Employment & Labor

First and foremost, our employment group counsels our client so that they can avoid the minefield of issues that lead to the courthouse. Second, when needed, our employment group provides the highest level of litigation representations. Our success rate for clients is our calling card.

Our attorneys litigate a variety of claims, provide training to employees and managers, prepare employment policies, contracts and manuals, and counsel employers daily on human relations, employment and benefits matters.

We litigate claims in judicial and administrative forums and represent both private and public employers in state and federal courts. Our trial lawyers have defended discrimination, harassment, retaliation and hostile work environment claims arising out of allegations of gender, age, disability, national origin, sexual and religious discrimination. Our expertise extends to claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), wage and hour laws, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Our lawyers litigate complex matters involving employment contracts, trade secrets, covenants not to compete and confidentiality agreements.

Our success is based upon the simple but effective philosophy: Assume that each case will go to trial and prepare accordingly. This strategy yields substantial advantages to our clients. These advantages include positioning the case for a quick and fair settlement, strategically selecting witnesses to depose, preparing clients for their depositions, retaining the most effective experts, filing motions that gain tactical advantages and, ultimately, achieving favorable results.

In representing both private and public employers, we take the initiative and provide preventive advice designed to avoid costly litigation through training employees and managers on harassment, the ADA, FMLA compliance, and workplace violence, as well as hiring, promotion, demotion, discipline and discharge issues. These efforts have successfully enabled our clients to avoid discrimination and other wrongful discipline or discharge claims.

Our attorneys have successfully negotiated numerous labor agreements with attendant pension, health and welfare matters in the private and public sector. Private sector negotiations involved steel, automotive, paper, beverage, and healthcare industries. Public sector agreements involved both county, municipal, and regional transit authority agreements.

We also have significant experience in handling National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charges from inception to resolution. Our attorneys have skillfully handled hundreds of disputes and grievances through alternative dispute resolution processes, including mediation, arbitration, and Federal Special Master proceedings. Additionally, we have handled numerous judicial enforcements and appeals of arbitration decisions.

Our attorneys prepare employment policies, manuals and agreements for all levels of employees, including personnel handbooks, FMLA policies, covenants not to compete, confidentiality agreements and separation agreements. We advise our clients on day-to-day issues that arise in the workplace.

We regularly speak to industry groups, human resource professionals and other lawyers on employment-related matters.

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Contact

Gaetan J. Alfano — GJA@Pietragallo.com

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