Employment

Our services include:

• Advising and representing management in all types of employment discrimination claims, including class actions 
• Defending wrongful discharge and other types of employment-related claims, including class actions, resulting from downsizing or other personnel actions, such as intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation or fraud 
• Drafting and negotiating employment contracts and severance agreements 
• Handling administrative claims under the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII and other similar state agency proceedings 
• Proactively counseling and assisting our clients to avoid and, when necessary, resolve employment claims and utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution programs to effectively mediate or arbitrate claims 
• Developing Affirmative Action Plans and assuring compliance with Executive Order 11246, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment and Assistance Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and including representation of our clients in preparing for audits by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs 
• Ensuring compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws, including determination of exempt/non-exempt status and handling audits by the Wage & Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor or similar state agency
• Providing in-house training for supervisors on a variety of topics such as avoiding liability on employment issues, complying with the ADA and FMLA and avoiding claims of sexual harassment 
• Representing clients in appeals before state courts, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court

The Labor & Employment Practice Group strives to provide our clients with the highest quality and most cost effective legal services. The success of our relationships formed with clients is founded on a risk management focus, combined with proactive and preventative counseling.