Labor & Employment

Labor-Management Relations

We represent employers in all aspects of traditional labor-management relations throughout the United States, including union election campaigns, union contract negotiations and other collective bargaining issues, the defense of unfair labor practice charges, labor arbitrations, and all other matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act. We are experienced in dealing successfully with strikes, lockouts, picketing, and union violence to help our clients continue operating efficiently during labor strife. We also have experience in dealing with a variety of international labor law issues.

Administrative Practice

We regularly represent employers before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor; the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP); and various other federal, state, and local government agencies.

Trade Secrets, Unfair Competition, and Non-Competes

Our trade secrets, unfair competition, and non-competes team handles complex litigation involving allegations of trade secret theft, unfair competition, computer fraud and abuse, non-competition agreements, and breaches of fiduciary duties. Our clients consider their trade secrets and confidential business information as one of their most important assets, and we regularly advise them on best practices for protecting those assets, including drafting necessary agreements, policies, and procedures to protect their confidential information; developing employee onboarding and offboarding strategies; leading computer forensic investigations to determine employee theft of information; litigating claims against former employees for trade secret theft, unfair trade practices, computer fraud and abuse, breach of non-compete/non-solicitation/non-disclosure agreements; and limiting risks associated with hiring talent from competitors, and defending lawsuits filed by competitors. Our blog, the Trade Secret Insider provides timely insights on recent legal and practical developments concerning trade secrets, non-competes, computer fraud, and unfair competition.

Employee Benefits

We frequently work with our Employee Benefits, ERISA & Executive Compensation practice on issues as varied as COBRA and the design of severance plans; the interplay between the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, group health insurance, including HIPAA, retirement plans, and other employee benefits; the design and drafting of executive employment contracts; and employee benefits litigation.

Immigration

We counsel employers on all aspects of the federal immigration laws, including, but not limited to, the various types of employment visas available, visa fraud, I-9 compliance, and national origin discrimination issues. We also assist employers in obtaining permanent employment visas as well as in procuring and/or extending a wide variety of temporary employment visas such as the H-1B visa for professionals, the L-1 visa for employees of U.S. companies abroad, and the B-1 visa for business visitors.

Counseling, Compliance & Training Programs

Our client service includes proactive counseling, compliance, and training programs. We counsel employers daily to troubleshoot and resolve problems in all employment hot spots to help our clients minimize the risks inherent in nearly all employment decisions. Through our audit programs, we offer a comprehensive review of employment policies, practices, and documents to ensure compliance with federal and state labor law. We design affirmative action programs, separation agreements, and comprehensive employee handbooks and personnel policies and procedures. Our supervisor and employee training programs help employers reduce the risks of lawsuits and other workplace problems.