OUR PRACTICE
Our Labor & Employment practice is primarily directed toward representing employers (i.e. management) in both the private and public sectors. Generally speaking, “labor and employment” law is that which governs relationships between employers and employees. Our attorneys have extensive expertise in defending against civil rights claims, negotiating labor contracts and severance agreements, developing and streamlining employee handbooks, drafting appropriate policies, conducting investigations, and various other employment matters.
Labor and employment laws are constantly changing, which is why we strive to stay up to date on the most current statutes, rules, and regulations. It is our duty to ensure that our clients have proper legal guidance when facing matters that may present unforseen liability. We recognize that although many employment matters may be handled without an attorney, some particularly tricky issues will require legal guidance. Whether you are in front of the National Labor Relations Board, Courts, or Arbitrator, The Williams Firm, P.C. offers services that can help.
CIVIL LITIGATION DEFENSE
The Firm has a great deal of experience representing employers in both state and federal trial courts. The issues defended include whistleblower claims, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, discrimination, civil rights claims, and many more. Additionally, members of The Firm have substantial experience representing employers in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
LABOR DEFENSE
Members of The Firm represent parties in matters before the National Labor Relations Board and the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. Such experience has included defendings against Unfair Labor Practice Charges, discrimination claims by employees, failure to represent claims by employees against Unions and Employers, and Representation Election Petitions.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
The Firm’s Attorneys have extensive experience serving as the chief negotiator during labor contract negotiations as well as providing consultative services to human resource and labor relations professionals responsible for negotiating labor contracts for employers. The Firm regularly represents employers in contract grievance arbitration cases.
APPELLATE PRACTICE
In addition to the experience at the trial court level, members of The Firm have substantial experience in state and federal appellate litigation. Such experience includes the United States Supreme Court, 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Michigan's appellate courts.
MANAGEMENT TRAINING
Members of The Williams Firm, P.C. have experience in providing management and staff training. Training seminars are given on a regular basis for clients and associations/organizations, including the Michigan Bar Association and the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. The Firm provides training to managers regarding labor contract interpretation, employee discipline, and personnel decisions, and compliance concerns.
HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTING
The Firm's attorneys use their extensive backgrounds to provide counsel to employers in order to minimize legal risk and develop sound business and legal strategies. The Firm assists clients in the drafting of employment forms, handbooks, policies, employment contracts, and severance agreements.
INVESTIGATIONS
Employers are encountering increasingly complex legal and regulatory risks in their day-to-day operations with employees and business partners due to ever-expanding labor and employment laws. To minimize these risks, employers must ensure compliance with these laws and, when necessary, conduct timely and thorough investigations on claims of impropriety or unethical behavior. Our attorneys are well positioned and experienced to conduct confidential investigations into all aspects of our clients’ operations. We specialize in sensitive matters that involve the leadership ranks of an organization — board members, elected government officials, executive officers and management team members, and key personnel including police and fire chiefs, and school administrators. We partner with our clients, their boards, and committees to recommend appropriate disciplinary actions, make necessary policy changes, provide training to supervisors and managers, and institute operational and compliance changes. Our firm has the skill and knowledge to create and implement appropriate corrective actions that will minimize a client’s future liability.
MEDIATION + ARBITRATION SERVICES
Mediation is the process by which a trained mediator encourages and facilitates communication between parties to help them reach a voluntary agreement regarding a dispute. The purpose of mediation is for the neutral mediator to facilitate communication between the parties as they attempt to compromise, settle, or resolve disputed claims.
Mediation provides an impartial, non-binding assessment of your dispute in a private and confidential environment. Our trained Mediators do not judge the merits of a party’s case nor provide counsel. The goal is to provide avenues to reconciliation between disputing parties.
Mediation is usually much more affordable and time-saving than litigation and other traditional forms of dispute resolution. It is also less risky and gives you more control over the outcome unlike a jury or judge. Mediation is informal, private, and confidential. Mediation also produces more satisfying and endurable outcomes.
In addition to mediation, members of The Williams Firm may also serve as Arbitrator, if parties so wish. This is the process where a dispute is presented to the Arbitrator who then weighs the evidence and issues a binding decision. Many arbitrations arise through the grievance procedure in a collective bargaining agreement or other contractual agreements to resolve disputed matters. As with mediation, arbitration is typically cheaper and quicker than formal litigation.
