Services
The attorneys of Shuman Snyder have been focused on the handling of employment law matters throughout our careers, and as a result, we are uniquely qualified to help guide our clients through the ever-changing and increasingly complex employment legal landscape. We offer practical solutions at work, including:
Counseling – responsive advice and strategic counseling in all areas of employment law aimed at spotting issues early and avoiding disputes
Litigation – including all types of dispute resolution (arbitration, mediation, trial, and representation before government agencies)
Investigations – including sexual harassment, discrimination, and employee misconduct
Training – including manager training on subjects like "best practices" and mandatory sexual harassment prevention training (for further information on the training programs we offer, please see the “Programs” section)
Due Diligence – employment law support on mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and other transactions
Expert Witness Engagements – including testimony at deposition, trial, and arbitration on employment law issues
Counseling
- strategic advice on terminations, suspensions and decisions to impose discipline
- drafting termination documents including severance and release agreements
- drafting Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)
- drafting employee handbooks
- drafting employment policies
- drafting arbitration and other dispute resolution clauses
- drafting and advising on sales compensation, bonus, and commission plans
- drafting and advising on restrictive covenants (including confidentiality, non-compete, and non-solicitation clauses)
- negotiating severance and termination arrangements
- negotiating employment and change-of-control agreements for companies and executives in transition
- auditing internal practices (including exempt/non-exempt and employee/independent contractor classification reviews)
- advising on wage & hour law issues (DOL, DLSE and internal "best practices" audits)
- advising on leave-of-absence issues (FMLA, CFRA, ADA, workers' compensation, and "personal" leaves)
- advising on disability accommodations
- advising on workforce reductions (RIFs, OWBPA compliance, state and federal WARN Act compliance, and adverse impact analysis)
- responding to threatened claims by former employees and/or their counsel
Litigation and dispute resolution
- representing employers and management in employment actions in State and Federal trial and appellate courts, as well as in arbitrations
- representing employers and management in government administrative actions (including DFEH, EEOC, DOL, DLSE, OSHA, WCAB, and EDD)
- representing employers in wage & hour disputes
- defense of employers and management in harassment, discrimination, and retaliation charges and lawsuits
- defense of employers and management in wrongful discharge, breach of contract, and severance and compensation claims
- defense of employers in Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and other whistleblower claims
- defense and prosecution of claims involving injunctions and restraining orders based on misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and unlawful competition
- defense and prosecution of claims involving restrictive covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation agreements
- prosecution of workplace violence injunctions for employers and managers under CCP Section 527.8
- act as co-counsel (or separate counsel) for indemnified officers and directors in employment actions
- act as neutral mediator or arbitrator in employment disputes
Investigations
- act as investigator or employer counsel in harassment/discrimination investigations
- act as investigator or employer counsel in workplace violence matters
- act as investigator or employer counsel in workplace investigations concerning employee misconduct
Training
- AB 1825 sexual harassment prevention training of supervisors
- non-supervisory sexual harassment prevention training
- training of supervisors and managers in key employment disciplines including lawful hiring practices, disciplinary processes, performance management, and terminations ("managing within the law")
- training of Human Resources personnel in advanced areas including leaves of absence, investigations, and wage and hour compliance/issues
- customized training for employers and trade organizations on particular employment law areas of interest
Due Diligence
Support on mergers/acquisitions and other transactions including:
- review and analysis of employment-related documents (agreements, sales and incentive compensation plans, and employee policies/procedures)
- review and analysis of employment-related provisions of transaction documents
- review and analysis of lawsuits, claims, and circumstances involving target entity
- review and analysis of wage and hour issues, including exempt/non-exempt classifications, contractor status, overtime pay exposure, and compliance with Labor Code requirements
Expert Witness Engagements
- serve as “consulting” (non-testifying) experts on employment law issues in litigation
- serve as expert witnesses at deposition, trial, and arbitration on employment law issues
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Contact Us For Help With Any of the Above