M. Reid Estes, Jr.

A member based in Dickinson Wright’s Nashville office, Reid focuses his practice on automotive, civil, intellectual property, and labor & employment litigation. Reid has been recognized by Best Lawyer for his work in management litigation since 2013.

• Successfully represented a Fortune 500 company in federal court by developing an innovative defense strategy that decertified an FLSA class and collective action before court-approved notice was issued, saving the company millions in potential damages and defense costs.
• Successfully defended employers in wage and hour class and collective actions, including:
  • Achieved a favorable result for one of the nation’s largest medical staffing companies in an FLSA class and collective action filed in federal court.
  • Successfully defended a national computer sales company by preventing class certification in a federal FLSA class and collective action seeking to reclassify its sales staff as non-exempt.
• Developed and assisted with the implementation of an arbitration program for a large nationwide computer company, reducing litigation costs and future legal exposure.
• Successfully defended favorable arbitration awards for clients, including opposing a petition for certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Successfully defended a national guard staffing company in arbitration proceedings involving alleged breaches of a collective bargaining agreement related to employee discipline and discharge.
• Extensive experience handling employment and consumer class actions, including:
  • FLSA matters involving the Executive, Administrative, and Outside Sales exemptions.
  • FLSA claims involving alleged off-the-clock work and “computer time shaving.”
  • Wage and hour claims under various state laws.
  • Consumer class actions involving the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and the FCC Truth in Billing Act.
• Served as a neutral and arbitrator in disputes involving:
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Title VII
  • Stored Communications Act
  • Construction and breach of contract disputes
  • Insurance agency and business disputes

• Co-Author, “Sixth Circuit Announces Stricter Standard for Sending Notice in FLSA Collective Actions,” Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, June 2023
• “Supreme Court Greatly Expands Title VII Retaliation Claims,” March 2011
• “The Class Action Du Jour: Suits Against ATM Operators for Failure to Post Proper Notices on ATM Exterior,” September 2010
• “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009,” January 2009
• “New White-Collar Regulations: ‘If it Ain’t Broke…,'” Nashville Bar Journal, June 2004.
• “Fair Labor Standards Act Litigation & Class Action Issues,” June 2002 Tennessee Bar Association’s Sixth Annual Labor and Employment Law Form.
• “Federal Wage & Hour Law – Basics and Pitfalls to Avoid,” September 2002.
• “Hot Issues in Fair Labor Standard Act Litigation: Seemingly Small Violations Can Add Up,” October 2002.