Experience
Bert Randall, President of Franklin & Prokopik, is a trial attorney concentrating in complex matters involving employment, tort liability and business litigation. He regularly represents companies in state and federal courts, and before state and federal administrative agencies. Outside of his active trial practice, Bert provides general counsel services to Maryland businesses including General Counsel to the Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA) and Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM). Additionally, Bert actively counsels employers in effective policy formation and training in order to avoid costly litigation.
Bert is sensitive to his clients’ needs by ensuring premiere, yet cost-effective, legal representation. When needed, he often works with other F&P attorneys in other practice areas to ensure clients’ issues are solved with a cohesive and well-rounded approach. As part of his practice, he has cultivated relationships with law firms and attorneys across the nation to provide his national clients with quality representation in any jurisdiction in which they have legal needs.
Awards and Distinctions
- AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- President, Franklin & Prokopik, P.C., 2015- Present
- Member, Larson’s Workers’ Compensation National Advisory Board, 2013- Present
- President, National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network, 2013-15
- Chair, Labor & Employment Practice Group, USLAW Network, Inc., 2008
- NCO-of-the-Year, 1-115th Battalion, Maryland Army National Guard, 2002
- Soldier-of-the-Year, 1-115th Battalion, Maryland Army National Guard, 2001
- Law Review, University of Baltimore School of Law, 1993-1995
- Best Lawyers, 2018-2025, Workers’ Compensation
- Best Lawyers, 2019-2025, Employment Law
- Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, 2020
- Super Lawyers, 2024
Activities
Bert is active in, and has served in leadership roles for, the USLAW Network, Inc., and National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network (currently serving as Past President), both networks of independent law firms providing educational content and resources to regional and national clients. He has actively participated in the American Bar Association’s Occupational Safety and Health and Workers’ Compensation subcommittees of the Labor and Employment Section and has testified on behalf of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce before the Maryland General Assembly on a variety of legislation affecting Maryland businesses. He has both been featured as an author and been quoted in a host of legal and industry publications. Bert also served with distinction in the Maryland Army National Guard from 1989–1997.
He has served as a speaker, both regionally and nationally, for numerous organizations, including:
- American Bar Association Occupational Safety and Health and Workers’ Compensation Subcommittees of the Labor and Employment Section
- American Trucking Associations Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council
- American Conference Institute
- Captive Resources
- Council on Education in Management
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- First Rehabilitation Resources, Inc.
- Healthcare Financial Management Association
- Hunt Valley Business Forum
- Job Service Employer Committee
- Maryland Area Association of Occupational Health Nurses
- Maryland Association of Community Services
- Maryland Motor Truck Association
- Maryland Movers Council
- Maryland Ready Mix Concrete Association
- Maryland Workers Compensation Educational Association
- National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network
- Ocean City MD Hotel Motel Restaurant Association
- Restaurant Association of Maryland
- Society for Human Resource Management — CHRA and Annapolis Chapters
- Tri-State Safety Council
- USLAW Network, Inc.
- Washington Claims Association
Recent Speaking Engagements
The Grass Keeps Growing in Maryland, MMTA 2023 Annual Meeting, Columbia, MD, October 2023
Why the Fuss on Paid Family Medical Leave, AICP Great Lakes Chapter, Charlotte, NC – May 2023
High Times in Maryland Cannabis Laws Expand to Include Adult Use, BABC, Baltimore, MD – April 2023
HB800 Testimony to MD House Judiciary on Child Support in Workers’ Comp Cases, Annapolis, MD – March 2023
The Grass Keeps Growing in Maryland – MMTA Western MD Chapter, Hagerstown, MD – February 2023
Child Care, Cannabis and Employment, Oh My! – Owings Mills, MD – February 2023
Workers’ Comp and Coverage Pitfalls and Coverage Issues When Cannabis Is at Play– ABA, New Orleans, LA – February 2023
Maryland Family & Medical Leave Insurance Program: Time to Care Act of 2022 – F&P Labor & Employment Seminar – November 2022
Independent Contractor Misclassification: Impacts of CA AB5 in Maryland – Ellicott City, MD – September 2022
Best Practices to Managing Interplay of Work Comp, ADA, FMLA and Retaliatory Discharge – NWCDN Conference, Nashville, TN – August 2022
Being an Expert Witness – International Anaplastology Association – June 2022
The State of the Controlled Substances Act: New Cases and Uncharted Territory – CLM, Chicago, IL – May 2022
What Really Happens When You Presume – New Jersey Self-Insurer’s Association, Atlantic City, NJ – May 2022
National Labor & Employment Update – General Counsel Forum, USLAW Network, Inc., Phoenix, AZ – May 2022
From Outhouse to Inhouse: Managing Professional Relationships – NWCDN, Philadelphia, PA – April 2022
The Challenges of Cannabis in Workers’ Comp Claims, 18th Annual Workers’ Compensation Insurance ExecuSummit, Uncasville, CT – April 2022
What Happens When You Presume, New Jersey Self-Insurers’ Association Fall Conference 2021, Atlantic City, NJ – November 2021
Legal Considerations with Corporate Health and Wellness Programs; From HIPPA to ADA to Voluntary Participation and Incentive-Based Programs (co-facilitator), USLAW Network Client Conference, Colorado – September 2021
Fun with Funds – Don’t be “Confunded”… Tips and Practical Advice for Navigating Claims Involving Funds, MWCEA Conference, Ocean City, MD – September 2021
COVID-19s Mark on Insurance Coverage Litigation, a podcast on Law.com – September 2021
After the Siege: A Post-Pandemic Overview of Insurance Claims and Coverage, Lexis COVID Insurance Litigation Webinar – June 2021
Presumptions: What’s Working and What’s Not, IAIABC Webinar – June 2021
Returning to Work: Understanding COVID-19 Vaccines and the Legal Implications of Mandating Vaccines, USI Webinar for the Chester County HR Association – March 2021
I’ve Got You Under My Skin, So Hit Me With Your Best Shot in the Dark – and Ode to COVID Vaccination Liabilities, Workers’Compensation.com Webinar – February 2021
Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Employer’s Guide to COVID Vaccines and Other Pat Benatar Songs, USLAW EduNet Webinar – February 2021
Using Owner-Operators/Independent Contractors, MMTA Webinar – January 2021
USI COVID Vaccine Virtual Webinar – January 2021
Workplace Civility, McLean Contracting Training – November 2020
Brief Overview on New Employment Laws, Susquehanna Workforce Network – November 2020
Home Work is Not Just for Kids Anymore, F&P Labor & Employment Seminar – November 2020
WC CompVid-10: Annoying Things You Thought You’d Never Need to Know, MACS SIG Fall Webinar – October 2020
The Insurance Market Post-Pandemic, USLAW Webinar – October 2020
Competing Perspectives on COVID-19 Presumptions, IAIABC Panel Webinar – September 2020
New Employer Hiring Mandates, MMTA Webinar – August 2020
Authentification of Social Media, CorVel’s Webinar – August 2020
Medical Marijuana – June 2020
Preparation for Workers’ Compensation Claims Arising COVID-19, USLAW Roundtable – June 2020
T.P. and Zoom Psych Claim, Oh My! – Webinar – June 2020
COVID-19 Where Do We Go From Here?, ADCC Webinar – May 2020
Investigating & Defending the COVID-19 Workers’ Compensation Claim, USLAW Webinar – May 2020
Claim Investigation and Litigation, RCM&D Webinar – May 2020
COVID-19 Part VI: What to Expect When You’re Expecting, F&P Webinar – May 2020
COVID-19 Investigating and Defending the Coronavirus Claim, CorVel Webinar – April 2020
Maryland WC101: An Overview of Maryland Workers’ Compensation, Work Partners Webinar – April 2020
Part V – COVID-19: Latest DOL Guidance and FAQs, F&P Webinar – April 2020
Part VI – COVID-19: Investigating and Defending the Coronavirus Claim, F&P Webinar – March 2020
Part III – COVID-19: Complying with the Families First Coronavirus Response, F&F Webinar – March 2020
Part II – COVID-19: Managing your Business Operations, F&P Webinar – March 2020
Part I – COVID-19: Managing Your Workforce, F&P Webinar – March 2020
Delaware Marijuana – General Liability and Workers’ Compensation Concerns, DCA March Meeting – March 2020
Weed at Work, MACCBO (MD Assoc of Comm Colleges), Howard Community College – February 2020
