
Donald F. Burke
Principal
Experience
Donald F. Burke is a principal and practice group leader in the Labor and Employment Law Group of the Baltimore office of Semmes. His practice involves representation of management in all facets of federal, state and local employment law with particular emphasis on litigation, compliance activities, management labor relations, affirmative action obligations, wage and hour, and Title VII matters. Donald has successfully represented the interests of both nationwide companies and small employers and governmental entities in federal and state courts, administrative agencies, and arbitration proceedings.
Donald lectures often on a variety of employment law subjects to numerous national and international professional and commercial groups, including those sponsored by the Maryland State Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for the Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers and various personnel managers’ associations, and other management and educational groups. He has authored numerous articles on employment relations matters.
Several areas in which Donald focuses on technology in the workplace include: providing employment law advice to business regarding e-mail and internet use; the development of interactive multi-media for employment training purposes; surveillance by employers of electronic communications; potential employer liability for technology-based employee misconduct; employer exposure to defamation, discrimination and harassment charges related to technology misuse; use of technology for the distribution of employee handbooks, company policies, and accommodation to disabilities; and advice to employers regarding protection against on-line access to confidential employment information pertaining to personnel records, medical records, customer lists and/or trade secrets.
Admitted
- 1982, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- 1981, Supreme Court of the United States
- 1979, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- 1973, United States Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit
- 1973, United States District Court for the District of Maryland
- 1973, Supreme Court of Maryland
Education
- University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., 1973)
- Loyola College (B.S., 1970)
Affiliations & Associations
- Member, American Bar Association – Labor & Employment Law Section, Tort & Insurance Practice Section
- Member, Maryland Bar Association
- Member, Bar Association of Baltimore City
- Member, Maryland Chamber of Commerce – Labor & Employment Committee
- Member, Greater Baltimore Committee
- Member, High Technology Council of Maryland
- Wednesday Law Club Member
Special Achievements & Honors
- Selected to the Daily Record’s 2022 Business & Employment Law Power List
- A/V Preeminent® rating from Martindale Hubbell®, the highest possible peer review rating for ethics and legal ability.
- Named to the Maryland Daily Record’s 2022 Business & Employment Law Power List.