), the U.S. and Tennessee Departments of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Mr. Simmons serves as national outside employment counsel to one of the world’s largest outdoor recreation manufacturers, and counts as clients a variety of businesses across the healthcare, manufacturing, construction, transportation, distribution, and service industries.

Previously, Mr. Simmons spent several years as a partner, COO (and licensed agent) in a commercial insurance agency, where he managed operational, financial, and legal risks for the company. Relying on his past business experience (and his MBA), Scott draws heavily on his background to advice clients not only from a legal perspective, but also to provide business solutions that address his clients’ challenges.

Mr. Simmons also is an ordained minister, and he served several years full-time as Senior Pastor of a multi-tiered church that averaged more than 300 in weekly worship attendance. Using the empathy and negotiation skills he fostered in that position, Mr. Simmons is carving out an alternative dispute resolution practice as a mediator and arbitrator of all types of employment-and-commercial-related disputes.

Mr. Simmons also is an experienced and sought-after speaker who injects humor and real-life storytelling to teach on a variety of employment- and business-related topics. Within the firm, he serves as Co-Chair of Miller & Martin’s Workplace Environmental, Health and Safety/OSHA practice group, and he has served a member both of the firm’s Hiring and Recruiting Committees.