James Fowles • Shareholder
Ogletree Deakins • Columbia, South Carolina
Visibility and Networking
Contact Information
| Ogletree Deakins 1320 Main Street Suite 600 Columbia, South Carolina 29201 |
 803.252.1300 |
 803.254.6517 |
Profile
Mr. Fowles is experienced in employment and general litigation matters, union campaigns, collective bargaining and related matters for employers in multiple jurisdictions and industries. Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Mr. Fowles served as Assistant General Counsel, Labor and Employment, for SCANA Corporation, a Fortune 500 utility holding company. In this capacity, Mr. Fowles provided legal guidance on a wide variety of labor relations, labor law, and employment law issues affecting a varied workforce, including those represented by three different unions, and also including those at non-union work places such as the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. In addition, Mr. Fowles provided significant guidance to the corporation in its successful defense of a major class action suit alleging racial discrimination.Mr. Fowles routinely advises employers on a day-to-day basis with regard to disciplinary issues, employee policies and manuals, and union contract matters. He counsels employers in managing crisis situations arising in the employment and labor relations context. Mr. Fowles has significant experience representing clients in union grievance proceedings, collective bargaining and arbitration, as well as advising clients in union avoidance and during organizational drives. Mr. Fowles has also represented many clients in complex litigation matters, including discrimination claims, wrongful termination suits, ERISA claims, breach of employment policy issues, and other significant litigation issues. An accomplished speaker, Mr. Fowles provides in-depth training in his areas of expertise for various employer groups, including front-line supervision and higher level management. Mr. Fowles is a retired Commander, United States Navy Reserve, having served on active duty for ten years as a nuclear-trained submarine officer on both fast attack and fleet ballistic missile submarines before pursuing a career in law. For recreation he enjoys time on the golf course and participation in shooting sports, especially skeet and sporting clays.
Education
- College: B.S., United States Naval Academy, 1982
- Law School: J.D., magna cum laude, University of South Carolina School of Law, 1995