Earle K. Shawe’s entire career has been devoted to the field of labor law. He is recognized as one of the first attorneys in the country to specialize in all areas of labor relations under the National Labor Relations Act, including union avoidance, union elections, collective bargaining, unfair labor practice charges, and union grievance matters.

 As one of the original attorneys at the National Labor Relations Board, Earle served in several positions, including the Chief Law Officer for the Board’s 5th Region. While at the Board, Earle tried cases throughout the country, often involving issues of first impression.

 Upon leaving the Board in 1947, Earle founded the Firm that has become Shawe Rosenthal, LLP. From the filing in 1947 of this country’s first unfair labor practice charge against a union under the Taft-Hartley Act, to the present day, Earle has been instrumental in the Firm’s development of a national practice representing management in all areas of labor relations.

 Earle’s interest in and zealous commitment to his Firm’s clients and the furtherance of management’s interests in employee relations is nationally recognized and explains the roots of Shawe Rosenthal, LLP’s continued growth in the successful representation of employers in significant local and national labor relations matters.

 Earle's contribution to the development of labor law has not been limited to his activities on behalf of his Firm's clients. He has also written, spoken and testified as to the concerns of management in regard to its relations with employees. He similarly has been active in city, state, and national bar and professional associations. His accomplishments in the field of labor law have been recognized by his election as a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in 1999.

On February 9, 1996, the UVA Board of Visitors established the Earle K. Shawe Professorship in Employment Law.  The professorship is made possible through the generosity of the Shawe Family Charitable Foundation and Shawe, a 1934 law school alumnus and a 1931 alumnus distinguished career in labor law.  The professorship will be awarded for fixed terms to members of the law faculty to pursue research and plan new course offerings in the area of employment law.