Lee Tankle is a senior associate in Ogletree Deakins’ Philadelphia office. Employers count on Lee to provide sound strategic advice regarding a wide variety of employment-related matters in order to mitigate the risk of disputes and government investigations. When litigation cannot be avoided, clients of all sizes rely on his zealous and effective advocacy before courts and administrative agencies.
Lee litigates complex claims under federal and state statutes including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA), the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law (WPCL), and the nondiscrimination and wage/hour laws of many states. He represents a broad spectrum of employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and state fair employment practices agencies. Lee also litigates employment-related common law claims including breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, and misrepresentation.
Lee provides clients with day-to-day employment counseling related to workplace issues including hiring, discipline, harassment and discrimination, medical leaves, and disability accommodations. In an effort to help employers avoid litigation and position them as strongly as possible when claims do arise, he works with clients to develop and update employment policies and comprehensive employee handbooks. He also advises on a number of other personnel issues ranging from the development and enforcement of non-competition/non-solicitation agreements to compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other employee background check laws to managing ever-changing state laws governing the use of medicinal and recreational marijuana.
Lee provides litigation and counseling services to colleges and universities. Lee frequently advises colleges and universities on ADA, Fair Housing Act, and Rehabilitation Act issues related to the use of service animals and emotional support/assistance animals and defends institutions in related government investigations and litigation.
Lee also has experience advising clients on and litigating matters regarding public accommodation disability discrimination under Title III of the ADA.
Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Lee served as Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer and Associate General Counsel, US Employment Law for Nouryon, a large, international specialty chemicals company. Some of Lee’s accomplishments in this role included developing/improving day-to-day HR processes (including implementation of uniform pay practices for non-union manufacturing employees), creating a corporate internship program, and helping to improve the Company’s recruitment and retention practices. Preceding Nouryon, Lee was an associate in the Philadelphia office of a large national law firm and an associate for a mid-sized central Pennsylvania law firm.
