Ward and Smith, P.A. Attorney William A. Oden, III Earns Certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources

William A. Oden, III, an attorney with Ward and Smith, P.A.'s Labor and Employment Practice Group, has earned certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. The certification, awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), signifies that Mr. Oden possesses the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management necessary to pass a rigorous examination demonstrating a mastery of the body of knowledge in the field. To become certified, an applicant must pass a comprehensive examination and demonstrate a strong background of professional human resource experience. HRCI is the credentialing body for human resource professionals and is affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest organization dedicated exclusively to the human resource profession. HRCI's purpose is to promote the establishment of professional standards and to recognize professionals who meet those standards.

Mr. Oden's practice experience encompasses various areas of civil litigation in both the federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels. He regularly represents employers and employees before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Employment Security Commission, and federal and state wage and hour divisions. Mr. Oden is a frequent lecturer and advises clients on a wide range of personnel issues, including Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Fair Labor Standards Act. He also advises clients on environmental contamination issues in commercial and industrial property transactions.

Ward and Smith is one of the largest law firms based in North Carolina and serves as counsel for many mid- and large-sized businesses, as well as municipalities, counties, and state agencies. The firm has more than 70 attorneys who serve clients locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally from offices in Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, and Wilmington. Ward and Smith also is home to 16 attorneys included in the publication The Best Lawyers in America and 15 attorneys selected as "Legal Elite" from peer-review surveys published in Business North Carolina. The firm is recognized in BTI's Client Service A-Team for Law Firms, and one attorney, David L. Ward, Jr., is a member of the BTI Client Service All-Star Team.

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