Employment Law
In Brief
Employers from many industries turn to Kramer Levin’s Employment Law Department for assistance in connection with all issues related to the employment of employees. We begin with advice regarding the development and implementation of employee relations policies designed to minimize risk and avoid costly and time-consuming litigation. If a dispute becomes inevitable, our lawyers seek the best and most expedient resolution, whether through negotiation, arbitration, mediation or litigation, providing high quality representation while keeping a lid on cost.
Kramer Levin’s representative clients in the employment area cover a broad range of industries, including financial services (investment banks, commercial banks, hedge funds and private equity), consulting, insurance, tax, business management, consumer products, real estate, oil/gas, electronics, accounting, apparel and education. Our matters range from multi-million dollar class actions to agency proceedings involving individual claimants, and we regularly represent clients in both federal and state court as well as in personnel-related arbitrations before FINRA (the successor to the dispute resolution departments of the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers and the American Arbitration Association), the American Arbitration Association and JAMS. In terms of subject matter, our experience includes claims of discrimination or harassment, claims for breach of contract, compensation disputes and claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, alleged tortious conduct arising out of the employment relationship, disputes concerning ERISA and other benefit plans, programs and arrangements and various types of equity grants and arrangements, and disputes concerning the enforcement of restrictive covenants and protection of confidential information.
We have extensive experience in the adoption and application of employee relations policies, the preparation and implementation of employment contracts and severance arrangements and non-competition agreements, and employee benefits and pension issues. We often are involved in the design and implementation of equity based compensation arrangements, including stock options, restricted stock, performance shares, stock appreciation rights, and restricted stock units, as well as “carried interest” arrangements for limited liability companies and partnerships. Employers also rely on the firm for guidance regarding employment issues pertaining to acquisitions and divestitures. We regularly are consulted in connection with termination and other disciplinary decisions long before any dispute arises so that we can help ensure that the employer acts within the bounds of law and in a manner calculated to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of litigation. In addition, we often work with attorneys in our Litigation and Corporate departments in conducting internal investigations and carrying out decisions made in connection with such investigations.
Applied Expertise
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Employment Law Alliance ("ELA"): Kramer Levin is the exclusive representative from New York City, Long Island, and Westchester and Rockland Counties for the ELA. The ELA has members in all 50 states and many countries. ELA members are generally regarded as the top employment lawyers in each jurisdiction.
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The International Law Office: Kramer Levin's regular updates regarding employment issues are featured on
www.internationallawoffice.com, which delivers global analysis to lawyers worldwide via email subscription. Kramer Levin has been selected as the sole U.S. contributor to the International Law Office regarding employment and labor issues.