About Us

Labor & Employment

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP is a company with a real labor practice – not just litigators who try employment cases. On a relative basis for a firm our size, we have one of the largest employment and labor groups in California. Each of our attorneys works closely and personally with employer clients to establish proactive compliance and disagreement resolution techniques. We think this one-on-one therapy is far more efficient than an unwieldy group. We work with customers to assist them prevent office problems, but where debate is inescapable, we have actually managed literally hundreds of jury trials, administrative trials and appeals before courts and administrative agencies nationwide.

JMBM is acknowledged as a Go-To Law Practice® & reg; for the top 500 business in the United States in the locations of labor litigation and labor & work law, as figured out by American Lawyer Media’s (ALM) yearly survey of internal counsel at FORTUNE 500® & reg; companies. Because labor and employment problems often include high stakes and intense time pressure, our legal representatives are committed to providing employers the most immediate service possible. We react quickly and without fail, with straightforward guidance from a skilled attorney who won’t pass your problem off to another person. Issues like unwanted sexual advances and workplace violence need instant attention- and we provide it.

Employers in the middle of a conflict over an arranging drive or an unjust labor practice complaint count on our aggressive and timely action. Accountability and ease of access are our watchwords, and you get direct access to the person who can fix your problem or address your concern.

Among the strengths of our labor and employment group is the diversity of the companies we represent. Public and private business in company sectors varying from standard production to technology, clothing to aerospace and employment from health care to financial services all count on JMBM labor legal representatives, no matter the issue. Many customers have been with us 10 to 20 years-in lots of cases dealing with the same knowledgeable legal representative who intimately understands their service.

Our industry-specific prevention and preparedness methods can prevent or decrease expensive claims. We work carefully with senior executives and in-house counsel to craft tailored, reliable work policies – complete with an emphasis on properly training managers and HR personnel on legal rights and commitments. Our options work to ensure compliance with national and state labor laws, reduce disputes with staff members, and maximize tactical benefit if litigation is essential. We worry imaginative planning and aggressive advocacy for every single customer.

There are company sectors where we have special skill in handling work matters. Many law office depend on us for counsel on concerns involving personnel and legal representatives, and we often encourage broker-dealers on non-compete and disciplinary controversies. Our legal representatives also effectively represent numerous healthcare and hospitality market customers in cumulative bargaining and other labor and work issues.

Any protected class of employees-by age, race, gender, special needs, religion-could bring suit against an employer under the discrimination statues. We have actually successfully prosecuted and resolved all types of discrimination matters brought under such employment laws as the:

– Americans with Disabilities Act

– Family Medical Leave Act

– Age Discrimination in Employment Act

– Fair Labor Standards Act

– Family and Medical Leave Act

The very best way to handle any claim is to prevent it from being submitted, and we offer customers effective assistance right from the start to manage complaints effectively and keep them from becoming lawsuits. If lawsuits is necessary, our lawyers investigate completely and prepare a strong position that can negate complainant claims.

We offer strong defense in state and federal court, in administrative actions before the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and before all the California state agencies – the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Employment Development Department.

Often overlapping with discrimination problems are claims for wrongful termination, vindictive treatment and whistle blowing. We comprehend the need in such cases to demonstrate that a company’s actions were correct, and in spite of the notoriety that is sometimes included, we have actually had significant success at revealing that company conduct was legitimate and managed effectively.

Whether your service currently has 3rd party representation or seeks to maintain an office without such participation, our extremely effective labor relations counsel can be important to helping keep a competitive workplace while lessening conflicts and optimizing management versatility. Employers that face union organizing drives count on our aid to:

– Maintain a positive workplace with open communication with all staff members

– Comply with NLRB election laws

– Counter aggressive unionizing efforts without creating a “union-busting” controversy

In unionized offices, our company is an extremely competent and responsive partner that works together with business personnels and labor relations workers to:

– Take part in collective bargaining – including multi-union, multi-location talks

– Respond to grievance and arbitration actions

– Manage reductions in force, drug screening, discipline proceedings and strikes

– Provide representation in

Responsiveness, decision and focus are what set our labor employment relations counsel apart from that of other law firms. We offer instant reaction, round-the-clock availability in crisis scenarios and aggressive defense of all companies’ rights.

We protect many employers versus class action suits in which employees demand back overtime pay-and countless dollars in damages-claiming that under business policies the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime pay exemption no longer applies to them.

JMBM labor legal representatives can assist companies avoid classification problems that lead to claims by:

– Auditing existing wage policy and pay practices

– Reviewing the language of written work policies to make sure they comply with FLSA requirements for exempt and non-exempt employees

– Ensuring all exempt staff member task descriptions involve management and supervision

If you as an employer are faced with a wage and hour suit, whether under federal law or California wage and hour statutes, we install a vigorous and effective defense. Your JMBM legal representative will look for to reject class certification and work to secure an efficient and reliable settlement that dismisses unfounded claims and safeguards your interests.

Disputes over non-compete agreements including trade tricks often pit employers versus each other – particularly in California, where the state’s Unfair Competition Law (Section 17200) makes it especially hard to impose non-compete terms. We’ve dealt with lawsuits representing both employees’ previous and existing companies, employment and are proficient at protecting and resisting TROs and permanent injunctions to protect company interests in either kind of case.