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Practice Highlights

  • Provide counsel and support to management regarding issues that may pose a risk to the continued viability of their business
  • Extensive experience litigating cases in state and federal courts and administrative agencies
  • Represent diverse clients - from banks and insurance companies to transportation companies and non-profit organizations

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Labor and Employment

The complex and dynamic areas of labor and employment law present challenges for employers of all sizes and industries to fully comply with corresponding legal duties and obligations.  In meeting these challenges, employers must understand and manage a variety of issues that arise daily and pose significant risk for the continued viability of the business. White and Williams provides practical counsel and continual support to management in their making informed decisions to prevent problems as they appear on the horizon and to effectively navigate through the applicable laws related to those problems. We are fully prepared to create a value centered approach in developing strategies and defending companies in court and before administrative agencies. 

Our Labor and Employment Group is devoted to serving all of our clients’  labor and employment needs.  We have experience in a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment law. Our clients are diverse- from Fortune 500 companies and international companies to small businesses. We represent banks, manufacturers, insurance companies, colleges and universities, service and distribution companies, healthcare providers, retailers, transportation companies, non-profit organizations and public employers.  Our service area is equally diverse - while most of our clients are located in the mid-Atlantic region, many operate plants or other facilities across the country. Since most labor and employment law issues involve federal law, we are often called upon by clients to advise and represent them wherever problems or issues arise.  

Labor Relations

We cover all facets of federal and state labor laws, including collective bargaining,  unfair labor practices, grievance/interest arbitrations, union avoidance, union election campaigns, unit clarifications and decertifications. We have defended employers from ever-increasing legal assaults from most major trade unions, including several locals of the Teamsters, United Steelworkers of America, UAW, Machinists Union, Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers, United Electrical Workers and UNITE-HERE.   

Employee Benefits

Our group has a particular focus on compliance with ERISA and COBRA. We often call upon the lawyers of the Tax and Estates Group, especially those that focus on the creation and administration of pension and profit sharing plans and other employee benefit plans.

Litigation

We have litigated cases in state and federal courts and administrative agencies with respect to discrimination claims based on age, race, disability, sex (including sexual harassment) religion, veterans status and retaliation.  In addition to these discrimination claims, we have years of experience in handling litigation involving wrongful discharge, trade secrets/non-compete agreements, employment agreements, unemployment compensation claims,  FLSA and FMLA , OSHA  and ERISA litigation.  We also have experience with statutory compliance, such as the creation and administration of affirmative action compliance plans, as well as advice and consultation concerning  state and federal wage and hour laws, drug testing, employee privacy and employee discipline.  Our lawyers draft and advocate for the enforcement of employment contracts for management and executives, including non- competition and confidentiality agreements.  We assist with workplace harassment investigations and other investigations of alleged employee misconduct and routinely provide advice regarding reductions in force, severance packages and release agreements.

Representative Matters

  • Defended an age discrimination case against a large telecommunications corporation in a trial in New York state court where the judge granted a motion for directed verdict
  • Enforced national food distributor’s rights under non-compete and non-solicitation agreements and the Pennsylvania Uniform Trade Secrets Act against a former employee
  • Assisted in obtaining a dismissal on behalf of a university client of an action arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Civil Rights Act
  • Negotiated on behalf of  a motor manufacturer for the reclassification of citations and reduction of proposed penalties imposed by OSHA
  • Counseled and represented a real estate developer before the United States Department of Labor regarding independent contractors’ employment status
  • Obtained summary judgment on a professor's tenure denial complaint against a university before the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
  • Defended unfair labor practice charges brought by NYC’s Transit Workers Union against Bronx, NY employer
  • Forced the withdrawal of a Petition for Representation filed by a Philadelphia-area local of the Teamsters
  • Obtained dismissal of federal civil rights case brought by 2 former union members against public employer

Events

  • Legal Issues Involving Local Governments
    National Business Institute Seminar (Allentown, PA)
    May 23, 2013
  • Navigating the Minefield: Disability, Family Leave and Workers' Compensation Traps
    Arbor Insurance Group - Academy of Risk Management (Allentown, PA)
    November 13, 2012
  • Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar
    Bear Creek Mountain Resort & Conference Center (Macungie, PA)
    October 25, 2012
  • [Mis]Adventures in Social Media and Litigation Cyberspace
    February 27, 2012
  • Electronic and Scientific Evidence in Federal Litigation
    January 27, 2012
  • Balancing the ADA, FMLA and Workers Comp
    White and Williams CLE
    December 20, 2011
  • 2011 Labor and Employment Law Seminar
    April 28, 2011
  • Human Resources Issues in the EMS Setting
    Abington, PA
    April 2011
  • Federal Practice Tips and Traps, Course Planner and Moderator
    Lehigh County Bar Association
    November 2010
  • Executive Compensation: Attracting and Retaining Key People in a Changing Economy (KYW Newsradio Event)
    October 20, 2010
  • Hot Topics in Labor and Employment
    2010 EMS Summit (Montgomery County, PA)
    October 2010
  • Basics in Employment Law: Americans With Disabilities Act and EEOC Practice and Procedures
    Pennsylvania Bar Institute
    August 2010
  • Overview of Key Employment Law, Statutes and Regulations
    White and Williams LLP CLE
    July 2010
  • Leadership to Reduce Faculty Mis-Steps
    The Association of Boarding Schools Annual Meeting (Wilmington, DE)
    June 2010
  • Interplay Among FMLA, ADA and Workers’ Compensation
    School Districts Insurance Consortium
    May 2010
  • Hot Topics in Employment Law
    Pennsylvania Bar Institute
    October 2009
  • Breast Cancer and the Workplace, Moderator
    Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Council
    September 2009
  • Reductions in Force
    Pennsylvania Bar Institute
    August 2009
  • FMLA & Absence Management
    Lehigh Valley Benefits Group
    January 2009
  • Managing Pregnancy and Parent Claims
    Lorman Education Services
    October 2008
  • The Aging Workforce
    PMA
    May 2008
  • Employment Law Overview: Title VII/PHRA
    Middle District of Pennsylvania Labor and Employment Seminar
    May 2008
  • The ADA's Interactive Process
    Association of Corporate Counsel, Delaware Valley Chapter
    2007
  • Women, Work and the Law
    Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Women’s Council
    May 2007
  • Legal Issues for Co-ops, Interns and Volunteers
    National Association of Colleges and Employers
    May 2007
  • Employment Law Update
    Pennsylvania Bar Institute
    November 5, 2006
  • Federal and State Labor and Employment Laws for the Entrepreneur
    Lehigh Valley College
    2006
  • Unemployment Compensation: To Contest or Not to Contest
    Society for Human Resources Management
    October 2005
  • COBRA Compliance
    Society for Human Resource Management
    2005
  • Update 2005: Helping You Find Your Way
    White and Williams LLP
    April 2005
  • Wage and Hours Law
    Society for Human Resource Management
    2004
  • Recent Developments in Employment Discrimination Litigation
    2004
  • Privacy in the Workplace
    Society for Human Resource Management
    2004
  • Confidentiality/Trade Secrets and Non-Solicitation Agreements
    2004

Publications