Trip Umbach chairs the firm’s labor and employment law practice group. For 30 years, Trip has represented both public and private employers in all types of labor and employment disputes, from defending discrimination claims to handling traditional union labor relations matters. He regularly advises clients concerning non-competition agreements and litigates cases both to challenge and enforce them. A significant aspect of his practice is helping clients make employment decisions and develop policies that reduce the risk of being sued by employees or becoming unionized.
Professional Recognition
- Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- Ranked in the field of Labor and Employment by Chambers USA
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®
- A "Litigation Star" for the state of Alabama in Benchmark Litigation
- Named to Who's Who Legal Labour, Employment & Benefits 2015; 2016; 2018; 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022
- Trip graduated first in his class from the University of Alabama School of Law and was an editor on the Alabama Law Review
- Following law school, Trip clerked for the Honorable Patrick E. Higginbotham on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Community Involvement
- Trip is Past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama.
- Trip has served as Vice President of Legal and Legislative Affairs for the Birmingham Society for Human Resource Management.
- He has been involved in Boy Scouts at the Council and Troop levels.
Highlights
- Defeated certification of an FLSA collective action brought by employees of an assisted living facility who claimed they worked through lunch without being paid.
- Secured a favorable ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court affirming a Rule 12 dismissal for our client on Tort of Outrage and Wrongful Discharge in Violation of Public Policy claims.
- Obtained summary judgment for one of the largest wood products manufacturers in a case alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
- Won a jury verdict for a trucking company against a former truck driver’s claim that the company fired him because of his race and in retaliation for his complaints about his co-workers’ racial slurs.
- Obtained numerous summary judgments for employers on claims of discrimination, retaliation, and state tort law.
- Enforced an employer’s non-compete agreement with a former employee by obtaining a jury verdict awarding the employer lost profits and rejecting the employee’s claim of interference with his new employment.
- Defended an employer and its employee against non-compete claims.
Presentations and Publications
- Considering the Results Obtained In Awarding Attorney’s Fees-When are successful Fee-Shifting Claims Related to Unsuccessful Or Non-Fee Shifting Claim, CLE Alabama – Employment Law Update, Birmingham, AL, December 2, 2022.
- The Gig Economy and Determining Whether a Worker Should be Classified as an Employee or Independent Contractor, Birmingham, AL, December 17, 2021.
- Risk Management – Resident Care & Employment Issues, Crowne Health Care Leadership Conference, Orange Beach, AL, October 18, 2018.
- How Does the #MeToo Movement Affect Long Term Care Employers, Alabama Nursing Home Association Annual Meeting, Birmingham, AL, June 25, 2018.
- What Do You Want to Know About Social Media?, Alabama City County Management Association, Birmingham, AL, January 26, 2017.
- The Ins and Outs of the New Overtime Rules and How to Prepare for the New Law, Sponsored Seminar, Birmingham, AL, June 16, 2016.
News & Insights
- SDF Labor & Employment Newsletter Alert – September 2023
- 30 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024
- Starnes Davis Florie Ranked a Top Law Firm by Chambers USA 2023
- Are your Policies & Practices Aligned with the Upcoming Enhanced Protections for Pregnant Workers?
- Labor & Employment Group News Alert: What Should You Do in Light of the FTC’s Effort to Ban Non-Compete Agreements?
- 16 Starnes Attorneys Listed in the 2022 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
- Starnes Davis Florie Highly Ranked in Benchmark Litigation 2023
- 30 SDF ATTORNEYS LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2023
- TRIP UMBACH NAMED TO WHO’S WHO LEGAL: LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT & BENEFITS 2022
- STARNES DAVIS FLORIE RANKED A TOP FIRM BY CHAMBERS USA 2022
- Starnes Attorneys Umbach, Newton & Still Secure Favorable Ruling from Alabama Supreme Court
- SDF L&E News Alert: Employers Can No Longer Force Employees To Arbitrate Sexual Assault/Harassment Claims
- US Department of Labor Announces Enforcement, Effort for Focused Inspections in Hospitals, Nursing Care Facilities Treating COVID-19 Patients
- Vaccine Mandate Update: OSHA Clear to Enforce, CMS in Limbo
- TWENTY-TWO ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2021 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS
- Biden-Harris Administration Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers
- OSHA Issues Vaccine Mandate: Common Questions on OSHA’s Large Employer Vaccine Mandate
- Update on Vaccine Mandates
- STARNES RANKED AS A “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FIRM” IN THE 2022 EDITION OF BENCHMARK LITIGATION
- PRESIDENT BIDEN’S COVID-19 ACTION PLAN: WHAT PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKFORCE VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
Fun Facts
- Trip loves to quail hunt with his two Llewellyn Setters, Rex and Shirley Mae.
- Hall of Famer Frank Thomas beat Trip by one home run in a home run derby when Trip was playing baseball for the University of Virginia.
- Trip qualified for and swam in the U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals in 2022.
- Trip’s birth certificate lists his father’s employment as the Atlanta Braves. His dad Arnold was a pitcher and one of his teammates was Hank Aaron.