Overview
"When the seas of business get rough or the winds difficult to read, I offer a calm and steady hand to help my clients stay on course and reach their destination."
Andy leads Hirschler's employment law practice group and devotes his practice to helping clients navigate complex employment and business issues. Companies and their executives rely upon his practical advice and sound judgment based on his deep knowledge of employment laws and years of experience resolving disputes both in and out of the courtroom. He begins with his clients’ ultimate goal in mind and crafts effective and efficient strategies to help them get there.
Andy serves as a trusted advisor to businesses owners, executives, and in-house counsel on a wide range of employment law matters, such as drafting executive employment agreements, protecting trade secrets and confidential business information, maintaining compliance with federal and state employment laws, creating effective employment policies, implementing appropriate hiring and firing procedures, conducting wage and hour audits, addressing employment issues in the due diligence process for mergers and acquisitions, advising on OSHA matters, assisting with complaint investigations, and defending EEOC and NLRB charges. He also trains employees and managers on HR compliance and best practices.
When disputes must be resolved in court, Andy draws upon his first-chair experience in jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, and appeals to advocate for his clients. He has handled cases in state and federal courts across the country, including many in the “Rocket Docket” of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Andy has helped businesses resolve a variety of employment cases, including disputes involving discrimination and harassment under federal and state employment laws, wrongful discharge, wage and hour issues, employment agreements, and employee benefits under ERISA. A particular areas of emphasis in his employment litigation practice is representing companies and executives in disputes regarding restrictive covenants, including non-competition agreements, non-solicitation agreements, and confidentiality agreements. In his business litigation practice, Andy represents companies and individuals in disputes involving contracts, fraud, business interference, securities, and corporate governance matters (e.g., fiduciary duty claims and business dissolution).
Prior to joining Hirschler, Andy practiced with a large international law firm and served as law clerk to the Honorable Norman K. Moon of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Recognition
Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2022-2024
Named a "Go To Lawyer for Employment Law," Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 2021
Selected for inclusion as a “Super Lawyer,” Employment & Labor, Virginia Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2014-2024
Selected for inclusion as a “Rising Star,” Virginia Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2007, 2011-2013
Named to “Legal Elite,” (Labor/Employment), Virginia Business, 2009-2023
Experience
Experience
Providing day-to-day employment counseling and claims resolution assistance to a variety of companies, such as a national mortgage company, a consulting firm operating in government facilities across the country, and an agricultural cooperative with locations in multiple states.
Drafting executive employment agreements and associated restrictive covenants for insurance brokerage firm expanding to multiple states.
Coordinating investigation and response to highly sensitive allegations against employee of regional business.
Defending medical practice in response to NLRB charge.
Advising financial services firm on Broker Protocol and restrictive covenant issues in response to departure of investment advisors.
Representing co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of biotech company in employment separation dispute.
Acting as lead counsel in defense of a government contractor against discrimination and retaliation claims brought in federal court under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Serving as lead trial counsel for printing company in arbitration brought by former employees for unpaid compensation under an earn-out provision of asset purchase agreement.
Achieving dismissal of wrongful discharge claim brought against fixture company by former employee.
Obtaining summary judgment in favor of accounting firm on ERISA claim for retirement benefits brought by former employee and shareholder.
Defending cable installation company against claims of trade secret misappropriation and violation for restrictive covenants, including motion for temporary restraining order.
Serving as lead counsel for staffing agency in five-day jury trial involving a contract dispute with large financial institution.
Serving as lead trial counsel for an electric cooperative in governance litigation involving a matter of first impression under Virginia law.
Represented co-trustee in 13-day trial of complex partnership dissolution and accounting claims.
Acting as lead counsel for agricultural cooperative in defense of breach of contract claims related to supply agreement following asset purchase transaction.
Served as counsel to special litigation committee of company board of directors in response to shareholder derivative demand.
Perspectives
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Blog Posts
Community
Beyond the Law
Beyond the Law
Andy braved the frigid temperatures and choppy waters (not to mention the sharks) of the San Francisco Bay by swimming the 1 and ¾ miles from Alcatraz Island to Marina Green as part of his successful completion of the Escape from Alcatraz triathalon. Andy has also completed multiple marathons, including Chicago and New York.
Video
Video
Services
Clerkships
- Law clerk to the Honorable Norman K. Moon of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Education
University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., high honors
- Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, North Carolina Law Review, 2000
Hampden-Sydney College, B.A., summa cum laude
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Omicron Delta Kappa
Admissions
- Virginia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Fourth Circuit
- United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
- United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- United States Tax Court
