Corey Franklin is the Office Managing Partner of FordHarrison's St. Louis office and serves as Co-Chair of the firm's Labor Relations and Manufacturing Industry practice groups. His legal practice is focused on the representation of management in labor relations issues and employment law disputes. 

As a senior labor and employment attorney with more than two decades of experience, Corey counsels employers, public agencies, and major institutions on complex labor-management relations and federal labor law. He advises clients on all aspects of labor strategy, including high-stakes National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proceedings, collective bargaining, administrative litigation, and workforce governance.

Corey has extensive experience handling unfair labor practice matters, representation elections, strike preparation and crisis response, workplace investigations, contract administration, and labor-related regulatory compliance. Nationally recognized for leadership in labor relations, he is frequently published and quoted in national legal reporting, business media, and industry publications for expertise on federal labor policy, NLRB enforcement trends, administrative law challenges, and the practical impact of regulatory changes on employers. He is also consulted by journalists and industry analysts for perspective on high-profile labor issues and emerging legal developments.

A trusted advisor to large corporations, small businesses, non-profits, and public-sector entities, Corey is known for sound judgment, practical and balanced legal analysis, and a proven ability to guide diverse institutional stakeholders through politically sensitive and high-risk environments.

Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America - Labor Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2018-2026)
  • "Missouri Rising Stars," Super Lawyers magazine (2010-2017)

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Corey Franklin - Best Lawyers 2026 Widget

  • Represent employers in high-stakes NLRB proceedings, including unfair labor practice matters, representation petitions, and appellate litigation.

  • Serve as lead negotiator in collective bargaining for manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, construction, warehouse/distribution, and public safety workforces.

  • Counsel unionized employers regarding labor relations, contract administration, and bargaining strategy.

  • Advise both unionized and non-union employers regarding compliance with extant local, state, and federal regulatory requirements.

  • Provide counsel during periods of regulatory transition and changing NLRB doctrine, facilitating policy development and ensuring operational continuity and risk mitigation.

  • Advise public-sector clients, including municipalities and transportation agencies, on labor governance, crisis management, strike preparation, and dispute resolution.

  • Conduct internal investigations, workplace assessments, compliance reviews, and rapid-response campaigns in union organizing environments.

  • Manage complex employment litigation, including restrictive covenant, wage and hour, discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower matters.

Education
  • University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law
    J.D., 2002
  • Miami University
    B.A., 1999
Memberships
  • The Missouri Bar
  • Labor and Employee Relations Association
  • Labor Relations Advisory Committee
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Labor & Employment Law Chair (2010-2011)
  • St. Louis County Bar Association
  • Mary Queen of Peace Finance Council
  • St. Louis Metro Collegiate Baseball League Board of Directors
Bar Admissions
  • Missouri
  • Illinois
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Firm Leadership
  • St. Louis Office Managing Partner
  • Management Group
  • Labor Relations Practice, Co-Chair
  • Manufacturing Industry Group, Co-Chair