Overview

Tanja L. Thompson dedicates her practice to representing companies in all areas of traditional labor law. Companies across the country and across many industries, including technology, transportation, healthcare, banking, cannabis, manufacturing, services, refining, insurance, staffing, and others, seek Tanja’s skill both in maintaining direct employee relations and in negotiating labor agreements and managing union-represented workplaces. Employers look to her for fresh thinking and creative approaches to business-critical decisions affected by organized labor.

A tireless advocate for her clients, Tanja’s labor advice practice includes representing clients in traditional and corporate campaigns. For unionized clients, Tanja is a savvy negotiator who takes a proactive, business-centric approach in representing clients’ interests at the bargaining table – thereby fostering stronger labor relations and more productive and engaged workplaces following bargaining. Represented clients also seek her counsel in labor arbitrations, NLRB litigation, and in developing training and communication programs to ensure effective management under the National Labor Relations Act.

Tanja is a co-chair of Littler’s Traditional Labor Practice Group, and previously was a member of the firm's Board of Directors. She is a frequent speaker nationally on labor law and union-related issues.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Former Council Member

Labor and Employment Law Section

American Bar Association

Former Employer Vice-Chair, Budget and Finance Committee

Labor and Employment Law Section

American Bar Association

Member and Former Co-Chair

Committee on Development of the Law Under the NLRA, Labor and Employment Law Section

American Bar Association

Member

Labor and Employment Law Section

Memphis Bar Association

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2016-2025

Named, Lawyer of the Year

Memphis

The Best Lawyers in America©

2020

Ranked, Labor & Employment

Chambers USA

2016-2024

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

News, Analysis & Press

The Littler Annual Employer Survey 2024

Littler Report

May 8, 2024

Books & Book Chapters

  • The Developing Labor Law, Bloomberg BNA, associate editor, 2011-2020
  • The Developing Labor Law, Bloomberg BNA, co-editor-in-chief, 2014
  • Guide to Workplace Law, Random House, 2nd Ed., American Bar Association, associate editor, 2006

Speaking Engagements

The NLRB Today: A Conversation with NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo

Littler Executive Employer Conference

May 5, 2022

A Labor of Love: Littler Lawyers Answer Your Most Burning Labor and Employment Questions

February 10, 2022

Minority Unions - New and Renewed Alternative Organizing Tactics

March 17, 2021

A Labor of Love: Littler Lawyers Answer Your Most Burning Labor and Employment Questions

Memphis, TN

February 11, 2021

NLRB Case Law Update

Labor Relations Advisory Committee 2020 Meeting, Virtual Program

December 11, 2020

NLRB Update for Union-Free Employers in the Wake of COVID

Tennessee Bankers Association, Virtual Program

September 2020

Labor Relations in a COVID-19 World

Littler Executive Employer, Virtual Program

May 2020

Education

  • J.D., University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, 1997
  • B.A., Rhodes College, 1993

Bar Admission

Tennessee

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee