Meet the National Labor Relations Advocates
Each of our labor experts is accomplished, experienced, and maintains an encyclopedic knowledge of labor law. We are armed with the interpersonal skills needed to communicate successfully on your behalf.
We are on your side. You are not alone, with National Labor Relations Advocates, your team has experts able to guide you through whatever labor related challenges your business may face.
Founding Member and Managing Partner
Jim Allen is the Founding Member and Managing Partner of National Labor Relations Advocates. He is a fervent advocate for employer rights who strongly believes the best employers are those who understand that their highest priority must be their most precious resource, their employees.
Jim is a graduate of the Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Since receiving his Certificate in Labor & Employment Law, he has aggressively fought for the rights of employers and their employees against unions and antagonistic union tactics for over 20 years. Jim has a successful track record, having won numerous NLRB-conducted union elections and worked with hundreds of clients to achieve employer-positive resolutions in Unfair Labor Practice proceedings.
Jim’s experience and knowledge extends to union grievance and arbitration actions, as well as advocating for employers in Department of Labor, OSHA, and other Federal agency compliance matters.
He is regularly invited to speak to employer associations and trade groups and is published in law reviews and industry-related publications. Based in NLRA’s main office in Cincinnati, Jim is a lifelong musician and composer. He is active in his Northern Kentucky community, and travels extensively with his foodie wife and daughter, a family always on the lookout for their next adventure.
Senior Labor Relations Advocate
Joshua joins NLRA after almost 20 years in non-profit legal services leadership. Joshua is a graduate of Transylvania University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Joshua is completing post-doctoral work in the Executive Education program at the Harvard Kennedy School and has completed over 40 hours of negotiation training at Harvard University Law School Practice Institute for Lawyers. Joshua has also served as an adjunct faculty member at area law schools teaching courses in client interviewing, counseling and negotiation.
Joshua lives in Northern Kentucky and works out of NLRA’s Cincinnati headquarters. He loves travel and spending time with his family including chauffeuring his growing children to all their activities. Joshua says, “the only thing that has ever lived up to the hype is being a parent.”
Senior Labor Relations Advocate
Paul is a proud graduate of Duke University. As an owner and board member of several business ventures, Paul’s perspective informs his advocacy for his clients’ rights. He has successfully conducted hundreds of NLRB union certification and decertification election campaigns with an impressive 95+% win-rate. He is a master negotiator in collective bargaining and aggressively protects his clients in all potential dealings with unions.
He has represented more than seven hundred clients and many Fortune 500 companies since 1974. Paul’s clients have included American Airlines, Inland Steel, Archer-Daniels Midland, PepsiCola USA, Coca Cola USA, General Cinema, Target, Toys R Us, AK Steel, Chrysler Corp., and La-Z-Boy.
Paul works out of NLRA’s South Carolina office. He is active in his church and community. Paul has served on the Beaufort County Council in South Carolina as an elected official for more than a decade. A Vietnam-era veteran, Paul actively supports the military and veterans organizations. He is a fluent Spanish speaker, and in his spare time he follows football and basketball teams from his alma mater. He is a lifetime resident of Beaufort where he resides with his wife and where he raised two daughters.
Adjunct Labor Relations Advocate
Nathan is principal at Sweet & Sholar, PLLC in Jacksonville, North Carolina. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Nathan attended Liberty University School of Law on an academic scholarship. He graduated from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School at the University of Virginia in 2014.
Nathan brings his extensive litigation skill and experience to help clients besieged by union threats and harassment stand up and fight back. He has successfully represented clients from Los Angeles to New York and served as the lead litigator in lengthy NLRB-conducted trials.
Nathan began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in North Carolina. During this time, he handled hundreds of bench trials and dozens of felony jury trials ultimately being assigned to major cases with the Special Victims Unit and became the district’s Violent Crimes Prosecutor.
He works out of both NLRA’s main office in Cincinnati and its North Carolina office. He resides in North Carolina with his four wonderful children, a German Shepherd, and a cat. Mr. Sweet coaches his children’s basketball, flag football, and soccer teams. He loves visiting the National Parks, music, and fitness. He is a member of Infant of Prague Catholic Church, in Jacksonville, NC, and the Knights of Columbus. He is proud to have served in the North Carolina Army National Guard’s famed 30th Brigade, “Old Hickory.”
Business Development Manager
Mike grew up in Lebanon, Ohio. He attended the Morehead State University graduating with a BS in Marketing.
Mike has built a successful career working with businesses and the legal community. Prior to joining NLRA, he was a successful account executive for Lexis-Nexis legal services company.
Mike works out of the main office in Cincinnati. When he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and golfing. Mike is an avid fan of University of Kentucky basketball and Pittsburgh Steelers football. He stays busy with his wife as they raise two active children.
Labor Relations Specialist
Karen is a graduate of Salmon P. Chase College of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. She has successfully represented clients in NLRB-conducted elections, unfair labor practice proceedings, and OSHA matters. She is an experienced negotiator in collective bargaining and advises clients in all labor relations matters.
Prior to her current advocacy work helping employers, Karen spent several years helping the homeless and disabled navigate the Social Security disability process. Karen also provided legal assistance to both aspiring and professional musicians on a pro bono basis with Play it Forward, a non-profit legal aid organization.
Karen works out of NLRA’s main office in Cincinnati. An active member of her community and church, Karen resides in Kentucky with her three daughters. Away from work, she spends time with her family enjoying travel, outdoor activities, and good food.