Bio

J. Bruce Cross practices labor and employment defense law.  He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Committee on the Development of the Law under the National Labor Relations Act, as well as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Publicity and accolades include features in U.S. News and World Report, where he was named among the Best Labor and Employment Lawyers in the nation, and Mid-South Super Lawyers, making the publication’s top 50 list. He has also been honored by Chambers and Partners and Best Lawyers in America. A Life Member of the National Registry of Who’s Who, he is also listed as one of the Top 1000 Labor & Employment lawyers worldwide by Who’s Who Legal.

Bruce’s practice includes work before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Wage & Hour and OFCCP Divisions of the Department of Labor, as well as related Federal and State Court Litigation. His experience includes collective bargaining, arbitration, advising management regarding maintenance of a non-union and non-discriminatory workplace, supervisory training, and the development of personnel systems and the preparation of Affirmative Action Plans.  Admitted to practice before numerous federal courts throughout the country, he has argued cases before multiple Courts of Appeals and practiced before the United States Supreme Court.

Bruce has been honored with the 2017 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2014, 2019 and 2024 Lawyer of the Year Award for Management Labor Law in Little Rock. He serves as the current President of the Notre Dame Club Arkansas Chapter. He also served on the State Board for Junior Achievement of Arkansas and also serves on the Board for the West Central Arkansas chapter of the Society of Human Resources Management. He also is on the Board for Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas, and serves as the Chairman of the National Legislative Committee for the Associated Builders and Contractors of America.

His past held seats include Chairman of the Statewide Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Arkansas, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Museum of Discovery, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Society to Prevent Blindness, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Urban League of Arkansas, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas, Member of the Board of Directors for the Downtown Partnership, and Member of the Board of Directors for the Boys Scouts of America, Quapaw Area Council.

Areas of Service

Honors

  • Best Lawyers in America 2021
    • Employment Law/Management
    • Labor Law/Management
    • Litigation/ Labor and Employment
  • Who’s Who Legal: Labor & Employment 2020
  • Chambers & Partners 2020: Top Labor & Employment Attorney
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers Top Attorney in Labor and Employment
  • AY Magazine: Little Rock’s Best Lawyers 2020
  • Who’s Who Legal: Labor & Employment 2019
  • Recipient of the Arkansas Hospitality Association’s President’s Award, 2018
  • Who’s Who Legal: Labor & Employment 2018
  • Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • Lawyer of the Year in Little Rock in Labor Law/Management, 2014
  • Top 50 Arkansas Mid-South Super Lawyers
  • Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas’ Phillip Joiner Award winner, 2012
  • International Directory of Distinguished Leadership
  • Who’s Who is America
  • Who’s Who in American Law
  • Who’s Who in Legal Eagles
  • Who’s Who in the South and Southwest
  • Who’s Who in the United States
  • Who’s Who Legal USA – Management Labor & Employment
  • Life Member of the National Registry of Who’s Who
  • International Who’s Who of Professionals
  • Montclair Who’s Who Among Law Professionals
  • Distinguished Service Award from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas, 2005
  • President’s Award from the Arkansas Hospitality Association, 2003
  • Golden Gavel Award from the Arkansas Bar Association, 1988
  • Leadership Hot Springs
  • President, Notre Dame Club of Arkansas
  • Member, Arkansas Hospitality Association
  • Past Member of the Board of Directors, Urban League of Arkansas
  • Past Member of the Board of Directors, Boy Scouts, Quapaw Area Council
  • Former Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County
  • Past Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors, Arkansas Society to Prevent Blindness
  • Member, Advisory Council of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County
  • Past Chairman, Statewide Board of Directors, Junior Achievement of Arkansas
  • Former Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors, Museum of Discovery
  • Volunteer with VOCALS – Volunteer Organization, Center for Arkansas Legal Services
  • Member of the Board of Directors, Downtown Partnership
  • Former Selection Committee Member, Habitat for Humanity
  • Associate Editor, University of Arkansas Law Journal, 1973-1974

Affiliations

 

  • Arkansas Bar Association
    • Past Chairman, Labor Law Section
  • American Bar Association
    •  Labor & Employment Law Section
    • Development of the Law Under the NLRA Committee
  • Delta Theta Phi
  • National Legislative Committee of the Associated Builders and Contractors of America
    • Past Chairman
  • Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas
    • Board of Directors,
  • Associated Builders and Contractors of America
    • Board of Directors,
  • West Central Arkansas Society of Human Resource Management
    • Legislative Director, (2017-Present)

Education

  • University of Arkansas, J.D.
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A.

Admissions

  • Arkansas 1974 – United States District Courts: Eastern & Western Divisions of Arkansas