Labor & Employment

The attorneys of Smith Buss & Jacobs leverage insight and experience to move businesses forward and help clients achieve real world results. Ongoing businesses of every size have contractual, financing, employment, and corporate structure needs to enable a strong foundation and continued growth.

Our Labor and Employment practice provides the foundation needed to structure and manage today’s diverse workforce. Smith, Buss & Jacobs’ experienced litigators work efficiently to achieve favorable results that align with client objectives. We successfully defend private and public sector employers in state and federal court and handle administrative charges before state and federal agencies. Our labor counsel represent employers in matters before arbitrators, mediators, labor relations boards and government agencies.

We provide overall strategic legal advice and counsel employers on compliance with local, state and federal law, terminations, employment agreements, adverse employment actions, avoidance of discrimination and retaliation claims, employee handbooks, and company policies and related workplace issues.

Smith, Buss & Jacobs also counsels employers with respect to labor relations issues and policies. For unionized employers we provide legal representation during collective bargaining negotiations, as well as advice on communications and best practices during the term of the contract including mid-agreement modifications. In addition, we have extensive experience representing employers during grievance and arbitration proceedings and disciplinary hearings.

Finally, Smith, Buss & Jacobs provides training on anti-discrimination and retaliation laws, strategies for maintaining a harassment-free workplace, prevention of retaliation claims, and FMLA and ADA requirements