Daveante Jones’ love for television, cinema, and the art of storytelling with a focus on plot detail shape his approach as a labor and employment attorney. He sets out to learn the intimate features of his clients’ businesses, which, in turn, helps him provide tailored advice regarding employment law compliance. His persistent focus on detail aids in conducting thorough internal and state and federal agency investigations, and defending employers in a wide range of state and federal court actions—including class and collective actions—involving claims under the various civil rights laws and the wage and hour laws, and claims related to employment agreements, covenants not to compete and trade secrets. His love for storytelling also informs his frequent speaking and writing on employment issues ranging from the ADA and FMLA to wage and hour issues to trade secrets to surveillance in the workplace. His recent experience includes:

• Leading the successful defense of a regional trucking company in a wrongful termination suit involving Title VII, constitutional and defamation claims, and obtaining judgment on the pleadings and appellate decision affirming the trial court’s judgment on the pleadings;
• Leading internal investigations at two educational institutions involving allegations ranging from racial and gender discrimination to retaliation;
• Advising employers on practices and procedures, including drafting employment policies and handbooks;
• Advising several businesses in preparedness and response strategy for returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic;
• WLJ e-Discovery Solutions team member, handling review and production of ESI in complex litigation; and
• Educating start-ups on common labor and employment issues they may face as their workforce grows.

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 & employment law. While in law school, he 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.

Daveante was one of 30 management-side labor and employment associates 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.

He 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 was also recently selected as a member of Leadership Arkansas Class XVI, a program of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.

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

• Board President, Literacy Action of Central Arkansas
• Board Member, Better Business Bureau Serving Arkansas
• Board Member, Arkansas Continuing Legal Education Board
• Member, National Employment Law Council
• Member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.