Departments

Phone: 816.360.4251
Fax: 816.374.0509

Anthony J Romano

Shareholder
As vice chair of the firm's Labor and Employment practice group, Anthony J. Romano co-leads the firm’s nationally recognized labor and employment practice group.  Acting primarily as management counsel, Mr. Romano gives advice to his clients to effectively avoid litigation, and when necessary, defends his clients in courtrooms across the United States.  As defense counsel, Mr. Romano represents primarily corporate clients in disputes arising in labor and employment law, telecommunication law and general commercial litigation. 

As lead counsel in jury trials, hearings, arbitrations and mediations, Mr. Romano’s cases have involved complex employment and commercial issues, including class action and collective action defense, Title VII defense, non-compete and trade secret cases, as well as FMLA, OSHA, ADA and ADEA defense.  

Clients turn to Mr. Romano to defend them against charges and claims of employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation before the EEOC and state and federal courts.  Mr. Romano protects the intellectual property of his clients through trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation.  Mr. Romano has successfully defended clients from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations at both the administrative level as well as federal court.  In addition, Mr. Romano has represented management in organizational campaigns, negotiating with trade unions in formulating collective bargaining agreements and defending management before the National Labor Relations Board.

Clients in a wide variety of industries seek Mr. Romano’s counsel including pharmaceutical companies, health care providers, telecommunication companies, construction companies, financial institutions, commercial real estate and manufacturing companies. 

Memberships and Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • The Missouri Bar
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
  • National Kidney Foundation Board Member
  • Catholic Charities
  • Washburn University Alumni Association
  • Jackson County Sports Authority Commissioner, appointed by Missouri Gov. Blunt
  • Defense Research Institute, Labor and Employment Committee Member

Distinctions

  • Listed in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers
  • AV Rated Martindale Hubbell

Experience

Plaintiff, a registered nurse and former employee of defendant, filed suit against Defendant alleging (1) whistle blowing retaliation in violation of the Kansas Risk Management Act; (2) whistle blowing retaliation in violation of Kansas common law; (3) workers’ compensation retaliation; (4) defamation; and (5) breach of implied contract. Defendant obtained summary judgment on four of Plaintiff’s five claims. Plaintiff’s breach of implied contract claim was tried on the merits before a jury in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. Obtained jury verdict in favor of defendant.
Plaintiff, the former Assistant Director of Nursing for Defendant, brought a cause of action against defendant alleging wrongful termination of her employment based on her Wiccan religious beliefs in violation of Title VII and the Missouri Human Rights Act. The matter was tried before a jury in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The jury returned a verdict in favor of defendant on all counts.
Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated, brought a cause of action against defendant Nebraska Furniture Mart, Inc. (“NFM”) for alleged violations of the Kansas Minimum Wage and Maximum Hour Law (“KMWMHL”). NFM filed a pre-Answer Motion to Dismiss plaintiff’s claims against NFM on the basis that the KMWMHL was inapplicable to NFM. Specifically, NFM argued that because it was an “employer” under the Fair Labor Standards Act, it did not fall under the definition of “employer” under the KMWMHL. Oral arguments were conducted before the Kansas District Court for Wyandotte County. After fully briefing the argument before the court, complete with an exhaustive recitation of legislative history of the KMWMHL, the court ruled from the bench granting NFM’s motion to dismiss. The matter is now before the Kansas Court of Appeals.
Jury trial in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Plaintiff brought a claim for violation of the ADA and for wrongful termination. Defense verdict on all counts. See front page of the Wall Street Journal for report August 9, 2005 - Vol. CCXLVI No. 27.
Two week jury trial in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. Multi-million dollar verdict in favor of client for violation of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act; non-competition agreement and breach of employment contract.
Jurisdiction in the Western District of Missouri in a FLSA/Collective Action suit with a favorable settlement resolution.
Jurisdiction in the Northern District of Alabama in an age discrimination and retaliation case with a summary judgment resolution.
Jurisdiction in the Western District of Missouri in a race and sex discrimination case with a summary judgment affirmed by 8th Circuit.
Jurisdiction in the District of Kansas in a sex discrimination and harassment case with a defense verdict at trial.
Jurisdiction in the Western District of Missouri in a multi-defendant covenant not to compete/tortious interference with a victory at preliminary injunction phase/favorable settlement thereafter.
Jurisdiction in the Western District of Missouri in a FLSA/Collective Action with a favor able settlement resolution.
Jurisdiction in the District of Kansas in a breach of implied contract, sexual harassment, retaliation case with a directed verdict resolution.

Publications & Presentations

Annually in October
September 2009
Commercial Lithograph
July 16, 2009
This e-alert details the changes in the federal minimum wage, effective July 24, 2009. The minimum wage for non-exempt employees, under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") will increase from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour.
July 2009
Nebraska Furniture Mart
2009
Polsinelli Shughart PC - FMLA Refresher
February 2009
Illinois Council
2009
Kansas SHRM Conference Presentation of Supreme Court Sessions
September 2008
Society for Pain Practice Management; 4-day Interventional Pain Management Anatomical Workshop
2008
Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus
2008
Missouri Bar Annual Meeting