Burt H. Whitt
Biography
Burt is the founder and past Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. Burt has extensive experience exclusively representing management in all matters involving the employer-employee relationship. He routinely represents and counsels employers in wrongful discharge claims, accusations of discrimination or harassment, covenants not-to-compete, and government audits of employment practices. Burt and his team offer employers one-on-one counseling as well as management training, including the widely recognized and well-attended Employment Law Update. These proactive measures help employers save time, money and energy by avoiding litigation.
Burt was recently inducted as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Additionally, he is a former Chairman of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Virginia Bar Association and is a frequent speaker at CLE and industry events.
Representative Matters
- Litigated numerous wrongful discharge cases establishing the rights of Virginia employers
- Handled many covenant not-to-compete cases, including a number of cases that have reached the Virginia Supreme Court
- Defended employers against claims under federal anti-discrimination laws
- Defended against attempts to enforce invalid covenants on behalf of new employers
- Assisted employers with resolving numerous matters utilizing alternative dispute resolution options, including mediation
Recognition & Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 1999–2024
- Top Lawyers; CoVaBIZ, 2017-2024
- America’s Leading Business Lawyers; Chambers USA, 2005–2023
- Virginia Super Lawyers; Law & Politics, 2006–2024
- Virginia Legal Elite; Virginia Business Magazine, 2004–2014, 2016-2023
- College of Labor and Employment Lawyers; Fellow, Inducted in 2018
- Virginia Super Lawyer, Corporate Counsel Edition; Law & Politics, 2008-2010
- Virginia Legal Elite Top Employment Lawyer; Virginia Business Magazine, 2004
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Omicron Delta Epsilon
- Phi Delta Phi
Associations
- American Bar Association; Labor and Employment Law Section, Litigation Section
- Virginia Bar Association; Initial member of Governing Council, Chairman of the Labor and Employment Law Section, 1994-1995
- Virginia Law Foundation; Chairman of CLE Labor and Employment Law Committee, 1996-2005
- Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association
- YMCA of South Hampton Roads; Board of Directors
Education
- Wake Forest University; B.A., magna cum laude, 1974
- University of Virginia School of Law; J.D., 1978
Press & Publications
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2024 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- 15 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 5 Named as Rising Stars 2024
- 36 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2024 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2023
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America© 2024, 6 Named “Lawyer of the Year,” and 10 Named “Ones to Watch”
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2023 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- 16 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers and 4 Named as Virginia Rising Stars 2023
- 44 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2023 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2022
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers In America© 2023, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 8 Named “Ones to Watch”
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2022 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- 17 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 3 Named as Rising Stars in Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2022
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2022 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 52 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2021
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America© 2022, 4 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 8 Named “Ones to Watch”
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2021 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- 19 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 3 Named as Rising Stars in Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2021
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2021 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2020
- 46 Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2021”, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 7 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 18 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2020 and 4 Named As Rising Stars 2020
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2020 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named CoVaBIZ Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” 2020
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2019
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2020 and 3 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys: 18 Named as Super Lawyers & 6 Named as Virginia Rising Stars in Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2019
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2019 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2018
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2019 in CoVaBiz Magazine
- 43 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2019” and 8 Named “Lawyers of the Year”
- Burt H. Whitt Inducted as Fellow in the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2018 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- 31 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers and 5 Named As Rising Stars 2018
- 31 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2017/18 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2017 Chambers USA
- 46 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2018
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2017 and 5 Named as Rising Stars 2017
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2017
- Employment Law Alert – Increase to Exemption Salary Requirement Delayed
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2016
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2017
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2016 Chambers USA
- 32 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2016 and 4 Named as Rising Stars 2016
- Employment Law Alert – Employers Must Now Use New EEOC Charge System
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2016
- 32 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2015 and 7 Named as Rising Stars 2015
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2015 Chambers USA
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2014
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2015
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2014 and 8 Named as Rising Stars 2014
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2014 Chambers USA
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2013
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2014
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2013 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2013
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2013 Chambers USA
- 55 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2012
- 41 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2013
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2012 Chambers USA
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2012 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2012
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2011
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2012
- 36 K&C Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2011 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2011
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2011 Chambers USA
- 39 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2010
- 4 Kaufman & Canoles Labor & Employment Attorneys Named in Corporate Counsel Edition of Super Lawyers 2010
- 36 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2011
- Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2010 Chambers USA
- 31 K&C Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 11 Named as Rising Stars 2010
- 35 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2010
- Off the Hook: A New Twist On The Big One That Got Away