Stephanie Scheck 316.268.7948e-mail| vCard
Employers often can reduce or avoid costly employment law claims by seeking appropriate legal counsel and advice prior to making many important business decisions. Our attorneys are well-experienced in providing employers with practical, proactive advice consistent with their business strategies, in a wide array of human resource and employment law areas, including: affirmative action; hiring employees; employee handbooks; HR training; ADA and FMLA compliance; wage and hour matters; employee benefits; labor relations; OSHA and workplace safety; non-competition and trade secrets; discipline and discharge; and employment discrimination.
Class Actions - Employment Litigation Our firm has a wide breadth of experience in defending class and collective actions in employment litigation and business litigation. Our attorneys have handled numerous class or collective actions in the past few years, defending putative actions involving thousands of potential class members. Employee Benefits Our attorneys are well-versed in a variety of employee benefits matters, from drafting benefit documents to assisting in the administration of ongoing benefit plans. We also are able to tailor an employee benefits program to meet an employer’s specific goals, and in the process help minimize costs while maximizing any tax advantages. Additionally, we have extensive experience in handling benefits issues in mergers, acquisitions and corporate transactions as well as securities issues which can impact employee benefits. We also have experience in litigation matters, representing clients in benefit claims, fiduciary issues and other litigation matters affecting employee benefit plans. Employment Litigation Employment litigation has been among the fastest growing areas of civil litigation in federal courts and, increasingly, in many state courts as well. It can disrupt an organization and detract from a business’ operations and mission. Employers retain us to successfully resolve cases, consistent with their business goals, whether they are before an administrative agency, a judge or a jury. We are practical in our ability to differentiate between serious risks and frivolous claims. Above all, we are efficient and economical in appropriately resolving cases. ERISA Litigation Our attorneys defend employee benefit plans, their sponsors, administrators and fiduciaries, as well as insurers, from alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), including: claims of breach of fiduciary duty; claims of wrongful denial of benefits; claims of failure to provide plan information; and claims of retaliation and interference with benefits. Immigration - Employer Compliance In addition to our broader immigration practice, our attorneys are well-experienced in assisting employers in navigating the thorny maze of employment eligibility verification and compliance with U.S. immigration laws. Labor Law We understand an employer’s need for flexibility to make appropriate business decisions, and its desire to continually improve productivity, quality and service. Our attorneys strive to recommend strategies and solutions that will enable clients to reach their business goals, create or maintain their desired employee relations climate and comply with applicable labor and employment laws. We represent management in traditional labor matters, including: union avoidance; union representation and decertification elections before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); collective bargaining negotiations; strikes and picketing; labor arbitrations; defense of unfair labor practice charges; and in Railway Labor Act cases. Noncompetition Agreement Litigation Unfair competition by current or former employees is increasingly prevalent. Success in today's service industries often requires an employer to allow its employees to establish significant relationships with customers. Today’s technology permits employees access to and easy transfer of confidential company information. These factors enhance an unfaithful employee's ability to exert significant influence over customers, misappropriate sensitive information and unfairly compete against the employer. Effective enforcement of noncompetition and nondisclosure agreements is more essential than ever to an employer's commercial success. OSHA & Workplace Safety Our attorneys are experienced in a wide-variety of workplace safety issues, including: matters under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA); preventive policies and compliance advice; procedures for handling OSHA inspections; contesting OSHA citations and penalties; counseling companies through the special circumstances involved in fatality cases; and defense of OSHA retaliation and “whistleblowing” complaints. More About Employment & Labor Law/Employee Benefits
Our firm has a wide breadth of experience in defending class and collective actions in employment litigation and business litigation. Our attorneys have handled numerous class or collective actions in the past few years, defending putative actions involving thousands of potential class members.
Our attorneys are well-versed in a variety of employee benefits matters, from drafting benefit documents to assisting in the administration of ongoing benefit plans. We also are able to tailor an employee benefits program to meet an employer’s specific goals, and in the process help minimize costs while maximizing any tax advantages. Additionally, we have extensive experience in handling benefits issues in mergers, acquisitions and corporate transactions as well as securities issues which can impact employee benefits. We also have experience in litigation matters, representing clients in benefit claims, fiduciary issues and other litigation matters affecting employee benefit plans.
Employment litigation has been among the fastest growing areas of civil litigation in federal courts and, increasingly, in many state courts as well. It can disrupt an organization and detract from a business’ operations and mission. Employers retain us to successfully resolve cases, consistent with their business goals, whether they are before an administrative agency, a judge or a jury. We are practical in our ability to differentiate between serious risks and frivolous claims. Above all, we are efficient and economical in appropriately resolving cases.
Our attorneys defend employee benefit plans, their sponsors, administrators and fiduciaries, as well as insurers, from alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), including: claims of breach of fiduciary duty; claims of wrongful denial of benefits; claims of failure to provide plan information; and claims of retaliation and interference with benefits.
In addition to our broader immigration practice, our attorneys are well-experienced in assisting employers in navigating the thorny maze of employment eligibility verification and compliance with U.S. immigration laws.
We understand an employer’s need for flexibility to make appropriate business decisions, and its desire to continually improve productivity, quality and service. Our attorneys strive to recommend strategies and solutions that will enable clients to reach their business goals, create or maintain their desired employee relations climate and comply with applicable labor and employment laws. We represent management in traditional labor matters, including: union avoidance; union representation and decertification elections before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); collective bargaining negotiations; strikes and picketing; labor arbitrations; defense of unfair labor practice charges; and in Railway Labor Act cases.
Unfair competition by current or former employees is increasingly prevalent. Success in today's service industries often requires an employer to allow its employees to establish significant relationships with customers. Today’s technology permits employees access to and easy transfer of confidential company information. These factors enhance an unfaithful employee's ability to exert significant influence over customers, misappropriate sensitive information and unfairly compete against the employer. Effective enforcement of noncompetition and nondisclosure agreements is more essential than ever to an employer's commercial success.
Our attorneys are experienced in a wide-variety of workplace safety issues, including: matters under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA); preventive policies and compliance advice; procedures for handling OSHA inspections; contesting OSHA citations and penalties; counseling companies through the special circumstances involved in fatality cases; and defense of OSHA retaliation and “whistleblowing” complaints.