Corey Franklin is the Office Managing Partner of FordHarrison's St. Louis office. His legal practice is focused on the representation of management in labor relations issues and employment law disputes. 

A majority of Corey's practice is dedicated to helping clients with both unionized and non-unionized personnel when facing labor relations issues. He is highly skilled in advocating for clients in complex collective bargaining negotiations, labor arbitration and grievance proceedings, union organizing campaigns, strikes, and administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board. Corey represents private companies as well as public entities, including municipal bodies, in collective bargaining, state labor relations act compliance, and contract arbitration/impasse resolution proceedings.

Corey is a member of FordHarrison’s Labor Relations and Healthcare practice groups. He has advised health care systems, hospitals, and other healthcare providers across the country regarding organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, and contract administration. Corey spends a significant amount of his time counseling for-profit, non-profit, and public sector employers within the health care industry and otherwise, regarding both preventative strategies and rapid response measures to quell union organizing efforts in their early stages.

Corey also frequently litigates employment law matters including restrictive covenant disputes as well as claims of wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. He also provides day-to-day counsel to employers on remaining compliant with the complicated network of constantly evolving federal, state, and local labor and employment laws and provides tailored guidance on policy compliance, workplace safety, internal investigations, and legal risk management.  

Corey's clients range in size from major multi-national companies to small local businesses. He represents companies in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, public transportation, law enforcement, and the unique and highly regulated healthcare industry, in both labor relations and employment matters.

While in law school, Corey was awarded the CALI Excellence Future Award and served as the Associate Editor-in-Chief for the Missouri Environmental Law and Policy Review. 

Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America - Labor Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2018-2025)
  • "Missouri Rising Stars," Super Lawyers magazine (2010-2017)

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Corey Franklin - Best Lawyers 2025 Widget

  • Represented a non-profit health care organization that includes two nationally recognized academic hospitals with respect to UFCW’s ongoing effort to organize Food and Nutrition Department workers. 
  • Prevailed by a better than 2:1 margin in an NLRB administered representation election on behalf of a major paper manufacturer. 
  • Represented an interstate compact organization in collective bargaining negotiations and post-impasse dispute resolution under a labor-protective agreement governed by Section 13(c) of the Urban Mass Transit Act. 
  • Successfully defended a major public transit agency involved in a $25 million grievance arbitration regarding the proper interpretation of the health insurance premium language under the agency's then-unsigned labor agreement. 
  • Prevailed in post-impasse interest arbitration with respect to the wage package to be offered to bargaining unit police officers. 
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