Employment

Employment Law Specialists

Overview of Employment Practice

Legal issues facing workplaces are at the forefront of the news cycle and require counsel with a deep knowledge of leading issues, proven diplomacy skills, and an ability to advocate persuasively in court, arbitration, and mediation [link to ADR]. The team at Griesing Mazzeo Law stays on top of emerging challenges employers and employees face to advise clients on creating, maintaining, and protecting safe, equitable, and profitable workplaces. We understand that it is often in everyone’s interest to resolve these sensitive disputes discreetly and routinely advise employers and employees on negotiating separations to avoid costly litigation and unwanted publicity.

Mindful & Business-Savvy Employment Advisors

Our Approach to Employment

Employment issues run rampant in today’s business environment, but they don’t have to. Our attorneys educate and advise organizations on complying with applicable laws to minimize legal risks and prevent employment claims. We also understand that when disputes arise, they must be handled delicately to preserve the reputations of all parties. We pride ourselves on our responsiveness to our clients, working collaboratively to understand their business needs and crafting tailored legal solutions that foster positive work environments for all.

Our Employment Successes

Success in Action

  • Defended multiple Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and officials, and non-profits in gender, race, ethnicity, disability, and age discrimination and retaliation lawsuits. 
  • Prevailed on summary judgment and on appeal in favor of a major pharmaceutical company in disability, race, and national origin discrimination and retaliation case. 
  • Advised and defended several higher education institutions in claims arising out of Title IX investigations and revised Title IX policies to reflect changes in legal requirements. 
  • Advised national financial institution on diversity, equity, and inclusion-related initiatives and conducted unconscious bias training for management team. 
  • Advised law firms on avoiding and defending claims arising out of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. 
  • Advised privately-held companies and their investors on negotiating employment and separation agreements and attendant restrictive covenants. 
  • Created and presented customized training for public companies, law firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations on diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias. 
  • Conducted customized training for in-house legal and C-suite executive teams on changing legal issues involving diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  • Represented several executives of non-profits in connection with separation agreements. 
  • Advised private sector C-Suite and Management-level individuals on negotiating employment and severance agreements and navigating long-term options in light of restrictive covenants 
  • Counseled numerous law firm partners on ethical and contractual issues relating to joining or leaving partnership. 
  • Represented executives in for profit and non-profit settings on executive compensation issues. 
  • Advised doctors and medical personnel on joining or leaving large healthcare employers and private practice. 
  • Represented higher education administrators and professors on employment and separation issues. 

Our Employment Expertise

Our employment lawyers defend public and private companies in lawsuits alleging discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of a protected class (including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and sexual orientation and transgender status), national origin), retaliation, or any other protections afforded under federal, state, or local laws. We also routinely defend clients against discrimination or retaliation claims made under the ADA, ADEA, and FMLA. We also represent employers in executive compensation and executive contract disputes related to commission payments, employment terms, bonuses, wrongful discharge, and other related contract disputes. Our team counsels employers on enforcing restrictive covenants, non-compete agreements and protecting valuable trade secrets, such as customer lists and other proprietary information. We also have extensive experience handling cases involving e-discovery [link to page] and can oversee the review and production of substantial documents. Furthermore, we know how to tactfully navigate the public relations challenges that can accompany these matters and work to resolve matters discreetly for all parties.

We have experience with wage and hour cases brought under the Family Medical Leave Act (and state and local counterparts). We counsel other lawyers when they are handling such cases and assist business clients with wage and hour audits. Our team also has considerable experience with Employment Practices Liability policies and performing services for clients who are covered by such policies. Our team members have negotiated EPLI policy terms for clients, including advising clients on various issues, particularly selection of counsel and settlements. With respect to handling matters covered by EPLI, we have considerable experience as members of our team have spent years working predominantly on employment matters insured by various multinational insurance carriers. As a result, we are also familiar with the budgeting and reporting requirements under which outside counsel work in this context.

We regularly advise and train corporate clients on various employment matters as part of their risk management strategy, including reviewing, drafting, and updating workplace policies and employee handbooks. We also counsel clients on handling employee performance concerns and recruiting and retaining executives and key personnel. We advise on all aspects of HR compliance, executive retention, and compensation, guiding our clients through events like employment changes, personnel downsizing, or changes of control. Our attorneys develop and review executive compensation plan arrangements and programs, consulting services contracts, and severance arrangements, including deferred compensation, equity-based compensation and incentive compensation arrangements, stock option and variable compensation arrangements, as well as change in control and bonus arrangements. We also routinely negotiate confidential separation agreements between employers and employees.

Our team’s knowledge of developing employment trends and case law by jurisdiction allows us the flexibility and dynamism to engage and educate employees of all backgrounds and experience levels. Our training programs cover issues relating to discrimination and sexual harassment, social media usage, independent contractors, works-for-hire, and non-compete/non-solicitation agreements for employees ranging from C-Suite level leadership to front-of-house staff.

When employment disputes arise, the individuals involved are wary of the potential impact on their careers and reputations. We understand the importance of addressing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and devising an exit strategy that allows our clients to move on to new opportunities without the taint of a public battle. We vigorously negotiate severance agreements that compensate clients for the financial consequences of employment disputes while preserving their professional options going forward. We counsel law firm and professional services partners, managers and associates, General Counsel and in-house lawyers, doctors and medical professionals, and C-Suite level executives and business partners on how to navigate a challenging work environment while working towards a resolution, including recovering from harm caused by wrongful discharge or breach of an employment contract.

Employment News

Specialized Employment Insights