BiographyWhitney M. Dowdy represents employers and management clients regarding all aspects of employment law, with an emphasis on the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims. As a shareholder in the Memphis Baker Donelson office, Ms. Dowdy has extensive litigation experience representing clients in employment matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in various state and federal courts. Ms. Dowdy's commercial litigation experience includes defending companies in land-use disputes and breach of contract matters, including ones brought by vendors, customers and third parties. In several of these cases, she has secured summary judgment and dismissal.
Ms. Dowdy's work for employers includes drafting employee handbooks and policy manuals, training supervisors and managers on the implementation of these policies, and providing guidance and advice on current employment-related legislation and agency initiatives. Ms. Dowdy has successfully defended employers against employee claims and audits by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, and various other state and federal agencies. She regularly advises higher education institutions on matters related to Title IX.
Ms. Dowdy also has experience representing mortgage loan originators and servicers in mortgage-related litigation matters, as well as other clients in eminent domain matters, appellate actions and commercial litigation.
Ms. Dowdy previously served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Karl S. Forester, U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky.