Brian S. Arbetter is a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the firm's Chicago and Los Angeles offices.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Arbetter has approximately two decades of experience advising and developing strategy for multinational companies regarding their international and domestic labor and employment issues in the United States and abroad. This experience includes, among other things, employment discrimination and harassment, leaves of absence and disabilities, unions and works councils, wage and hour, restructurings and reductions in force, hiring, employment agreements and policies, codes of conduct, whistleblowing, affirmative action, health and safety, and employment law aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Arbetter represents employers and management exclusively. He frequently writes, speaks, and is quoted on labor and employment law issues.

While focusing largely on advising and defending employers on myriad employment issues and claims, Mr. Arbetter also assists in developing policies and practices to help minimize employment liability risks - and avoid claims that give rise to litigation. He has deep experience in regulatory matters - including government audits, investigations and private party actions - in all areas of wage and hour law, occupational health and safety, and affirmative action/government contracting. Highly experienced in obtaining emergency injunctive relief to stop and prevent union picketing activity, he also helps implement policies and techniques to avoid and minimize unionization, including emerging threats via the internet. Mr. Arbetter is admitted to practice in Illinois, California and Michigan, and has been admitted pro hac vice in cases before courts in Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Washington.

Memberships

· American Bar Association - Labor and Employment Section, Fair Labor Standards Act Committee

· American Bar Association - Corporate Counsel Committee, former Co-Chair, YLD Labor and Employment Law Planning Board

· California State Bar Association - International Law and Labor and Employment Sections

· Orange County Bar Association - International Law and Labor and Employment Sections

· Los Angeles Bar Association - International Law and Labor and Employment Sections

· NightBlue Theater Group - Vice President and Member of Board of Directors

· Roycemore School - Member of Board of Trustees and Chair of Advancement Committee

Articles

· Co-author of chapter, "Compensation and Contractual Challenges for Clients with Employees in Other Countries", Inside The Minds: Recent Changes in Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Aspatore, 2010

· Co-author of chapter, "Emerging Trends in Wage and Hour Cases and Defense", Inside The Minds: Understanding Fair Labor Standards Act Violations, Aspatore, 2010

· Co-author of article, "Employers Should Be Wary of Differences Between Canada, U.S. Legal Systems," Canadian HR Reporter, January 2010

Labor & Employment Law Blog Articles

· "Mexican Federal Labor Law Reform: What Companies Doing Business in Mexico Need to Know," May 15, 2013

Speeches

· Speaker, "Managing HR Issues During Global Economic Contraction," HRMAC Seminar, September 2009

· Speaker, "Alternatives to Reductions in Force," National Lorman Conference, January 2009

 (Also at Los Angeles, California Office)