2025 Law Series Speakers
Bill Duda | Wage and Hour; ADA & FMLA
Since 2000, Bill has been helping employers understand and comply with a broad range of employment laws, including Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, the FLSA and local wage/hour law, workers’ compensation, trade secret law and, restrictive covenants. He regularly represents management in employment-related litigation as well as in administrative matters before the EEOC and its state deferral agencies, the United States Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, and the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Before becoming a lawyer, Bill was employed in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, construction and retail. At the time Bill enrolled in the University of South Carolina’s School of Law, he had been employed for several years as a retail store manager for a national drug store chain. Bill’s personal employment and management experience provides him a realistic and practical approach to the legal challenges employers face on a day-to-day basis.
Kyle Dillard | OSHA
Mr. Dillard has extensive litigation experience including state and federal courts and in the arbitration context. His primary area of focus with respect to Ogletree Deakins’ Labor and Employment Practice is ERISA litigation. In that capacity, Mr. Dillard has defended clients in a variety federal district courts against claims arising under long-term and short-term disability, healthcare and employee stock ownership plans.
A native of the Upstate of South Carolina, Mr. Dillard graduated from Furman University in 1995 and received his law degree from the University of South Carolina in 2001 before returning to the Greenville area, where he resides with his wife and two young children.
Sarah Gable | Unemployment Claims and Employee Handbooks/Policies
Sarah Gable joined the firm’s Columbia, South Carolina, office in January 2021. Prior to joining the firm, Sarah worked as staff counsel at the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission wherein she provided guidance to investigators on administrative complaints under Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and EPA, and represented the agency in enforcement suits in both employment and housing matters. Sarah has litigated disputes arising out of Title VII, ADA, ADEA, EPA, Sections 1981 and 1983, FMLA, and a host of South Carolina state law claims.
Sarah received her J.D. from Mercer University’s School of Law in 2014, where she also graduated with a certificate in Advanced Legal Writing, Research, and Drafting. Sarah earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science (Global Affairs) and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (Law, Liberty, and Justice) from Clemson University in 2011.
John Merrell | Labor Laws
John Merrell is an attorney in Ogletree’s Greenville, South Carolina office. Mr. Merrell represents and counsels management on a range of labor and employment law issues. His practice areas include employment policies and procedures, employee relations, unfair labor practice and presentation and federal and state litigation involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, noncompetition covenants, and breach of employment agreements.
John is a native of Walhalla, South Carolina. He graduated from Clemson University in 2003 with a degree in Financial Management. In 2006, he graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Michael Nail | Workers Compensation
Michael embraces challenges and enjoys assisting clients navigate unique legal issues. Michael represents employers in a variety of labor and employment litigation, including suits under Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, and other anti-discrimination laws and employment related torts.
Outside of work, Michael enjoys many activities with his wife and their four young children, as well as his community and professional involvements, fitness initiatives, and spectator sports.
Michael Henthorne | EEO Compliance; Special Employment Issues
D. Michael Henthorne focuses his practice on representing management in employment litigation. A specialist in employment and labor law as certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court, Michael has litigated matters involving Americans with Disabilities Act, wage and hour disputes, employment torts and contracts, and Title VII.
He has been a featured speaker at seminars and corporate training events and makes presentations for numerous professional organizations. He has also taught employment and labor law as an adjunct faculty member at Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina.
Chris Near | Government Contracting - Reporting and Obligations
Chris Near is an experienced attorney working with Ogletree's Affirmative Action/OFCCP Compliance Practice Group. He helps defend federal contractors and subcontractors throughout the nation on jurisdictional, compliance, and enforcement issues.
Chris is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.
Daniel Sulton | Employee Benefits/ERISA
Daniel is a member of Ogletree's employee benefits and executive compensation practice group and focuses in the areas of employee benefit plan compliance and litigation. He also counsels employers on retirement and executive compensation issues and represents clients in benefit plan litigation.
Daniel is a frequent speaker on employee benefit topics and has been quoted in several national publications including the National Law Journal, EmployeeBenefit News and Inside Counsel.