Our attorneys provide labor relations services to public sector and private sector employers in a wide variety of industries including construction, health care, building service, retail, transportation, financial services, insurance, manufacturing, technology and hospitality. We foster positive labor relations, quickly resolve disputes through negotiation or litigation and respond immediately to eliminate or neutralize the impact of disruptions if they occur. Our services include: Collective bargaining negotiations Grievance arbitration and dispute resolution Defense of unfair labor practice charges Strike contingency and security planning Dual gate picketing management Anticipation and resolution of jurisdictional disputes in the construction industry Injunctions against strike misconduct Creation of lawful management campaigns in response to union organization effort Implementation of policies design to reduce incentives to union organization Our experience enables us to anticipate labor issues and create appropriate labor strategies that enable you to you achieve your business objectives without unnecessary labor disruptions. We provide cost effective management of employment claims litigation from inception through mediation, trial and on appeal. We regularly practice before state and federal courts, the National Labor Relations Board, OSHA, the Department of Labor and all other employment related agencies. We have litigated virtually every kind of employment claim including: Discrimination claims of any kind Harassment Whistleblower Retaliation Federal civil rights Breach of employment contract Restrictive covenants and injunctions to enforce them Breach of loyalty and confidentiality Collective bargaining agreement breaches ERISA claims Labor injunctions Appeals of administrative agency action OSHA, OFCCP, NLRB, DOL investigations and proceedings Prevailing wage compliance Union and employee grievances Wage and hour claims Employee privacy Working closely with human resources professionals, employment practice liability insurers, risk managers and claims investigators, we provide a comprehensive approach to reduce litigation costs while minimizing employment claims liability. Due diligence in corporate transactions should always include an analysis by labor relations counsel because such transactions, if not managed appropriately from a labor relations perspective, can result in negative publicity, unanticipated extension of labor activity to affiliate operations, benefits fund liability or WARN Act violations. Businesses in a wide variety of industries frequently obtain our advice concerning the impact of labor and employment law obligations on mergers, acquisitions and plant shut-downs. We help you complete transactions and form appropriate corporate structures to achieve your business plans without provoking unnecessary labor disruptions. Combined, the Family Medical Leave Act ("FMLA"), the Americans With Disabilities Act ("ADA") and employee disability benefits programs create a complex web of leave requirements that make it difficult for employers to understand their obligations to accommodate employee family and medical issues. Depending upon the number of your employees, the nature of the individual employee’s duties, time in their position and need for leave, you may be required to provide intermittent or continuous leave to employees with family or medical issues. You may also be required to modify your operations, adjust work schedules, alter workspaces or provide leave beyond the FMLA requirements to accommodate an employee’s medical impairments. The appropriate accommodation of employee family and medical needs can only be determined after an assessment of your leave policies, assessment of the essential functions of your operations, engagement in an "interactive process" with the employee and perhaps consultation with health care professionals. We help you define your legal obligations and implement practices that accommodate family and medical issues without unduly burdening your operations or draining your benefits programs. Federal, state and municipal entities increasingly require their vendors (including service providers and construction contractors) to comply with labor and employment regulations inapplicable to private sector work. Such obligations include prevailing wage laws, union neutrality regulations, project labor agreements, drug testing programs, apprenticeship training requirements and security standards. Violation of these requirements can result in a public entity withholding payment for services provided, debarment from future work and significant economic and criminal penalties. We help you understand your obligations, represent you in case of an audit and obtain efficient resolution in a manner that enables you to continue providing services in the public sector. We represent employers and Taft-Hartley benefits funds in ERISA litigation including denial of benefits claims, fiduciary breach claims and defend Fund collection actions against employers. Implementing health and safety programs increases employee productivity, reduces risk and prevents immeasurable damage that can be caused by workplace incidents. We will assist you in establishing workplace safety programs, achieving OSHA compliance and represent you in citation "contest proceedings." Among others, we create substance abuse programs that comply with an increasing number of laws and contractual obligation that require it such as the Drug Free Workplace Act (applicable to federally funded projects) Department of Transportation regulations (covering employers in the motor carrier, aviation, mass transit, railway and pipeline industries) and various state and local requirements requiring contractors and service providers to provide drug free workplaces. Obviously, your competitive business advantage depends upon your ability to generate unique products, processes and relationships which become your "trade secrets." The threat of trade secret theft increases as employees become more mobile and consultants are utilized for development of key business strategies. Unless efforts are made to safeguard your trade secrets, the law may not provide you with a remedy in the event of their theft. We assist you in implementing trade secret protection protocol that guard against disclosure of confidential information, employee raiding by competitors and other unlawful interference with your competitive advantage. We have represented businesses in a wide array of industries in litigation to obtain injunctions and economic redress against unfair trade practices. Given our building industry experience, our attorneys are uniquely suited to represent building owners, contractors, managers and public accommodation providers in all areas regarding access and accommodation for the disabled including the Fair Housing Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act. Increasingly, businesses utilize Professional Employer Organizations, Business Process Outplacement and other arrangements to meet their production needs. Such arrangements, if not established appropriately may lead to unexpected labor relations obligations or employment law liability. We help you establish appropriate arrangements in a manner that limits liability, protects confidential information and allocates risk appropriately. The depth of experience of our Labor Relations and Employment Law team allows us to respond quickly and efficiently to virtually any emergent workplace issue. Corporate executives and human resource professionals frequently obtain our "on-call" advice to make well informed decisions effecting the workforce. Whether it pertains to a question of termination, accommodation, discipline or safety, we pride ourselves in responding quickly and efficiently to your needs. Back to top Labor Relations and Employment Law Services Employment Claims Management Mergers, Acquisitions and Plant Shut-downs Family and Medical Related Issues Prevailing Wage Laws and other Obligations Unique to Public Works Employee Benefits Plans Services Health and Safety Protection of Trade Secrets and Competitive Advantage Access and Accomodations for the Disabled Alternative Staffing and Outsourcing Arrangements On-Call Advice