In over thirty-five years of practice, Jeff Lerer represents employers in a variety of industries (particularly hospitality, construction, cement, textiles and general manufacturing) in labor and employment matters. His primary areas of emphasis are traditional labor law and union-related matters (which would include counseling on union corporate campaigns), employment law litigation, and proactive counseling on employment law compliance matters. He is regarded as one of the preeminent labor management lawyers in the hospitality, cement and construction industries both in New England and throughout the U.S. Jeff has been first chair in federal and state court employment-related litigation involving a wide range of claims including race, sex, age, handicap, FMLA, national origin, and sexual harassment. He has also litigated matters involving exceptions to the employment at-will doctrine, wage and hour claims, state tort claims, covenants not to compete and trade secret, confidentiality claims. He has defended both systemic charges brought by the EEOC and multi-plaintiff lawsuits involving many Title VII claims. Jeff represents clients throughout the United States in matters involving labor-management relations as well as union-related disputes. He represents employers before the NLRB, at labor arbitration hearings, negotiations, and all types of representation hearings. Much of his work involves counseling employers on union organizing, neutrality arrangements, collective bargaining and decertification. Jeff represents clients (including foreign nationals) in labor disputes involving union-initiated corporate campaigns, develops strategies for defensing these campaigns, and provides clients with daily legal consultation to shape communications during these disputes. Among other labor-related matters, he also: · Negotiates "Neutrality/Card Check" agreements in various industries and helps clients defend against union campaigns under such procedures, and trains supervisors and managers on appropriate conduct during organizing campaigns under card check agreements · Negotiates labor contracts for both individual and multi-employer clients in many industries, including hospitality, cement, and construction across the country · Helps clients develop contingency plans for labor disputes arising out of labor negotiations and open shop contractors working in the construction industry · Secures multi-state and federal labor injunctions involving picket line violence and violations of state statutes throughout the United States · Defends clients in WARN Act litigation · Advises construction clients on sucession planning, asset protection and defensing unfounded liability claims In addition to his work in employment and labor controversies, Jeff advises and provides supervisory training for clients regarding employee selection methods, working with unions and other workplace policies and procedures. That includes drafting employee handbooks and employment policies. He also provides proactive guidance on wage and hour matters, post 9/11 workplace discrimination issues, workforce reductions, WARN Act issues, OSHA/MSHA matters, as well as union avoidance. Jeff has and continues to represent clients facing SOX and related whistleblower claims. Jeff undertakes specialized representation involving ERISA/Taft Hartley Trust Funds. He also defends employers in Trust Fund Health & Welfare and Pension audits, including Department of Labor and state investigatory audits, as well as unfunded liability claims. He also represents many clients before the Massachusetts Attorney General's office regarding "tip" payments, tip pooling challenges and overtime disputes. Before joining Foley Hoag, Jeff was a senior labor partner and served in firm governance positions with firms based in Boston and South Carolina. He started his legal career as a Field Attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, Kansas City, Missouri- Region 17, where he was the recipient of several merit awards. Representative Experience The following is a brief summary of Jeffrey's experience and accomplishments: · Successfully defended the first Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Complaint filed in the DOL's Region One office (New England) · Negotiates on behalf of cement industry employers throughout the United States · Defends employee against unfunded liability claims by Taft Hartly pension plans · Successfully defended clients in wage-hour audits both with the DOL and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office · Individual hotel and restaurant negotiations for clients in the Greater Boston area · Serve as chief labor negotiator for the Boston Coalition, a multi-employee group of unionized hotels · Negotiated contract settlements on behalf of the Boston Hotel Association with the Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union, Local 26, avoiding imminent work stoppages · Conduct ongoing negotiations for various New England and national construction contractors, including negotiating project labor agreements with the Massachusetts and New York Building Trades · Served as chief labor negotiator for the Insulator Contractors of Atlanta Professional / Civic Involvement · Boston Bar Association, Member · Atlanta Bar Association, Member · Lawyers Club of Atlanta, Member · New England Council, Board of Directors · Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Human Resources Committee · UMass Advisory Board · Massachusetts Lodging Association, Member/Advisor · Ravinia Club Board of Governors (Atlanta), Member · Scottish Rite/Egleston Children's Hospital (Cardiac Care) · AIDS Action Committee Speeches and Conferences · "Selected Issues in Labor and Employment Law for Construction Professionals," BBA CLE Fourth Annual Construction Law Update · Cement Employers Association · Massachusetts Lodging Association · Associated General Contractors (Georgia, Hawaii and Maine Chapters) · Atlanta Bar Association · Boston Bar Association · Massachusetts Restaurant Association · Various human resource groups in the hospitality, cement and construction industries Publications · Jeopardizing the Tip Credit by Minimum Wage Abuse, Massachusetts Restaurant Association eNewsletter (October 2009) · COBRA Subsidy Included in Stimulus Bill, Massachusetts Lodging Association (May 28, 2009) · Massachusetts Bar Association · BOSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL · CFO MAGAZINE Honors/Awards NEW ENGLAND LAW REVIEW Related Professional Experience Georgia State University, Emory University, University of Massachusetts, Cornell University, and Massachusetts Lodging Association, Guest lecturer Boston University, Instructor |