Daveante helps employers navigate day-to-day issues related to hiring, discipline and termination, employee pay, leaves and accommodations, cultivating an inclusive workplace, and conducting employee and management training. Support provided by Daveante also includes handling all aspects of litigation, assisting with internal and state/federal agency investigations, drafting workplace policies and employment agreements, and writing and speaking on the latest legal trends ranging from the ADA and FMLA to wage and hour issues to trade secrets to surveillance in the workplace. And, in addition to helping with workforces, Daveante defends employers against premises liability claims brought by customers, patrons and other business invitees. His recent experience includes:

• Managing the successful defense of a plumbing company against an unfair labor practices charge brought by a former employee alleging he was terminated in violation of the National Labor Relations Act;
• Leading the successful defense of a regional trucking company in a wrongful termination suit involving Title VII, constitutional and defamation claims, by obtaining judgment on the pleadings and appellate decision affirming the trial court’s judgment on the pleadings;
• Obtaining permanent injunction and six figures in damages for financial services company against former employee in violation of non-competition and non-disclosure agreement;
• Securing summary judgment in favor of a restaurant chain in a case brought by a customer alleging she was injured due to the chain’s negligence in maintaining its premises;
• Developing processes for and providing daily advice and counsel to nationwide warehousing and distribution company regarding hiring, retention, discipline, employee leave, and timekeeping;
• Leading internal investigations at two educational institutions involving allegations ranging from racial and gender discrimination to retaliation;
• Educating start-ups on common labor and employment issues they may face as their workforce grows; and
• WLJ e-Discovery Solutions team member, handling review and production of ESI in complex litigation.

Before joining the firm, Daveante worked as a law clerk to the Honorable Brian S. Miller, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

If Daveante looks familiar, it may be because you saw him in one of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery’s recent commercials from its marketing campaign highlighting past scholarship recipients.

Daveante earned his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2016 and receiving the M. Jeff Starling, Jr. Award, given annually by the University of Arkansas School of Law for excellence in labor and employment law. While in law school, Jones served as an Articles Editor for the Arkansas Law Review and his article, “Protecting Biometric Information in Arkansas,” 69 Ark. L. Rev. 117 (2016), was published in the Arkansas Law Review.

He was also one of 30 management-side labor and employment associate attorneys competitively selected to participate in the National Employment Law Council Academy, an intensive skills-building program with highly accomplished employment trial lawyers and in-house counsel from Fortune 500 companies.

Most recently, Daveante completed the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Trial Institute, a trial skills training course conducted in coordination with faculty consisting of highly accomplished trial lawyers from the American Bar Association and National Employment Law Council.

Daveante was recognized as one of Arkansas Business’ 2020 New Influentials: 20 in their 20s, an honor earned based on accomplishments, responsibilities and those believed to be ahead of their time. He is also a recent graduate of Leadership Arkansas Class XVI, a program of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.

In 2024, he received the Rising Star Award by the National Employment Law Council. The award recognizes management side labor and employment law practitioners with less than 10 years of experience who have evidenced the skills and aptitude for excellence both to the legal profession and to giving back to the community, as well a commitment to the NELC organization.

Also in 2024, Daveante served on the Arkansas SHRM Employment Law and Legislative Affairs Conference committee, helping plan conference programming.

In addition, Daveante is involved in a number of organizations, including:

• Board Member, Arkansas Continuing Legal Education Board
• Quarterly Newsletter Editor, National Employment Law Council
• Member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.