Skip to Main Content

“When we were hit with a complex web of wage and hour class actions, Husch Blackwell was the natural choice. The team’s expertise in the substantive legal issues, combined with the investment they made to develop a deep knowledge of our business, has made them a uniquely effective litigation partner.”

Carey L. Bartell, Vice President, Chief Counsel – Legal & Government Affairs, Conagra Brands Inc.

Overview

As an employment law attorney, Joe connects with clients, their businesses and their employees so he can provide the ongoing, custom guidance they deserve.

Joe concentrates much of his practice on the facets of employment law that regularly change, such as wage and hour collective/class actions under state and federal law. This developing, and often times state-specific, body of law offers new arguments and fresh approaches for Joe to seize as he vigorously advocates for his clients. He also counsels clients on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), Department of Labor actions and discrimination laws.

Joe knows that most employers genuinely have their employees’ best interests at heart and want to promote a productive, satisfying work environment. However, there is often uncertainty within the evolving layers of employment law. From routine counseling to investigations and litigation, he is a trusted partner as clients navigate the labor and employment jungle.

Joe served on the firm’s Executive Board from 2015-2022. In this capacity, he played a major role in revising and modernizing the firm’s performance expectations and evaluation metrics. He also contributed to associate compensation matters.

“When we were hit with a complex web of wage and hour class actions, Husch Blackwell was the natural choice. The team’s expertise in the substantive legal issues, combined with the investment they made to develop a deep knowledge of our business, has made them a uniquely effective litigation partner.”

Carey L. Bartell, Vice President, Chief Counsel – Legal & Government Affairs, Conagra Brands Inc.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • Benchmark Litigation, Future Star, 2015; Labor & Employment Star - Midwest, 2018-2022
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2022-2023; Employment Law - Management, 2023
  • BTI Consulting Group, Client Service All-Star Award, 2022
  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2014-2016, 2020-2022
  • Lexology Client Choice Awards, Missouri, Employment & Labor, 2013
  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Employment & Labor, Rising Star, 2009
  • Missouri Lawyers Media, POWER List for Employment Law, 2021-2022
  • Missouri Lawyers Weekly, “Up & Coming Lawyer,” 2013
  • St. Louis Business Journal, “30 Under 30,” 2006, “40 Under 40,” 2017

Education

  • J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
    • Order of the Coif
    • Washington University Law Quarterly, Associate Editor
  • B.J., University of Missouri
    • magna cum laude

Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • The Missouri Bar
Featured Experience

ConAgra Lands Major Victories Over Exempt Status

ConAgra Foods was sued in a class and collective action filed by supervisors who sought overtime compensation because they allegedly were misclassified as "exempt" under state and federal wage and hour laws. In Garrison v. ConAgra Foods, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for ConAgra and found that the supervisors satisfied all tests for the "executive" exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state law. The court also ruled on an issue of first impression and agreed that the plaintiffs were liable to ConAgra for its litigation costs. Joe served as lead counsel in ConAgra’s defense.


Additional Experience
  • Represented Conagra Brands Inc. for more than a decade in labor and management relations for all of the company's major divisions: grain milling, snacks, frozen foods, shelf-stable goods, spices and potato products.
  • Represented major home healthcare agency in defeating motion for conditional certification of nationwide class of plaintiffs seeking overtime wages in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action.
  • Served as lead counsel for Conagra in Adair v. ConAgra Foods, a collective action filed by employees seeking compensation for walking to/from work stations and adjacent dressing time. In a novel decision, Conagra prevailed, with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that Conagra did not violate the FLSA.
  • Constantly represents multiple firm clients in defense of wage and hour claims under California law, particularly meal/rest periods and derivative claims, in class actions resulting in favorable resolutions.
  • Defended injunction litigation filed by world’s largest information management services company seeking more than $1 million in damages for alleged unfair competition and tortious interference in New York federal court.
  • Represented long-term client in enforcing restrictive covenants against former employee, resulting in consent injunctions and very favorable resolution.
  • Obtained summary judgment for global corrugated box and packaging company against claims of breach of contract and wrongful discharge. Plaintiff sought more than $1 million in individual damages.
  • Successfully represented NFL team quarterback against sports agent who claimed six figures in marketing deal commissions owed. Judge ruled statute of limitations had elapsed and our client athlete owed nothing.
  • Represented Suddenlink in a collective action filed by a group of call center employees who alleged they were not paid for periods of time spent prior to clocking in (booting up computers and other work activities).
  • Served as labor & employment counsel for a crop improvement company as the growing AgTech firm went public via a SPAC.
  • Stepped into primary counsel role over several months for client after client's in-house counsel left the company.
Case Studies
Conagra Brands

Our team clarified important points of law regarding CBAs in this class action suit. 

Webinar | June 10, 2020
Labor and Employment Virtual Program
Seminars | October 30, 2019
Fall Labor and Employment Seminar - St. Louis
Seminars | October 10, 2018
Labor and Employment Seminar Fall 2018

Please join Husch Blackwell attorneys for our fall labor and employment law update.

News Releases | October 01, 2019
Benchmark Litigation's 2020 Edition Recognizes 33 Husch Blackwell Attorneys

The firm also received Benchmark’s “Highly Recommended” ranking in Missouri and Wisconsin and its “Recommended” ranking in Nebraska.

News Releases | December 19, 2018
Glynias Named Missouri Lawyers Weekly "Influential Appellate Advocate" for 2019

Missouri Lawyers Weekly has named Joe Glynias a 2019 "Influential Appellate Advocate," a recognition honoring the lawyers behind the most significant appellate decisions of the year.

News Releases | October 11, 2018
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 28 Husch Blackwell Attorneys

Husch Blackwell is recognized as a top litigation firm in the 2019 edition of Benchmark Litigation, with 28 attorneys across six offices listed.

Media Mentions | August 16, 2018
Law360's Weekly Verdict: Legal Lions & Lambs (8/16/18)

Law 360 highlighted Husch Blackwell as a "Legal Lion" as a result of the Eighth Circuit's dismissal of a proposed class action accusing ConAgra of not paying workers at an Arkansas facility for time they spent donning and doffing protective gear.

News Releases | August 09, 2018
Husch Blackwell Secures Appellate Victory for ConAgra in FLSA Litigation

A Husch Blackwell appellate victory successfully ended a proposed class action that alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Arkansas Minimum Wage Act (AMWA). 

Outside the Office

Joe is a family man through and through. He has four young children, and when he is not practicing law, he is usually with them.

Joe helps coach his children in sports, primarily soccer and baseball. This experience allows Joe to not only spend extra time with his children but also give back to the community. It also provides a good balance to his work as an attorney. While he enjoys teaching the fundamentals of game play, his true satisfaction comes from teaching kids the importance of teamwork and positive attitude. Joe values the honest life lessons that accompany participation in organized sports.

Community Leadership
  • World Pediatric Project, Committee Member, 2022-present
  • The Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation, Gala Committee Member, 2022
  • Craft Alliance, Board of Directors, 2005-2011 
  • Intercommunity Housing Association, Board of Directors, 2006-2011 
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Corporate Achiever Honoree, 2006