J. Keith Coates, Jr. is a member in the firm whose primary
areas of practice include employment and labor law litigation, and general
commercial litigation. Mr. Coates has represented clients in civil rights
litigation before trial and appellate courts nationwide, and in administrative
proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor
Relations Board, U.S. Department of Labor, and various state administrative
agencies.
Mr. Coates represents clients in all types of labor and
employment law matters, including litigation and counseling in the areas of
employment discrimination, workplace harassment, employee discipline,
employment contracts, covenants not to compete, wage and hour compliance,
collective bargaining issues, accommodating disabilities, family and medical
leave compliance, drug and alcohol testing, and employee benefits. He also
counsels clients in litigation avoidance and compliance with various federal
and state laws related to employment and assists clients in the preparation and
revision of employee handbooks, employment policies and related materials. Mr.
Coates also handles a variety of commercial litigation, with an emphasis on
business torts and commercial contract disputes.
Mr. Coates is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee. He graduated
with honors from the University of the South in 1995 with a B.A. in political
science. Mr. Coates earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from The University of
Tennessee College of Law in 1998 where he was a member of the Moot Court Board,
Order of the Coif and Order of the Barristers.
Prior to joining Woolf McClane, Mr. Coates practiced with an
international law firm in its Atlanta, Georgia, and Raleigh, North Carolina
offices. He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Knoxville Bar
Association. He is currently licensed to practice law in Georgia, North
Carolina, and Tennessee.