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Labor & Employment Law
The firm’s Labor & Employment attorneys litigate a broad range of discrimination, labor arbitration, wrongful discharge
and other tort matters. We also counsel local, regional and national employers on a variety of legal, regulatory and
human resources issues that affect their employment planning, policies and procedures.
Pro-Active Litigation Prevention
The employment relationship is governed by a tangled web of laws, regulations and court decisions. These rules are
complicated and the consequences for even inadvertent violations are high – fines, penalties, back pay awards, punitive
damages and attorney’s fees. We therefore emphasize preventive, practical and creative approaches to employee relations.
If litigation is required or appropriate, however, we aggressively represent our client’s interests, frequently resolving
the matter at the pre-trial stage with a dispositive motion or favorable settlement.
Employment Discrimination and Wrongful Discharge
We handle EEO charge investigations and litigation before federal, state and local agencies; wrongful discharge
litigation; retaliatory discharge litigation; employment litigation of all variations, including defamation, breach of
contract, interference with contract, infliction of emotional distress, etc.; and training for all levels of management
in all aspects of EEO regulations, including developing employment policies.
Labor Relations
We assist our non-union clients in maintaining a profitable, union-free environment with preventive labor relations
strategies; national and state labor relations board representation; counter-union campaigns; employee relations audits;
development of handbooks, personnel and management procedures; training for all levels of management; and other relevant
services.
We assist our unionized clients with negotiating collective bargaining agreements; representation before labor boards,
arbitrators and other agencies; handling collective bargaining agreement administration and grievances; training and other
related services.
Wage & Hour Laws
We help employers comply with applicable wage & hour laws and regulations – before problems arise – by auditing client’s
procedures; developing policies and procedures which comply with the laws; and representing clients in enforcement
proceedings.
Audit Services
Preventive legal action, like preventive maintenance, effectively manages costs and reduces the likelihood of troublesome
legal issues. We provide audit services to our clients that can identify actual or potential employee relations problems
in a number of areas, including union vulnerability, discriminatory employment practices, wage & hour compliance, employee
handbook and policies, safety and health procedures, supervisory labor law awareness and affirmative action compliance.
Company Training and Policy Development
We advise employers in virtually all areas of their employment operations, keeping an eye on the developing legal issues
related to the “employment-at-will” doctrine. The plaintiff’s bar continues to push the envelope in this area, applying
unique employment, contract and tort legal theories to both termination cases and disciplinary matters. We help our
clients meet that challenge by developing appropriate employee handbooks, internal management manuals, employment and
business practices and policies; establishing ethical guidelines and substance abuse policies for employees; drafting
employment agreements and covenants not to compete; auditing policies and practices to prevent employment-related claims
from arising; and implementing other creative solutions.
Educational Services and Updates
Labor and employment law is constantly developing and we stay at the cutting edge. We speak at seminars for employers
and attorneys, prepare articles for professional journals and magazines, and provide employers with legal and practical
updates in the firm’s Labor & Employment Bulletin.
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