Fractional HR / Employee Relations; Compliance; Workplace Operations

Core Services Include:

Organizational Health & Development

· HR policy development and implementation

· Employee handbook creation and updates

· Training program design and delivery

· Knowledge management and professional development

Employee Relations & Culture

· Workplace investigations and conflict resolution

· DEI initiative development and implementation

· Employee resource group establishment

· Performance management system design

Workplace / Enterprise Operations

· Cross-functional team leadership and development

· Internal governance and process optimization

· Stakeholder engagement and change management

· Vendor and contract management support

Compliance & Risk Management

· Risk assessment and mitigation strategies

· Compliance framework design, monitoring, and auditing

· Documentation and record-keeping systems

· Crisis management and communication protocols

Zac offers a range of client services building on his 15+ years of experience in organizational development, workplace compliance, and strategic leadership in corporate and non-profit settings. With a unique background spanning industries and roles, he specializes in helping build inclusive, resilient organizations of all sizes that align operations with mission-driven values.

As Senior Counsel at TPx Communications and PM Global Brands, Zac led workplace investigations, developed equity-focused policies, and streamlined compliance protocols to reduce organizational risk. At Shook, Hardy, & Bacon, he managed teams through all stages of complex matters and trained students and colleagues on emerging trends and best practices. His expertise extends beyond traditional HR functions to include dispute and conflict resolution, cross-functional team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management and communications.

Zac is particularly passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He co-founded inaugural employee resource groups supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ staff, served as President of the SHB Foundation (providing grants to support DEI initiatives), led DEI recruiting efforts, developed programming, and trained hundreds of professionals and students on advocacy and best workplace practices. His approach combines analytical rigor with genuine empathy, ensuring that workplace culture and policy reflect the values these organizations champion.

A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif) where he represented underserved populations in adoption proceedings and victims of domestic violence seeking protective orders through the Family Violence Clinic, Zac holds a certification in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and serves as a New York State commissioned electronic notary. He is fluent in Spanish and business-proficient in Portuguese.

Academic and Institutional Experience

Founding Faculty Member | Shook Scholars Program | Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Designed and delivered a practical skills training and seminar that provides mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities for law students from underrepresented groups nationwide.

Moderator | October 2019, DRI Annual Meeting

Prepared and moderated panel on defending global class action proceedings.

Guest Lecturer | Summer 2016, Fundação Getulio Vargas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brazil)

Lectured to law students and professors in English, Spanish, and Portuguese on cross-border practice, legal advocacy, and emerging litigation and regulatory trends.

Presenter | November 2013, University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law

Lectured on international litigation practice at the school’s Symposium on International Commercial Arbitration.

Instructor | 2011-2012, Missouri Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Programs

Presented to junior attorneys on deposition skills and senior attorneys on effective examination techniques.

Publication | Ashley Brittain, Zachary A. Crowell, Justin D. Smith & Mary M. Beck, Investigating the Justice System Response in Missouri to Child Homicides Related to Hostile Environments, 66 Journal of the Missouri Bar 262 (2010).