George L. Stevens

George is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the firm's labor and employment group.  He has significant experience representing companies in a variety of employment disputes in state and federal courts.  His practice focuses on restrictive covenant and wage and hour litigation, as well as matters involving employment discrimination, retaliation and harassment.  He also provides day-to-day counseling on a wide range of workplace issues, including employee termination and discipline, employment, severance and restrictive covenant agreements, employee accommodations, pay equity and reductions in force, and advises companies on website and public accommodation accessibility issues.

Notable experience includes:

• Obtaining denial of class certification in a putative wage-and-hour class action in the Orange County (CA) Superior Court
• Obtaining summary judgment in disparate impact discrimination case stemming from a nationwide reduction in force before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and successfully defending on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Obtaining judgment on the pleadings to an employer in a wrongful termination and harassment case before the Franklin County (OH) Court of Common Pleas and successfully defending on appeal before the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals
• Obtaining dismissal of a pair of public accommodation cases before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• Obtaining a multi-million dollar damage award on behalf of a client in a deceptive trade practices case against a competitor in the Delaware County (OH) Court of Common Pleas
• Obtaining judgment on the pleadings in a putative wage-and-hour collective and class action before the Ohio Court of Claims
• Counseling eCommerce and retail companies on issues and litigation relating to the accessibility of their public-facing websites nationwide

George also works with Advocating Opportunity, an organization which provides comprehensive, holistic, trauma-responsive legal and support services to persons who have experienced sex and labor trafficking.

George received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School.  While at Vanderbilt, he served as an ambassador for prospective students, served on the executive board of the Phi Delta Phi honors society and coached youth soccer.  He received his B.A. from Centre College.  While at Centre, he spent four years as a varsity swimmer, coached youth soccer and founded a project that rebuilt a community park.  

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment – Management, 2024–2026

Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Labor & Employment, 2022-2024

Professional & Community Activities

Freedom a la Cart, Board Member, 2025

Leadership Columbus, Signature Program, Class of 2025–Present

Teaching/Speaking Engagements

Presenter, “What You Need to Know: Ohio’s New Employment Law Uniformity Act,” February 2021

Presenter, “eCommerce Litigation: Common Issues & Leading Strategies,” February 2021

Presenter, In-House Essentials: “Workplace Civility, Off-Duty Conduct, and the First Amendment,” November 2018