Employment Practice Group
The Employment Practice Group provides a full range of legal service to employers of all sizes in a wide array of industries, from small creative economy start ups, to multi-national corporations with thousands of employees, to local governments.The issues facing employers have become increasingly complex and we take pride in partnering with our clients to provide practical, effective, and efficient counsel and representation on all matters affecting the employment relationship. We provide significant value to our clients through proactive counsel and advice in navigating the maze of compliance requirements, providing practical training to management, and assisting with policy development and drafting-- all with an eye toward regulatory compliance and claim avoidance. In the event of a claim or other dispute, we are experienced in providing skilled and thorough defense.
The attorneys in the Employment Practice Group include Bill Sheils, David McConnell, Dawn Harmon and Stephanie Williams.
We are admitted in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Colorado and have handled matters in state and federal courts and before state and federal administrative agencies, including the EEOC, OSHA, USDOL, and state human rights agencies.
We provide services to clients in such employment areas as:
Employee Relations and Regulatory Compliance
- Preparation of employee handbooks and development of personnel policies and ordinances
- Advice on hiring, discipline and termination
- Human Resource audits
- Wage & Hour compliance advice
- Advice on FMLA, ADA, leave laws and worker's compensation
- Advice and training on discrimination and harassment laws
- Advice on workplace privacy and substance abuse issues
- Advice on OSHA and workplace safety issues
- Advice on layoffs and facility closure
- Advice on due process, first amendment, public records, and search and seizure issues for public sector employers
Employment Litigation
- Discrimination, wrongful termination, non-competition, trade secrets, employment contracts, and administrative proceedings
- Representation before federal and state agencies, including EEOC, OSHA, USDOL, and state human rights agencies, and in state and federal courts
Executive Compensation/Contracts
- Drafting and negotiation of employment contracts, separation agreements, and advice on various forms of executive compensation, including deferred compensation, stock option, and other bonus and incentive strategies
- Non-competition, confidentiality, and non-solicitation agreements
Labor Law
- Management training on union issues
- Drafting, negotiation, and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements
- Advice and representation on union grievances and arbitration
Employee Benefits
- Advice on employee benefit programs
- ERISA compliance advice
Transaction/Mergers & Acquisitions
- Advice and representation on employment issues in business transactions
- WARN Act advice
- Advice on layoffs and post-closing liabilities