John A. Martin

John is an Officer in PennStuart’s Bristol, Tennessee office and serves as Practice Group Leader for the firm’s Employment Law Group. He brings more than 30 years of litigation and counseling experience representing employers, insurers, and businesses across Virginia and Tennessee.

John maintains a strong commitment to small business development in the Tri-Cities region and previously served as counsel to the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, an economic development initiative created by the Town of Abingdon and Washington County, Virginia.

John’s practice focuses on the defense of employers and insurers in workers’ compensation and employment law matters. He is a seasoned trial attorney who regularly advises insurance professionals, human resources executives, and business owners on complex issues of liability, risk management, and regulatory compliance. His experience includes extensive litigation before the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

A significant portion of John’s practice is devoted to the defense of employers in wage and hour litigation, including claims brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). He has substantial experience handling collective actions, exemption classification disputes, off-the-clock and overtime claims, and Department of Labor investigations. In addition to litigation, John provides proactive counseling to employers on wage and hour compliance, employee classification, compensation policies, and strategies designed to minimize exposure and avoid costly disputes.

John’s broader employment practice includes the defense and counseling of employers in matters involving workplace harassment and discrimination, medical leave and accommodation issues, disability compliance under the ADA, retaliation claims, restrictive covenants, and employment contract disputes. He works closely with clients to develop practical, business-oriented solutions, including drafting policies, conducting internal investigations, and providing management training.

In addition to his defense practice, John has represented employees in select complex employment matters and plaintiffs in personal injury litigation, providing him with a well-rounded perspective that informs his strategic approach to dispute resolution.

John is a frequent speaker on employment law, workers’ compensation, and risk management topics, and is regularly invited to present to industry groups, insurers, and employer organizations.

Prior to joining PennStuart, John served as County Attorney for Washington County, Virginia, and was a partner with the law firm of Ely and Martin. He also served in the United States Army as an Intelligence Analyst and was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm.