Frank B. Shuster

Frank is a seasoned employment litigator, with his roots in traditional labor law, and a certified mediator.

He represents employers in complex labor and employment matters, including class and collective actions, appellate work, and wage and hour compliance. He guides clients through labor arbitration, NLRB proceedings, and employment disputes in state and federal courts, with a focus on resolving conflicts efficiently and cost-effectively.

He has argued cases on behalf of employers in nine federal Circuit Courts of Appeal and was counsel of record in Hertz v. Friend, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court victory clarifying corporate jurisdiction rules. Frank has successfully defended against class and collective action certifications, secured summary judgment dismissals in over 100 cases, and handled litigation involving the FMLA, ADA, employee benefits, sexual harassment claims, and traditional labor issues such as union negotiations and unfair labor practice charges.

Honors & Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Employment Law Management, Labor Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor & Employment (1989-2022, 2024-2026)
• Georgia Super Lawyers (2004-2018)

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent^®    

About Me

Frank is an avid reader of novels by Clive Cussler, Stephen Berry and, on a much lighter note, Dave Barry. Having been raised in Baltimore when the Colts were king, he purchased season tickets to the Atlanta Falcons in 1978 and has held them ever since. Loyalty is part of his DNA.

Representative Matters

• Counsel of record in the case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that a corporation’s principal place of business for purposes of establishing diversity jurisdiction was the location of its corporate headquarters. The 9-0 opinion put an end to federal district courts in California remanding Class Action Fairness cases to state court based on a finding that a corporation’s principal place of business was in California, and not in the state where its headquarters were located, because the corporation had more employees and revenue in California compared to any other state.
• Counsel of record in a case in which the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that dock workers tasked with the safe loading of freight were exempt from the overtime requirements of the FLSA and affirming the grant of summary judgment by the district court. An opinion he used 10 years later to end a similar case before it ever got into discovery.
• Counsel of record in multiple cases in California and New York in which class and collective action certification was denied by a federal district court and affirmed by either the Ninth or Second Circuit Courts of Appeal.
• Counsel of record in three actions filed against employers by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Two were dismissed on summary judgment in favor of the employer and the third was dismissed by agreeing to buy a set of hearing aids for a young child. The latter being an example of Frank’s focus on ending litigation quickly and in a cost-effective manner.

Education

Emory University School of Law

• J.D., with distinction, 1976

University of Maryland

• B.A., History, cum laude, 1973
• Phi Beta Kappa 

News

Events

Legal Analysis

Professional

• American Bar Association
• Georgia Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
• North American Transportation Employee Relations Association
• Appointed by Governor Joe Frank Harris to serve as Special Master in employment disputes involving public employees 
• Emory Law School, Adjunct Professor teaching Labor and Employment law classes