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, 2018-2026, Workers’ Compensation
- Best Lawyers, 2019-2026, Employment Law
- Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, 2020
- Employment Law Power List, The Daily Record, 2025
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
- High Times at Work – Roofers Risk Control Workshop – Roofers Risk Control Workshop, Kansas City, MO – May 2025
- High Times at Work: Navigating Cannabis Regulations in Construction – ABC Regional Construction Summit, Hanover, MD – March 2025
- Through the Looking Glass: Examining Pay Transparency and Wage Equity- F&P Labor & Employment Seminar – November 2024
- Responding to OSHA Citations and Proactively Preventing Injuries- USLAW Network, Columbus, OH – August 2024
- Navigating the Impact of Marijuana and Drug Testing on Workers’ Compensation Claims- USLAW Network, Columbus, OH – August 2024
- High Times in EPLI: Cannabis at Work- PLAN Webinar – June 2024
- High Times at Work- SHRM Anne Arundel – January 2024
- From Handshakes to Handcuffs: Navigating Employment Agreements a Wink and a Clause – F&P Labor & Employment Seminar, November 2023
- 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
