Robin E. McGuffin
Robin McGuffin is an attorney in the firm’s Lexington office. She is a member of the Torts & Insurance Practice Group and the Employment Law Service Group.
After graduating first in her class from Vanderbilt University Law School, Robin was a law clerk for the Honorable John M. Rogers, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She now defends companies in a wide variety of litigations, including but not limited to complex business disputes, non-compete and trade secret claims, employment discrimination and retaliation claims, product liability, and major accidents. Robin also devotes a substantial portion of her practice to appellate advocacy in both federal and state courts.
Robin is well versed in all areas of employment law. In addition to defending employers against claims asserted under statutes such as Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, Robin regularly conducts workplace investigations, counsels employers on compliance issues, drafts employment and restrictive covenant agreements, and assists with drafting and implementing employment policies and procedures.
Managing Employees During a Pandemic
Panel Member, Lexington Forum, October 7, 2021
Institutional Racism in Legal Systems: Criminal Justice, Employment & Housing: Part 2 - Understanding the Impact of Race in Employment
Moderator, presented by National Bar Association, John Rowe Chapter and Fayette County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, September 10, 2020
Defense Strategies for Winning on the Statute of Limitations
American Bar Association, Products Liability Litigation Newsletter, August 2019
Counsel to a major manufacturer of respiratory protection products in serial litigation
Successfully represented multiple employers in discrimination and retaliation suits in state and federal court under statutes such as Title VII, the FMLA, the FLSA, the ADA, the ADEA, and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act
Received published opinion in the Kentucky Court of Appeals affirming grant of summary judgment to pharmaceutical drug manufacturer
Counsel for an independent institutional investment consultant in defense of derivative, taxpayer, and Attorney General claims asserted on behalf of a public pension system
Counsel to a provider of remediation services in a multi-plaintiff toxic tort case following a natural gas release
Both obtained and successfully defended against grants of injunctive relief seeking enforcement of restrictive covenants
Office of General Counsel, Ethics Subcommittee, Member
Lexington Office Recruiting Committee, Member
GreenHouse17, Board of Directors (2019-present); Secretary (2020-present)
Lexington Forum, Board of Directors (2022-25)
Leadership Lexington, Class of 2022-23
Vanderbilt University Law School
-
Founder's Medal for First Honors
-
Vanderbilt Law Review, Articles Editor
-
Order of the Coif
-
2014-15 Moot Court Board, Executive Problem Editor
-
Robert F. Jackson Memorial Prize; Archie B. Martin Memorial Prize
-
2013-14 Bass, Berry & Sims Intramural Moot Court Competition, winner
-
Thomas R. McCoy Scholarship
-
Awarded 10 Vanderbilt Scholastic Excellence Awards
summa cum laude
Vanderbilt University
-
Phi Beta Kappa
-
Outstanding Student in Community Leadership & Development
-
Peabody Scholar
-
VIBE Hip-Hop Dance Co.
-
Alternative Spring Break
-
Alpha Chi Omega Sorority
-
Study Abroad Program: Berlin, Germany, Summer 2010
Best Lawyers in America®, Ones To Watch, Litigation - Labor and Employment (2022-23)
Stites & Harbison Promotes Seven Attorneys
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC announced today that seven attorneys have been promoted: five to Member (Partner) and two to Counsel. The promotions are effective January 2023.
FTC Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Ban Employee Non-Compete Agreements
In a move sending shockwaves through the business world, on January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) proposed a new rule that would ban employers from entering into non-compete agreements with their workers and invalidate existing non-compete agreements. The FTC will be accepting comments on the proposed rule for the next 60 days.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Becomes Law
In addition to funding the federal government, the recently passed $1.7 trillion government funding package included passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”). Employment law attorney Robin McGuffin takes a look at what this means to employers.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Robin McGuffin Selected for Leadership Lexington’s Class of 2022-23
LEXINGTON, Ky.—Leadership Lexington has selected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Robin McGuffin as a member of the 2022-23 Leadership Lexington program.
Robin McGuffin Elected to the Lexington Forum’s Board of Directors
LEXINGTON, Ky. —The Lexington Forum has elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Robin McGuffin to its Board of Directors. She will serve a three-year term.
Supreme Court Rejects OSHA Vaccine Mandate on Private Employers – Allows CMS Healthcare Mandate for Facilities Receiving Medicare/Medicaid Funds
Holding that “[a]lthough Congress has indisputably given OSHA the power to regulate occupational dangers, it has not given the agency the power to regulate public health more broadly,” in a 6-3 decision the Supreme Court of the United States, on January 13, 2022, issued a stay of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) on vaccination or testing for employers with 100 or more workers.
Sixth Circuit’s Briefing Schedule Seems to Ensure No Ruling on Stay Before First ETS Deadline
On November 16, 2021, the Sixth Circuit was chosen by lottery to hear the consolidated challenges to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) mandating COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing for employers with 100 or more employees. On November 23, 2021, OSHA filed a motion for the Sixth Circuit to dissolve the stay that had been entered by the Fifth Circuit before the various challenges were consolidated. Later that same day, the Sixth Circuit entered an order setting a briefing schedule on the motion to dissolve the stay that seems to ensure that employers will not be subject to at least the first deadline originally set by the ETS.