Representative Experience Successfully defended numerous restaurants and retail establishments accused of violations of the public accessibility provisions of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Successfully defended national scaffolding employer in a race discrimination lawsuit. Motion to Dismiss was granted for international aerospace employers in the Americans with Disabilities Act and Equal Pay Act suit. A motion to dismiss was granted in a wage and hour lawsuit against the local restaurant. Summary judgment was granted to a national hardware retailer in a lawsuit brought under the Alabama Age Discrimination in Employment Act. A summary judgment was granted to international retailers on harassment and discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a decision affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Successfully defended nursing home in a case alleging race discrimination. Summary judgment granted to the transportation company in action brought by a union to enforce an arbitration agreement. Successfully defended nursing home in Pregnancy Discrimination Act lawsuit. Successfully defeated union’s certification petition to organize employer. Summary judgment granted in a sexual harassment lawsuit against a large disposal company. Summary judgment was granted to the international aerospace employer in the workers' compensation retaliation suit.

Mobile Bar Association, Lawyer Assistance Committee, Chairperson 2022 Member, National Society for Human Resource Management Volunteer, National Society for Human Resource Management, Advocacy Team Board Member, Baldwin County Society for Human Resource Management Member, Mobile County Society for Human Resource Management Past Board Member, Friends of the Mobile Public Library Leadership Mobile Graduate, Class of 2016 Sustainer, Junior League of Mobile

Seminars + Presentations

In addition to speaking to numerous human resources groups and conducting training for clients, Beth has made the following presentations: Employers’ Top 10 FMLA Mistakes,” Alabama Society for Human Resource Management, May 2022 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Technical Assistance Programs: Requested by the Birmingham EEOC District Office to provide employer defense perspective on various subjects: The FMLA, ADA Workers Compensation: Employer Best Practices,” Orange Beach, Alabama, August 2018 “The ADEA, Traditionalists, Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y in the Workforce,” Biloxi, Mississippi, June 2015 “Workplace Violence and Bullying,” July 2011, Jackson, Mississippi and San Destin, Florida, April 2011 “FMLA Master Class, Advanced Skills for Employers” Sponsored by BLR, 2014-2018 “The Changing Face of Supervisory Harassment,” The University of Alabama School of Law, Annual Employment Law Conference, December 17, 2015 “The Legal Minute,” a monthly presentation to the Baldwin County Society for Human Resource Management, 2017 – present Conducting numerous workshops on the FMLA Publications Past Editor of “The Developing Labor Law,” a publication of the American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, 1998-2010 “Employee Use of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs While at Work,” HR Professionals Magazine, April 2015

Elizabeth Darby Rehm Named 2025 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year in the Mobile Area. Mobile,AL. UnitedStates,January 16,2025 ··Johnstone Adams LLC attorney Elizabeth Darby Rehm was recently recognized by Best lawyers as the 2025 "lawyer of the Year" for labor Law • Management in Mobile. Only a single lawyer in each practice area anddesignated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year,• making this a significant and coveted accolade. These lawyers are selected basedon particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments. Receiving this designation reflects the high levelof respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities,their professionalism and their integrity. In addition to the "Lawyer of the Year" award, Elizabeth Darby Rehm was also listed in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyer in America in the following practice areas: • Employment law- Management • Litigation • Labor and Employment

Attorney Elizabeth Darby Rehm

Elizabeth Darby Rehm

OF COUNSEL

edr@johnstoneadams.com

Direct: (251) 441-9221

Fax: (251) 276-8991

P.O. Box 1988

Mobile, AL 36633

REQUEST INFORMATION

Attorney Assistant

Lexi Brown

Phone :(251) 441–9268

lgb@johnstoneadams.com

Paralegal

Candy Knickerbocker

Phone : (251) 441-9256

cgk@johnstoneadams.com

Related Practices:

Business and Corporate
Employment, Labor, and Workers’ Compensation
Insurance Defense

Education:

College: Auburn University, BA, magna cum laude, 1991
Law School: The University of Alabama School of Law, 1994

Elizabeth Darby Rehm

Beth Darby Rehm is a native of Mobile, Alabama, and has devoted the past 27 years of her career exclusively to representing management in labor and employment law. Throughout her career, she has represented employers in the healthcare, aeronautical, dairy, manufacturing, and service sectors, as well as municipalities.

Beth values working with clients and taking a “hands-on” approach to resolving labor and employment issues before they reach administrative agencies or the court system. She enjoys counseling and training employers in all aspects of labor and employment law to help avoid claims arising from day-to-day employment decisions, as well as significant decisions such as reductions in force. As part of her practice, Beth regularly drafts employment policies and procedures, employment applications, background check disclosure and consent agreements, employee handbooks, and employment contracts (non-compete agreements and trade secret agreements).

She additionally regularly conducts training for clients on a variety of labor and employment issues. Beth works with clients to create a customized training program that relates to each client’s industry and employees to allow for an interactive experience.

In addition to employment law, Beth also has experience with “traditional” labor law, including representing employers in all aspects of management-union relations, including negotiations, union representation and decertification election campaigns, arbitration of grievances, unfair labor practice claims, and preparation of strike contingency plans.

However, Beth understands that administrative charges and lawsuits cannot always be avoided, and actively defends employers both in state and federal court and before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, OSHA, the National Labor Relations Board and various state agencies across the United States.

Beth has also successfully defended clients in Federal Court under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act relating to the accessibility of their premises to the public. Beth works with owners of businesses to ensure they understand the requirements of Title III of the ADA and come into compliance to avoid liability.

Bar Admissions

Alabama (All State and Federal Courts)
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
United States District Court of New Mexico, United States Tax Court

Honors + Awards

AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Alabama Super Lawyers

Employment and Labor Law (2012, 2013, 2015)

Mid-South Super Lawyers

Employment and Labor Law (2016, 2017)

Best Lawyers in America (Selected from 2012-2020)

Litigation – Labor and Employment Law

Labor Law – Management

Employment Law – Management

2013 “Lawyer of the Year,” Employment Law – Management, Mobile, Alabama

2017 “Lawyer of the Year,” Labor Law – Management, Mobile, Alabama

2020 “Lawyer of the Year,” Labor Law – Management, Mobile, Alabama

Experience
Representative Experience
Successfully defended numerous restaurants and retail establishments accused of violations of the public accessibility provisions of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Successfully defended national scaffolding employer in a race discrimination lawsuit.

Motion to Dismiss was granted for international aerospace employers in the Americans with Disabilities Act and Equal Pay Act suit.

A motion to dismiss was granted in a wage and hour lawsuit against the local restaurant.

Summary judgment was granted to a national hardware retailer in a lawsuit brought under the Alabama Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

A summary judgment was granted to international retailers on harassment and discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a decision affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Successfully defended nursing home in a case alleging race discrimination.

Summary judgment granted to the transportation company in action brought by a union to enforce an arbitration agreement.

Successfully defended nursing home in Pregnancy Discrimination Act lawsuit.

Successfully defeated union’s certification petition to organize employer.

Summary judgment granted in a sexual harassment lawsuit against a large disposal company.

Summary judgment was granted to the international aerospace employer in the workers' compensation retaliation suit.
Organizations
Mobile Bar Association, Lawyer Assistance Committee, Chairperson 2022
Member, National Society for Human Resource Management
Volunteer, National Society for Human Resource Management, Advocacy Team
Board Member, Baldwin County Society for Human Resource Management
Member, Mobile County Society for Human Resource Management
Past Board Member, Friends of the Mobile Public Library
Leadership Mobile Graduate, Class of 2016
Sustainer, Junior League of Mobile
Seminars + Presentations
In addition to speaking to numerous human resources groups and conducting training for clients, Beth has made the following presentations:

Employers’ Top 10 FMLA Mistakes,” Alabama Society for Human Resource Management, May 2022

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Technical Assistance Programs: Requested by the Birmingham EEOC District Office to provide employer defense perspective on various subjects:

The FMLA, ADA Workers Compensation: Employer Best Practices,” Orange Beach, Alabama, August 2018

“The ADEA, Traditionalists, Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y in the Workforce,” Biloxi, Mississippi, June 2015

“Workplace Violence and Bullying,” July 2011, Jackson, Mississippi and San Destin, Florida, April 2011

“FMLA Master Class, Advanced Skills for Employers” Sponsored by BLR, 2014-2018

“The Changing Face of Supervisory Harassment,” The University of Alabama School of Law, Annual Employment Law Conference, December 17, 2015

“The Legal Minute,” a monthly presentation to the Baldwin County Society for Human Resource Management, 2017 – present

Conducting numerous workshops on the FMLA

Publications
Past Editor of “The Developing Labor Law,” a publication of the American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, 1998-2010

“Employee Use of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs While at Work,” HR Professionals Magazine, April 2015
News Letter
Elizabeth Darby Rehm Named 2025 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year in the Mobile Area.

Mobile,AL. UnitedStates,January 16,2025 ··Johnstone Adams LLC attorney Elizabeth Darby Rehm was recently recognized by Best lawyers as the 2025 "lawyer of the Year" for labor Law • Management in Mobile.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area anddesignated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year,• making this a significant and coveted accolade. These lawyers are selected basedon particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high levelof respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities,their professionalism and their integrity.

In addition to the "Lawyer of the Year" award, Elizabeth Darby Rehm was also listed in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyer in America in the following practice areas:

• Employment law- Management

• Litigation • Labor and Employment

FROM OUR CLIENTS

Slide Title

My husband and I were referred to Johnstone Adams in the spring of last year. We are working very closely with Jessica Welch and Greg Watts on an ongoing and unwanted family estate matter. Ms. Welch and Mr. Watts have been so professional and knowledgeable. In addition, considering the nature of the suit, Jessica has provided my husband and me with peace of mind we didn’t think was possible during this extremely stressful time of our lives. She is an amazing trial attorney. They have gone above and beyond. To sum it up, I have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for them. I would strongly recommend either of them to my dearest friends and family members. I’m so thankful that we stumbled upon them. I’m actually going to miss Jessica Welch when this is all over.”

I am currently using this law firm and they are informative, keep me up to date with my case, and return your calls/emails immediately. I am very satisfied. My wife and I approached Johnstone Adams to help us make a better-informed decision regarding her immigration. They have been a truly invaluable asset. They brought their knowledge, experience, confidence, and calm demeanor to the process, which put our minds at ease. The worry and anxiety that we were facing melted away, and we have been, literally, hand-held during this daunting process. We can’t thank or recommend Johnstone Adams enough and look forward to continuing to use their services in the future.

Johnstone Adams was a great help when it came to drawing up our family’s will and advanced directives prior to the birth of our first son. These are certainly things that no one wants to think about, but the process was easy. They were professional and knowledgeable, answering all of our questions along the way with compassion and sensitivity. Johnstone Adams responded quickly to any questions and was easy to get in touch with! We would highly recommend them for any legal work!! Jessica’s advice and assistance with our family’s interests in a probate matter was exceptional from beginning to end– always thoughtful, responsive and efficient, and focused and timely.

It was a genuine pleasure for the doubtless incorrigibly demanding old lawyer that I am to have a professional of her outstanding caliber assisting me on this matter—both generally and in my role as executor in particular—in a jurisdiction unfamiliar to me and on a matter completely outside of my own experience and expertise. I might also point out that she was really excellent in interfacing, always in a timely and solution-oriented manner, with other parties involved in our matter to help keep our initiatives on track—including attorneys dealing with the disposition of residential real estate and financial assets. Jessica and her excellent assistant, Shelly Perrone, also offered and provided pragmatic and efficient solutions to logistical and execution issues made it significantly more challenging than usual given the COVID-19 crisis and my own location far from Mobile– in Paris, France.

I highly recommend attorney Rick La Trace. Aside from being professional, polite, and yet firm, Rick is a combination of knowledge, detail, and responsiveness. (In my opinion, there are very few professionals who have ALL three qualities. Rick is one of the very few.) What makes him stand apart from the rest, is that he takes the time to listen to his client’s concerns (no matter how “trivial”). He educates client’s on how the law works, shares his opinions, including the pros and cons of each. We would definitely use Rick’s services again, and highly recommend him for anyone who wants a lawyer that they can trust to thoroughly handle their case from start to finish, even down to the small details. You can tell from working with Rick that he’s not just about getting paid for his services, but that he enjoys working through problems and finding creative solutions for his clients. Also, I highly recommend the Johnstone Adams, LLC systems and processes. Shelly and Cathy were on top of things. I give Rick and Johnstone Adams more than five stars.

Slide Title

WHY CHOOSE OUR FIRM

Dedicated Quality & Commitment

Only a few special law firms in the U.S. have provided exceptional representation to businesses for more than a century. Johnstone Adams, LLC is one of these rare, distinguished firms. Since 1897, the firm has successfully advanced from a local firm serving South Alabama into a dynamic regional powerhouse equipped to fulfill most legal needs of its diverse client base.

Legacy Of Excellence

Each attorney takes great pride in continuing the firm’s legacy of excellence. By consistently providing sophisticated, aggressive, and innovative legal solutions to every client in each service area, Johnstone Adams attorneys personally ensure that their firm’s long, storied past is only the beginning.

Exemplary Client Service & Efficiency

With a focus on exemplary client service and efficiency, Johnstone Adams attorneys guide clients through legal matters from the first conversation about strategy to successful completion in the following critical service areas: Health Care, Employment, Labor & Workers’ Compensation, Insurance Defense Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Transactions, Real Estate Litigation & Transactions, Construction, Oil & Gas, Tax, Trusts & Estate Planning, Banking & Finance, Immigration, and Forest Use.

ABOUT US

LATEST FROM THE BLOG

Johnstone Adams LLC Ranked by Best Law Firms® in 2025

By David Owens • January 17, 2025

Mobile, AL. United States, January16,2025 ··Johnstone Adams LLC has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms*, a testament to its unwavering commitment to legal excellence. Ranked by Best Law Firms regionally in 8 practice areas, Johnstone Adams LLC has distinguished itself in the legal industry, earning this prestigious accolade. Firms included in the 2025 Best Law Finns& list are recognized for professional excellence with impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be considered for this milestone achievement, at least one lawyer in the law firm must be recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Americaf). "At Best lawyers, we are proud to recognize law firms that show an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and client satisfaction, • said Philip Creer, Chief Executive Officer of Best lawyers. "In the legal arena. Credibility is earned through consistent quality, which has propelled these firms to the forefront of the legal industry. • Achieving a ranking in Best Law Firms signifies high-quality legal practice and a depth of legal proficiency. Recognized firms, categorized into three tiers, receive acclaim on both national and metropolitan levels, reflecting the extent of their practice and geographic reach. Receiving a tier designation represents an elite status, reflecting the integrity and reputation earned by law firms. The 2025 edition of Best Law Firms* includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and127 metropolitan-based practice areas. The highest-rated firm in each national practice area attains the prestigious "Law Firm of the Year" honor. The transparent collaborative research process employs qualitative and quantitative data from peer and client reviews, supported by proprietary algorithmic technology, to produce a tiered system of industry-led rankings of the top 4% of the industry. Johnstone Adams LLC received the following rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms®: • Regional Tier 1 o Mobile • Employment Law - Management • Labor Law - Management • Litigation - Labor and Employment • Workers• Compensation Law - Employers • Regional Tier 2 o Mobile • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law • Health Care Law • Litigation - Construction • Tax Law ### About Johnstone Adams LLC Johnstone Adams LLC is committed to providing its clients with the full range of services necessary to meet their legal needs. Our lawyers develop and maintain the knowledge and experience to provide top notch legal representation consistent with the needs of our clients, both as to time and expense. Johnstone Adams, LLC specializes in the following practice areas: • Banking, Finance & Creditors• Rights • Business and Corporate including Business Dispute and Shareholder Rights Litigation • Construction Litigation • Employment, Labor and Workers• Compensation Law • ERISA, Tax, Trusts & Estates • Health Care including Mental Health • Immigration including Employment, 1-9 Compliance and Family • Insurance Litigation: (1) Defense: Construction & Completed Operations; Major Claims & Professional Liability; (2) Coverage and Regulatory: Agency, Commercial, Fidelity, Personal lines & Title • Real Estate including Conveyancing, Environmental & Zoning • Real Estate Litigation, including Conveyancing, Lien Priorities & Titles For more than a century Johnstone Adams LLC has strived to improve upon how we deliver legal services to our clients in this ever-changing economic climate.

Johnstone Adams LLC Lawyers Recognized as Best lawyers® Award Recipients

By David Owens • January 17, 2025

Johnstone Adams LLC Lawyers Recognized as Best lawyers® Award Recipients Mobile, AL. United States, January 16, 2025 •• Johnstone Adams LLC is pleased to announce that 7 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America• Since it was first published in1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Johnstone Adams LLC would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2025 The Best Lawyers in America list • Celia J. Collins • Employment Law Management. Labor Law Management. Litigation • Labor and Employment. and Workers' Compensation Law • Employers Rick A. La Trace - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights I Insolvency and Reorganization Law • E. Russell March Ill - Elder Law • Wade B. Perry Jr. - Employment Law- Management, Health Care Law, and Litigation - Labor and Employment • Elizabeth Darby Rehm - Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment • Lawrence J. Seiter - Litigation - Construction and Workers• Compensation Law - Employers • E. Watson Smith - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law ### About Johnstone Adams LLC Johnstone Adams LLC is committed to providing its clients with the full range of services necessary to meet their legal needs. Our lawyers develop and maintain the knowledge and experience to provide top notch legal representation consistent with the needs of our clients, both as to time and expense. Johnstone Adams, LLC specializes in the following practice areas: • Banking, Finance & Creditors• Rights • Business and Corporate including Business Dispute and Shareholder Rights Litigation • Construction Litigation • Employment Labor and Workers• Compensation Law • ERISA, Tax, Trusts & Estates • Health Care including Mental Health Immigration including Employment, 1-9 Compliance and Family • Insurance Litigation: Defense: Construction & Completed Operations; Major Claims & Professional Liability; Coverage and Regulatory: Agency, Commercial, Fidelity, Personal lines & Title Real Estate including Conveyancing, Environmental & Zoning Real Estate Litigation, including Conveyancing, Lien Priorities & Titles For more than a century Johnstone Adams LLC has strived to improve upon how we deliver legal services to our clients in this ever-changing economic climate.