Jamie Brabston is a Director/Senior Legal Consultant with Redstone Government Consulting, Inc. (Redstone GCI), specializing in Labor and Employment Law, with an emphasis on government contract law and compliance. Prior to joining Redstone GCI, Jamie was Senior Counsel with Lehr Middlebrooks Vreeland & Thompson, P.C., a boutique labor and employment law firm based in Birmingham, AL. Jamie assists employers with compliance, problem prevention, the analysis of complex employment law and contract related issues, as well as conducting investigations related to all types of employee complaints. In addition, Jamie works with employers in responding to complaints filed with external agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor (Wage & Hour, OSHA and the OFCCP), as well as state Departments of Labor. Jamie also provides litigation support as needed. In addition, Jamie advises federal government contractors with contract specific requirements such as affirmative action compliance, Service Contract Act and Davis Bacon, FAR requirements for ethics policies and awareness programs, the Drug Free Workplace Act and related record keeping. Jamie often assists contractors in performing mock compliance assessments to ensure they are prepared in the event of an audit or investigation. Jamie is a proficient trainer and speaker and is a primary instructor for the Federal Publications Seminars course, “HR for Government Contractors.” Additionally, Jamie regularly conducts training and education for individual employers and their employees on non-discrimination and anti-harassment, as well as training sessions for executive and non-executive management on a wide variety of overall management leadership skills, and government contract specific topics. Jamie also specializes and advises clients on employee benefits issues including ERISA welfare benefit plans, HIPAA, wellness plans, COBRA, the Affordable Care Act, and other federal and state laws, including related reporting requirements. Professional Experience In addition to her experience with Lehr Middlebrooks Vreeland & Thompson, P.C., Jamie was an attorney and shareholder with Huntsville, AL based law firm, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne from 1994– 2006, where she defended large and small employers, including government contractors, in litigation involving sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, disability, age, religion, race and sex discrimination, FMLA, ERISA, invasion of privacy, negligent supervision, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and breach of contract. From 2006- 2009, Jamie served as General Counsel, Vice President of Human Resources, and Corporate Secretary for Digital Fusion, Inc., a Huntsville based government contractor. In 2009, Jamie founded her own employment law compliance firm, Practical Employment Solutions, Inc., where she partnered directly with small businesses, including government contractors, to assist them with a full range of human resource and employment law compliance needs specifically targeted to prevent and correct employment law and other compliance issues before governmental audits, investigations or litigation occurred. Jamie has also represented government contractors with restrictive covenant issues, and defended a mid-size, Virginia based contractor in a lawsuit involving allegations of violations of non-competition agreements and misappropriation of trade secrets.
In late 2008, the Final Rule on Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (“CoBEC”) was added to FAR Part 3 (Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest) in response to the heightened focus on increased lapses in corporate ethical behavior. FAR Subpart 3.10 sets forth guidance for all contractors with regard to enhanced ethical and compliance standards and requires the insertion of the clause at FAR 52.203-13 in solicitations and contracts if the value of such contract is expected to exceed $6 million, and the performance of which is 120 days or longer. DCAA focuses on compliance with FAR 52.203-13 when conducting accounting system audits.
