ELS’s employment law services are an outgrowth of the in-depth knowledge that its partners have gained over the course of their careers advising and representing businesses, corporations, and individuals. In addition to advice and counseling on a full range of employment laws and practices, we provide the following services:
Litigation and Agency Representation
ELS commonly represents companies involved in litigation with current or former employees. We have litigated multi-party and single-plaintiff actions across the nation involving federal and state employment law claims from pre-trial litigation, to jury trials, to appeals. Our experience also includes representing clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor. In fact, one of our lawyers worked as a Trial Attorney with the EEOC for four years.
Workplace Investigations
ELS lawyers have conducted more than 100 workplace investigations, including allegations of individual discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as claims of systemic age and sex discrimination. Our ability to quickly establish trust and confidence in the integrity of the investigative process has led to the successful resolution of numerous matters for our clients, as well as the avoidance of costly litigation.
Trainings
ELS puts its experience with the EEOC, as judicial law clerks, and as practitioners representing individuals and Fortune 500 companies to work for our clients in providing comprehensive training. We offer traditional legal seminars and training in employment-related areas, including harassment, discrimination, ethics, workplace investigations, and company employee policies. We have provided training services for lawyers, senior management and supervisory, human resources, and hourly personnel.
Mediation Services
ELS offers parties disputing employment matters an alternative to litigation. ELS provides comprehensive private meditation services to help resolve conflicts as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.
Employee Transitions
ELS assists both companies and executives in employment transition matters, including reductions in force, WARN Act obligations, and retention agreements. We routinely assist executives successfully negotiate employment agreements and severance packages. We also advise both employers and employees on non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenant matters.
Transactional Matters
ELS provides litigation and employment law expertise in transactional deals, particularly in due diligence and purchase agreements. We also advise on employee-transition matters and employment and severance agreements in connection with mergers and acquisitions.
Handbooks, Policies, and Agreements
ELS assists companies in ensuring that their policies and practices are consistent with the company’s business objectives and corporate culture, as well as in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. ELS drafts employee handbooks and policies; advises on best practices; and drafts and negotiates employment and severance agreements.
Employment Practices Audits
ELS offers employment practices audits to assist clients in proactively avoiding potential legal problems. Audits provide a deterrent to litigation and can serve as a cornerstone of a company’s “good faith defense” in future litigation. Our audits provide a comprehensive view of a company’s compliance with employment laws that relate to wage and hour, human resources practices, and employment policies and forms. More than identifying potential problems, we help clients implement solutions to avoid and, where need be, remedy potential violations.
Special Counsel Matters
ELS partners with other law firms, with no employment law practice, to handle employment matters and provide subject-matter expertise on their client matters. We also assist business clients in managing employment and commercial litigation. ELS lawyers have selected local counsel; developed litigation strategy and devised suitable fee structures based on the strategy and matter; and managed counsel.
Affiliations with Subject-Matter Experts
To further its mission of providing full-service employment law services, ELS semi-formally affiliates with subject-matter experts in employment-law related areas to form client-service teams. With the assistance of subject-matter experts, ELS handles:
- Employee benefits
- Workers compensation
- Business Immigration
- Unemployment insurance
- Traditional labor matters