Matthew W. Stiles

Matt’s unique talent stack encompasses a broad range of expertise in the laws affecting the workplace, including labor and union relations, employment litigation, employee benefits, and executive compensation, trade secrets and restrictive covenants, Service Contract Act and federal contract employer compliance, PEO and staffing industry law, and employment law for faith-based employers.

Matt has extensive experience counseling employers involved in federal and state agency investigations, including his on-going appointment as Deputy Attorney General to represent the State of Alabama's interests in litigation pending against a prominent state Commission. He has successfully resolved complex, multi-party and multi-jurisdictional labor negotiations on behalf of his clients. He regularly advises employers and benefits consultants in strategic employee benefit plan design, implementation, and compliance. PEO and staffing industry employers regularly engage Matt to advise them on all aspects of their business, including for consultation with and defense of their own clients.

Prior to joining Maynard Cooper, Matt was Associate Counsel for three years with a Fortune 500 bank, where he was responsible for the bank’s labor, employment and employee benefits matters nationally. Matt is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama School of Law.

Matt's skills and reputation continually distinguish him as a leading labor and employment and benefits lawyer. Since 2008, he has been recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business as a leading practitioner in the area of Labor and Employment. In 2018, 2019, and again in 2020, he was selected as the exclusive recipient in the State of Alabama for the Lexology Client Choice Award for Employment & Benefits Law, a selection made by in-house general counsel recognizing lawyers who add value to clients' business above and beyond others in the market. In addition, Matt is consistently recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© and Super Lawyers, in which he has been included among the Top 50 Lawyers in Alabama since 2014. In October 2021, Matt was inducted to serve as President of the Alabama State Bar’s Labor & Employment Section.

“Matt is a rare strategic thinker in his field. He is a dynamic and engaging speaker, and a true professional."

"He is extremely responsive and his client service focus consistently shines through. We rely on him often and he always delivers practical, logical and sound legal advice."

• Appointed as Deputy Attorney General to represent the State of Alabama’s interests in litigation pending in federal and state courts against a prominent state Commission
• Representation of a nationwide network of employee benefits brokers and consultants regarding strategic plan design and Affordable Care Act compliance
• Defended Region 4 (Philadelphia) National Labor Relations Board petition by the Jersey Nurses Economic Security Organization (“JNESO”), District Council 1, IUOE, attempting to organize licensed practical nurses who were statutory supervisors under Section 2(11) of National Labor Relations Act, and secured the Union’s withdrawal of the petition prior to pre-election hearing
• Served as lead negotiator and counsel to a multinational government services contractor in acquisition-related effects bargaining with the Machinists Union that resulted in elimination of pension plan benefits
• Served as labor counsel and lead negotiator to a federal contractor operating at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center regarding its labor contracts with the International Association of Machinists and the local Building Trades Council
• Defended an Alabama nursing home in a 10-plaintiff Title VII, age discrimination, and retaliation suit that resulted in the award of 10 individual summary judgment opinions in favor of the nursing home

Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Alabama State Bar Association, President of the Labor & Employment Section (2021-2022)
• Birmingham Bar Association

Civic Involvement

• Birmingham Kiwanis
• American Cancer Society of Central Alabama, Board Member (2008-2019); Life Inspiration Awards Chairman (2011-2013)
• Coastal Conservation Association, Birmingham Chapter, Board Member (2005-present)
• Ducks Unlimited, Birmingham Chapter, Board Member (2005-2014); Chairman (2006-2009)
• UAB College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Leadership Council (2011-2013) Leadership UAB (2010)
• Birmingham Museum of Art Junior Patrons, Board Member (2003-2008); President (2006-2008)
• City of Mountain Brook Tree Commission, Commissioner (2004-2008)
• United Way of Central Alabama, Visiting Allocation Team Member (2008)
• Alabama Certified Master Gardeners (2001-present)

• April 28, 2021 – “Employment Law Update” to the College and University Professional Association via webinar
• October 9, 2021 – “Annual Law Update” to the Alabama State Bar Labor and Employment Section, Gulf Shores, AL
• February 23, 2021 - "2021 Annual Legal Update" for East Alabama Society for Human Resource Management, Auburn, AL
• January 28, 2021 - "Annual Employment Law Update" for the Society for Human Resource Management Montgomery chapter, Montgomery, AL
• November 17, 2020 - "2020 Legal Update and Post-Election Briefing" for Marshall County Human Resource Management Association, Zoom
• October 17, 2020 – “Labor, Employment, and Employee Benefits Update” for Marshall County Human Resources Management Association, Guntersville, AL
• October 21, 2020 – “The New Health Reimbursement Arrangements” for Exude, Philadelphia, PA
• July 17, 2020: “The New HR Vocabulary: Quarantinis, Covidiots, Social Discodancing, and Yes, You’re ‘On Mute’” for the Society of Human Resource Management - Montgomery Chapter's July 2020 meeting, Montgomery, AL
• July 15, 2020 – “Social Media Compliance for Public Sector Employees” webinar for the City of Auburn, AL
• April 15, 2020 – “COVID-19 Employer Strategies” webinar for the Alabama Grocers Association
• April 9, 2020 – “COVID-19 Virtual Forum” webinar for the Southwest Transit Association
• February 27, 2020 – “Alabama State Employment Law Legislative Update” for the Society of Human Resource Management – Alabama State Council, Montgomery, AL
• January 27, 2020 – “Employee Benefits Update” for members of the TRUE Network of Advisors, San Diego, CA
• January 16, 2020 – “Employment Law and Immigration Update” for the Society of Human Resource Management – Montgomery Chapter’s January 2020 meeting, Montgomery, AL
• October 10, 2019: “Employment Law Update” for the 5th Annual Human Resources & Management Team Workshop presented by the Cullman Area SHRM at Wallace State Community College, Hanceville, AL
• August 20, 2019: "EEO-1's New Pay Data Reporting - Due September 30" for the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists
• August 13, 2019: “Recent Developments Under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Pending EEOC Initiatives” for the North Alabama Society for Human Resource Management’s Workshop, Huntsville, AL
• June 7, 2019: “Recent Developments under the Fair Labor Standards Act” for the Gulf Coast Human Resource Association Symposium, Gulfport, MS
• April 15, 2019: “Employment Law for Faith-Based Employers” for the Project 1:27 Conference, St. Louis, Missouri
• January 24, 2019: “Employment Law Update” for the Montgomery County Society of Human Resource Management, Montgomery, AL
• November 8, 2018: “Employment Law Update” for the Marshall County Society of Human Resource Management, Guntersville, AL
• October 26, 2018: "General Session: Legal Update" for the University of Alabama Human Resources Management Conference, Birmingham, AL
• June 7, 2018: “Recent Developments in Labor, Employment, & Employee Benefits Law” for Strategic Employee Benefits Services, Cincinnati, OH
• May 21, 2018: “When Civility & ‘Civil’ Rights Collide: Employee Social Media & Off Duty Conduct Policies” for Southern Association of Public Personnel Administrators Conference, Birmingham, AL
• May 17, 2018: “Effective Responses to the ‘Me Too’ Movement’s Indictment of HR, Top Management” for Montgomery SHRM, Montgomery, AL
• May 11, 2018: “The Affordable Care Act and Employee Misclassification” presented to National Employment Lawyers Association, Alabama Chapter, Birmingham, AL
• May 1, 2018: “Employment Law Update” for Alabama State SHRM Conference, Birmingham, AL
• April 5, 2018: “Posts, Tweets, Likes, and Pokes: Best Practices for Social Media in the Workplace” for Lake Martin Economic Development Alliance, Alexander City, AL
• March 13, 2018: "Tax Reform and Resulting Developments Under Labor, Employment, and Employee Benefits Law" for Colonial Life’s Broker Summit, Birmingham, AL
• February 9, 2017: "Banks as Federal Contractors" for CLE Alabama Banking Law Update, Hoover, AL
• October 24, 2017: "Legal Update Seminar" for Marshall County Human Resources Management Association, Guntersville, AL
• October 20, 2017: "Legal Update" Keynote Address for Human Resources Management Conference, Birmingham, AL
• September 28, 2017: "The Future of Healthcare" for Lowery Benefit Services and CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, St. Louis, MO
• May 16, 2017: "Employment Law Update" for Alabama Society of Human Resource Management State Conference, Birmingham, AL
• May 10, 2017: "Recent Developments in Labor, Employment, & Benefits Law" for Strategic Employee Benefits, Cincinnati, OH
• April 10, 2017: "Legal Issues Update for Christian Homes and Family Services" for Project 1:27, Abilene, TX
• March 14, 2017: "The ACA Today and What Employers Need to Know for Tomorrow" for Intrepid, Denver, CO
• February 9, 2017: “Crystal Ball Gazing: Labor, Employment, & Benefits Law in the Trump Administration” for Montgomery Society for Human Resource Management, Montgomery, AL
• October 14, 2016: "Legal Update” for Human Resources Management Conference, Birmingham, AL
• October 14, 2016: “Recent Developments in Employment Discrimination Law” for Tennessee Valley Society for Human Resource Management, Decatur, AL
• October 4, 2016: “Employment Law Update” for HR Summit, Marietta, GA
• August 12, 2016: “Top 10 HR Lessons from NBC’s The Office” for Tuscaloosa Human Resources Professionals, Tuscaloosa, AL
• July 28, 2016: “Top 10 Employee Relations Lessons from NBC’s The Office” for the Alabama Association of Public Personnel Administrators, Eufala, AL
• July 19, 2016: “Employment Law Compliance Update” for North Alabama Business Ethics Roundtable, Huntsville, AL
• June 7, 2016: “Deconstructing the Final FLSA Overtime Regulations” for Mobile Chamber of Commerce, Mobile, AL
• April 11, 2016: “Employment Law Workshop for Faith Based Employers” for the Christian Child and Family Services Association 63rd Annual Conference, Huntsville, AL
• March 15, 2016: “An Impressionist Retrospective of the ACA Today and What Employers Need to Know for Tomorrow” in Denver, CO
• February 23, 2016: “Affordable Care Act Compliance Update” for Albertville Chamber of Commerce, Albertville, AL
• February 18, 2016: "Service Contract Act/Walsh-Healey & ACA Compliance" Webinar for Government Solutions Webinar February Series
• February 11, 2016: “FLSA Wage and Hour Update” to Shoals Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management, Florence, AL
• December 3, 2015: “Employer Health Insurance Innovation & Legal Compliance Considerations” for the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Stout, Wisconsin
• October 29, 2015: “Affordable Care Act Workshop” for Marshall County Society for Human Resource Management, Guntersville, Alabama
• October 14, 2015: “Overtime Exemptions & Employee Classifications: A Wage & Hour Update” for the Cullman Society for Human Resource Management, Cullman, Alabama
• October 9, 2015: “The Developing Law of Pregnancy in the Workplace” for the Labor & Employment Section of the Alabama State Bar, Destin, Florida
• October 7, 2015: “Legal Update” for the Human Resource Management Conference, Birmingham, Alabama
• September 29, 2015: “Recent Developments in Labor, Employment, and Employee Benefits Law” for Alabama Grocers Association, Birmingham, Alabama
• May 19, 2015: “Special Issues in Employer ACA Compliance” for Pareto’s Contrarian Re, LLC Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee
• May 5, 2015: “Small Business and the Affordable Care Act” for Mobile Chamber of Commerce, Mobile, Alabama
• April 23, 2015: “Affordable Care Act Legal Update” for Alabama Association of Health Underwriters, Birmingham, Alabama
• April 15, 2015: “Employment Law Update” for Medical Group Management Association, Birmingham, Alabama
• April 8, 2015: “HIPAA Compliance and Fiduciary Concerns” for Birmingham Society for Human Resource Management, Birmingham, Alabama
• March 24, 2015: “An Affordable Care Act Update” for Montgomery Society for Human Resource Management, Montgomery, Alabama
• March 11, 2015: “Employer Health Insurance Innovation & Legal Compliance Considerations” for the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Stout, Wisconsin
• February 11, 2015: “Critical Conversations: Employer Termination & Discharge Decision
• December 18, 2014: "A Legislative and Regulatory Update" for CLE Alabama 2014 Employment Law Seminar - Birmingham, Alabama
• December 12, 2014: "The Affordable Care Act: What Every Business Needs to Know Now" for Innovations in Health Care Summit, Mobile, Ala.
• November 19, 2014: "An Employee Benefits Update" for Intrepid of Colorado, Denver, Colo.