White and Williams LLP's Labor and Employment Practice Group provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment law. Our clients are diverse, and include Fortune 500 companies as well as small and medium-sized businesses. We represent banks, manufacturers, insurance companies, colleges and universities, service and distribution companies, health care providers, retailers, transportation companies and nonprofit companies. Most of these are located in the mid-Atlantic region, but many operate plants or other facilities throughout the country. Since most labor law issues involve federal law, the firm's lawyers are often called upon by clients to advise and represent them wherever problems or issues arise. Typically, we represent employers, but the firm occasionally represents individuals.

Our areas of practice include:

Employment litigation in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, on claims such as age, race, handicap and sex discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, ADA and ERISA litigation.

Collective bargaining, exclusively for management. We represent employers in dealing with most major trade unions, including the Teamsters Union, United Steelworkers of America, UAW, Machinists Union, Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers, United Electrical Workers and UNITE. This representation encompasses the negotiation of labor contracts, as well as labor arbitrations and the administration of collective bargaining agreements.

Maintaining union-free environments, including representation of employers before the NLRB during union organizing campaigns and during decertification elections.

Statutory compliance, such as the creation and administration of affirmative action compliance plans, as well as advice and consultation concerning the wage and hour laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act.

Unfair labor practice charges and cases filed with various regions of the National Labor Relations Board, on behalf of employers.

Drafting and enforcement of employment contracts, both on behalf of management and for executives, including non- competition and confidentiality agreements.

Employee benefits, with emphasis on compliance with ERISA and COBRA. The partners in the Tax and Pension Group are often called upon for the expertise in the creation and administration of pension and profit sharing plans and other employee benefit plans.