Scott E. Simmons
Chattanooga
Office: 423.785.8475 | Fax: 423.321.1675
scott.simmons@millermartin.com
Practice Areas
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Class & Collective Action
- Employment Law Compliance Advice & Training
- Employment Litigation
- General Counsel Services
- Labor & Employment
- Labor & Union Relations
- Litigation
- Trade Secrets & Non-Compete Litigation
- Wage & Hour
- Workplace Accommodation & Leave Issues
- Workplace Environmental, Health & Safety/OSHA
- Overview
- Experience
- Education
- Involvement
- In-Depth
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Overview
Scott Evan Simmons focuses his practice on employment litigation and preventative counseling in the firm's Labor and Employment practice. Scott regularly counsels clients on a wide range of employment-related topics, including wage-and-hour compliance, hiring, termination, and creation and modification of general personnel policies. He also has significant experience defending a wide variety of employment-related lawsuits in front of a myriad of employment-related forums, including state and federal courts in multiple states, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, similar state agencies, and the National Labor Relations Board.
Previously, Scott spent several years as a partner, chief operating officer, and licensed agent in an independent commercial insurance agency, where he managed operational and legal risks as well as regulatory compliance. In this role, he became well-versed in state insurance laws and regulations, and assisted with compliance with the agency’s multi-state insurer licensing, as well as negotiation of contracts with clients, carriers and other industry partners. Relying on his past business experience (and his MBA), Scott draws on his background to advise clients not only from a legal perspective, but also to provide a fresh set of business eyes to address his clients' immediate and long-term challenges.
Scott also is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, who served several years full-time as Senior Pastor of a medium-sized church. Using the leadership, empathy, and negotiation skills he fostered in this position, Scott is carving out an alternative dispute resolution practice as a mediator and arbitrator of all types of employment-related disputes. He also is an experienced and sought-after speaker who injects humor and real-life storytelling to teach on a variety of employment- and business-related topics.
Scott has served on Miller & Martin's Hiring Committee and as co-chair of the firm's Workplace Environmental, Health & Safety/OSHA practice group.
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Experience
- Obtained summary judgment for employer in arbitration proceeding on race and disability discrimination claims.
- Negotiated a favorable settlement for employer in front of TOSHA relating to a workplace death claim.
- Obtained defense verdict as lead counsel in bench trial on claim of unpaid wages by terminated employee.
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Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Tennessee College of Law, 2010
- Order of the Coif
- Editor-in-Chief, Transactions; The Tennessee Journal of Business Law
- Editor, Tennessee Law Review
- M.B.A., summa cum laude, Finance, The University of Tennessee, 2008
- B.S., magna cum laude, University of Tennessee, 2005
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Tennessee College of Law, 2010
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Involvement
Bar Admissions- Tennessee
Court Admissions- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
Accolades- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America - Commercial Litigation; Labor and Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment, since 2023
Memberships- Chattanooga Bar Association
- Southeast Tennessee Society of Human Resource Management, Board of Directors
- Tennessee Bar Association
Community- Chattanooga Chamber International Business Council, Board of Directors (Past)
- Red Bank Baptist Church, Deacon Chairman and Personnel Committee
- The Benjamin House (Kampala, Uganda), Board of Directors (Past)
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News
- Miller & Martin Elects Attorneys Elizabeth Marquardt and Scott Simmons as Members
- Miller & Martin Advised L2 Brands in its Acquisition of Ouray Sportswear
- 9 Miller & Martin Attorneys Named to 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™
- Miller & Martin Represented RestorePro Reconstruction in its Sale to Fleet Response
- Miller & Martin Represented GSM Holdings, Inc. in its Acquisition of Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Inc. Show more
Alerts- Supreme Court Justice Breyer Retirement Opens Door for First Biden Administration Nomination
- Supreme Court Blocks OSHA's COVID-19 Vaccine-or-Test Standard for Private Employers
- OSHA Issues Guidance Highlighting Most Frequently Cited Standards During Coronavirus Inspections
- OSHA Publishes FAQ Regarding Face Coverings, Masks and Respirators in the Workplace
- OSHA Issues Revised Enforcement Policies for Employee Protection Amid COVID-19 Show more
Prior to practicing law, Scott was a sportswriter, during which time he had opportunities to interview such legends as Lou Holtz, Pat Summitt, Johnny Majors and Rick Pitino, among many others.