Picture of Brian R. Carnie

Brian R. Carnie

Partner

Brian Carnie is a partner in the Shreveport office of Kean Miller and practices in the labor and employment group. He represents employers of all sizes in the private and public sectors. Brian dedicates his practice exclusively to the representation of management's interests in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law, including the defense of wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, workplace tort, breach of contract, FMLA, and OSHA whistleblower claims in federal and state courts, and before administrative agencies. Brian prepares, litigates and defends non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants for his clients. He has extensive experience in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), collective wage and hour cases, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access cases, otherwise known as "drive-by" or "google" lawsuits. In addition to his litigation practice, Brian guides employers through complex disability and leave issues, sexual harassment investigations, workforce reorganizations/layoffs, wage and hour investigations, and worker misclassification and I-9 audits. He routinely represents management in collective bargaining, union grievances, arbitrations, and provides businesses with effective union avoidance strategies.

Brian also helps employers understand and comply with the ever-changing rules and regulations under the Affordable Care Act, including practical guidance on employer responsibilities, compliance and testing, reporting/notice requirements, and representation of employers who challenge the new IRS ACA penalty notices and appeals of demands for payment.

Brian is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Labor and Employment) for 2024 and 2025.

Representative Experience
  • Assisted a large employer in the Ark-LA-Tex (6,000 + employees) region with business planning under the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), including the evaluation of regulatory impact on an existing workforce structure and group health benefits, assistance with reporting requirements, and the creation of effective compliance strategy to defend against any future IRS demands for payment
  • Intervened in a high-stake race discrimination case and convinced the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) to reverse For Cause Determination (which likely would have resulted in EEOC enforcement action against multi-state provider of services for individuals with developmental disabilities)
  • Successfully defended a multi-national casino-entertainment company in an age, sex, race, and national origin discrimination and retaliation case at trial and appellate levels. As a result, the U.S. Supreme Court denied plaintiff’s request for review
  • Representation of a Texas-based restaurant chain in an audit by the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) into alleged wage-hour violations against numerous current and former employees. Induced the DOL to cease enforcement action in exchange for nominal payments to a handful of former employees, and avoided a class action lawsuit
  • Successfully tried and defeated a teachers’ union lawsuit against a parish school board seeking injunctive relief to enjoin enforcement of the boards’ reduction in force policies
  • Served a statewide strike counsel for national telecommunications provider. Responsible for access injunctions, prosecuting and defending National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) unfair labor practice charges, and handling related litigation connected to union disruptions and nationwide bargaining negotiations
Education

Brian earned his B.S., magna cum laude, from Northern Illinois University in 1992. He earned his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University Law School in 1995.

Admissions
  • Admitted, Illinois, 1995; Texas, 2006; Louisiana, 2007; United States District Court for the Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana, Northern and Western Districts of Texas, Northern District of Illinois, and Northern District of Florida; United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Memberships
  • Shreveport, Louisiana State, and Texas State Bar Associations (LSBA, Labor & Employment Section); Harry V. Booth and Judge Henry A. Politz American Inn of Court; Northwest Louisiana Society of Human Resource Management (at-large member, 2015 Board of Directors; Chairperson, Legislative Affairs Committee)
Articles, Presentations and Publications
Community Service
  • Graduate, Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, 2009
  • Community Advisor, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport
  • Board of Directors, Northwest Louisiana Interfaith Pharmacy
  • Usher and Oblationer, St. Mark’s Cathedral (Shreveport)
  • Board of Trustees, The Montessori School for Shreveport