Experience in handling Employment Law Matters
From expert advice and representation on the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”), to guidance through the maze of federal and state regulations relating to workplace discrimination and retaliation, to the practical experience and knowledge necessary to draft enforceable contracts and compliant personnel policies, our attorneys have the skills necessary to handle practically any workforce management issue. Every day we guide clients through decisions relating to issues such as:
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Workplace safety;
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Employee hiring;
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Employee discipline;
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Termination of employment and workforce reductions;
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Temporary staffing;
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Restrictive covenants (noncompetition, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure covenants);
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Compliance with wage and hour laws; and
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Compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), and other equal employment opportunity laws; and
We devise litigation avoidance strategies, evaluate and draft employment agreements, conduct or assist in investigations. Our attorneys also are regularly in court. We handle the most complex cases down to relatively straightforward single plaintiff cases. In this regard, we regularly litigate cases related to claims of unfair competition that arise when senior executives move from one competitor to another. We likewise represent clients facing claims for classwide and other relief brought by government plaintiffs (including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor) and private plaintiffs.
Experience in Handling Labor Law Matters
A cornerstone of any labor and employment practice is the representation of clients in traditional organized labor matters. Attorneys in our Labor and Employment Group possess a wealth of knowledge and experience pertinent to labor relations matters that enables us to offer clients not only general advice on compliance with the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), but also specific counseling with regard to union avoidance techniques and practices, and the negotiation and administration of union contracts. Our attorneys have helped employers of all sizes avoid unionization by conducting effective campaigns against union organization. We also regularly assist clients with ongoing labor relations matters, such as union grievances and arbitrations.
Experience in Handling Immigration Matters
Alston & Bird’s labor and employment group also has a number of attorneys and staff dedicated exclusively to handling immigration matters. Our immigration team handles over 1,000 cases annually for over 120 companies and nationals of over 40 countries, and routinely undertakes the following activities on behalf of our clients:
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Establishing corporate compliance policies and procedures, in both ongoing, restructuring and transactional situations, to both comply with the law and prepare for sensitive internal and external investigations related to hiring procedures, I-9 compliance, employment of foreign nationals, IRCA compliance and Office of Special Counsel national origin discrimination issues;
- Processing and monitoring a variety of non-immigrant and immigrant visas, as well as other necessary filings in order to maintain the appropriate status for the employer, individual employee as well as family members;
- Providing assistance for clients in sending individuals abroad on a temporary and permanent basis; and
- Assisting clients in responding to government raids and I-9 audits.