David is a seasoned trial lawyer who represents clients across the United States in high-profile labor and employment and complex commercial litigation matters. He has successfully tried over 90 jury trials, 20 bench trials, and numerous arbitrations. He represents clients across the entertainment, hospitality, and food and beverage industries.
David defends clients in cases under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, whistleblower statutes, and other federal and state civil rights and labor and employment matters. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he often litigates USERRA issues. David has defeated class certification in many cases and has tried labor and employment cases in many jurisdictions across the United States. A particular focus of his practice is representing corporations in class and collective actions.
David has also represented insurance clients in insurance coverage, corporate espionage, contingent liability, fraud, and bad faith litigation. He tried a bet-the-company insurance class action to a favorable verdict. He also routinely counsels clients on risk management and litigation avoidance issues to help minimize their exposure to potential lawsuits.
David has taught labor and employment as an Adjunct Law Professor at both the University of Alabama School of Law and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He has also written for the Defense Research Institute, been quoted in The National Law Journal on current legal matters, and had his cross-examination featured on ABC’s “20/20” program. David has served as a moderator for seminars hosted by the National Bar Association, including sessions on in-house and outside counsel relationships.
CAPABILITIES
Labor, Employment & Benefits
Trials
Class and Collective Action Litigation
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Business & Commercial Disputes
Intellectual Property
Food and Beverage
Entertainment & Media
Insurance Recovery
MULTIMEDIA, PERSPECTIVES, NEWS & EVENTS
News 5 June 2025 Chambers USA
2025 awards Reed Smith 76 practice rankings, profiles 145 lawyers
28 April 2025 Employment practice partner David Long-Daniels joins Reed Smith in Atlanta
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America© for Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2018-2021 and 2023-2025
• Ranked, Chambers USA for Georgia Labor & Employment, 2007-2025
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers, 2009-2024
•Listed, The Legal 500 US, Labor and Employment – Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense, 2020
•Listed, Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star, 2019-2020
•Listed, The Legal 500 US, 2015-2020
•Labor and Employment – Labor and Employment Litigation, 2015-2020
•Intellectual Property – Trade Secrets (Litigation and Non-Contentious Matters), 2018-2020
•Labor and Employment – Workplace and Employment Counseling, 2018 and 2020
•Labor and Employment – Labor-Management Relations, 2019
•Listed, Lawdragon 500, Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020
•Listed, Lawdragon and Human Resources Executive® magazine, The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Lawyers – Top 100, 2017-2019
•Named, Lawyers of Color, Nation’s Best List, 2019
•Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia, 2013-2018
•Listed, The National Black Lawyers – Georgia – Top 100, 2016
•Selected, The National Law Journal, 2015 Top 100 Verdicts, 2016
•Listed, Lexology’s Client Choice Award, Employment & Benefits, 2015
•Listed, Georgia Trend magazine, Legal Elite, 2006, 2008-2012 and 2015
•Team member, The Daily Report’s Georgia Labor & Employment Litigation Department of the Year, 2015
•Team member, Law360 Employment Practice Group of the Year, 2011 and 2013
•Recipient, Continuing Legal Education Award, Alabama State Bar, 2002
•Listed, Birmingham Business Journal, Top 40 Under 40
•Listed, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges
•Named, The Next Generation of Birmingham Leaders
•Recipient, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
CREDENTIALS
Education
• Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, 1990, J.D., cum laude; Order of the Coif,
• Valdosta State University, 1985, M.P.A.
• University of Alabama, Culverhouse College of Commerce & Business Administration, 1982, B.S.
Professional Admissions & Qualifications
•Alabama
•Georgia
Court Admissions
•State Supreme Court - Alabama
•State Supreme Court – Georgia
•U.S. Supreme Court
•U.S. Court of Appeals - Fifth Circuit
•U.S. Court of Appeals - Eleventh Circuit
•U.S. District Court - Middle District of Alabama
•U.S. District Court - Middle District of Georgia
•U.S. District Court - Northern District of Alabama
•U.S. District Court - Northern District of Florida
•U.S. District Court - Northern District of Georgia
•U.S. District Court - Southern District of Alabama
•U.S. District Court - Western District of New York
•Supreme Court - United States
Professional Affiliations
•Member, Law360 Trials Editorial Advisory Board, 2019
•Team leader, The American Lawyer’s Regional Litigation Department of the Year – Georgia, 2018
•Team member, The Daily Report’s Georgia Labor & Employment Litigation Department of the Year, 2017
•Alabama State Representative, Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference
•Board member, Compass Bank, Junior Board
•Board member, Edward S. Norton, Birmingham-Southern College, Board of Advisors
•Board member, Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, Board of Visitors
•Board member, Operation New Birmingham
•Chairman, Executive Committee of the Community Affairs Committee, 1996
•Board member, UAB School of Education, Board of Advisors
•Former President, Birmingham Board of Education
•General Counsel, Atlanta Community Food Bank
•Member, Alabama State Bar
•Member, Birmingham Bar Association
•Chairman, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, 1997
•Member, Nominating Committee
•Member, Birmingham Magic City and National Bar Associations
•Member, Defense Research Institute
•Member, Kiwanis Club
•Member, Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators, National Arbitration Forum
•Member, State Bar of Georgia
•Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2009
•Member, Leadership Alabama, 1998
•Vice Chair, Birmingham Urban League, 1996-1997
•Regional Counsel, Southern Division, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 1996
•Board member, Birmingham Festival of Arts, 1995
•Member, Leadership Birmingham, 1993-1994
•Program Committee, 1994
•Junior board member, Family and Child Services, 1993
•Member, Leadership Atlanta
