Practice Areas & Industries: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Practice/Industry Group Overview

The workplace is changing. It's becoming more diverse, more regulated, more volatile. The challenges and risks facing employers have never been greater.

"We believe that the best solution to an employment problem is prevention."

Employment & Labor Practice at Fredrikson & Byron

Fredrikson & Byron's Employment & Labor Group helps employers keep pace with the changing workplace. Our lawyers can address the full spectrum of employment and labor law issues, from providing practical advice and counseling to defending or instituting lawsuits and administrative actions.

Avoiding Employment Problems

We believe that the best solution to an employment problem is prevention. Our philosophy is reflected in the wide range of employment counseling services we offer our clients, including:

• auditing and reviewing personnel practices
• developing employee relations programs
• drafting employment contracts and policies
• training supervisors and employees

Our commitment to prevention also led us to start an annual employment and labor law seminar and to publish a quarterly newsletter, FredNEWS: EMPLOYMENT & LABOR. It's the same commitment that makes our lawyers frequent and popular speakers at industry and trade association conferences and continuing legal education seminars. In fact, members of our group have served and continue to serve as bar section leaders and faculty members for law school and MBA courses on employment law, labor law, and employment discrimination law.

Successful prevention also means giving practical, knowledgeable advice when problems do arise.

We counsel employers of all sizes in virtually every industry. We advise employers on hiring, firing, discipline, overtime, leaves of absence, and substance abuse. We help employers investigate harassment complaints, comply with wage and hour laws, and meet OSHA requirements. And, because we have many experienced lawyers, we are available when employers need us. In short, if an employer has a workplace problem, we can help find an effective solution.

Solving Labor Problems

Our lawyers also practice "traditional labor law." We help employers with all aspects of labor/management relations, including defending against union organization campaigns, negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements, and responding to pickets and boycotts. When labor problems boil over into litigation, we can help pursue or defend against unfair labor practice charges, lawsuits, and grievance arbitrations.

Litigating for Employers

Our employment and labor lawyers are skilled and aggressive litigators.

We represent our clients in the full range of employment-related litigation matters, including discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of employment or noncompetition agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, defamation, tortious interference with contract, and wrongful discharge.

We litigate in federal and state trial and appellate courts in Minnesota and around the country. We also regularly represent clients before the full spectrum of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Department of Labor, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Office of Federal Contract Compliance, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and various state human rights agencies throughout the country.

Throughout the entire litigation process, we work closely with our clients to ensure their interests are protected and their goals achieved.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

We support and practice alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Our attorneys act both as neutrals helping other parties to resolve their disputes, and as advocates assisting our clients reach timely and effective solutions. We are experienced in mediation, arbitration, and other forms of dispute resolution.