“Frantz Ward is a distinguished labor and employment practice that is regularly sought after to advise on collective bargaining agreements and to represent clients in litigation proceedings. The law firm is highly regarded for its work covering trade secrets disputes, harassment and discrimination allegations, the termination of individual employees, plant closures and union-organizing campaigns. The team is particularly noted for its excellent track record in acting on behalf of clients in the healthcare sector. Its client base also includes well-known names from the construction, media and education sectors.” -Chambers USA
In an environment of increasingly complex labor and employment laws, our Labor & Employment Practice Group provides effective human resources strategies, counseling, and training to help our clients avoid costly litigation, lengthy government investigations, and other outside party intervention. Where reasonable settlements have not been possible, we have often secured summary judgments for our client or assisted in implementing arbitration agreements and policies to avoid costly and high-risk jury trials. When litigation is unavoidable, our lawyers deliver comprehensive services to help secure cost-effective, favorable results. Our lawyers have successfully tried cases in courts and agencies around the country.
Our Labor & Employment Practice is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Our labor practice is also nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms” in Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; and Litigation – Labor & Employment. Individual lawyers in the group have been recognized by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America®, and the Ohio Super Lawyers lists and rated by Martindale-Hubbell and for their exceptional client service in this practice area.
Our lawyers represent national, regional, and local employers in the full spectrum of traditional and emerging labor law issues. We counsel non-union clients on how to retain their status and routinely represent employers in union organizing campaigns and unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board. We also negotiate collective bargaining agreements and are well-versed in the issues that arise in the bargaining process. Additionally, we advise on contract interpretation, and represent clients in arbitration proceedings under collective bargaining agreements. Members of the group actively work with our clients in planning for and dealing with work stoppages on a local and national level. This representation includes training management; obtaining injunctive relief against mass picketing violence or illegal or wildcat strikes; preventing disruption of our clients’ business relationships through secondary boycott charges and related damage suits; counseling regarding replacement of strikers; and handling post-strike litigation.
Representative Matters
- Represented health care providers, manufacturers, and service providers and secured dismissals of hundreds of charges of discrimination, harassment and retaliation filed with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and other agencies in states such as Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
- Obtained unanimous jury verdict in favor of manufacturing company on plaintiff’s race discrimination and retaliation claims.
- Represented a multi-employer group in national bargaining involving the oldest collective bargaining agreement in the United States.
- Successfully represented national restaurant chain in federal court trial regarding claims by a former server for hostile environment, sexual harassment, and constructive discharge. Secured defense verdict in favor of the restaurant chain following a jury trial.
- Attained a full defense arbitration award on behalf of global corporation on state and federal age discrimination and retaliation claims.
- Represented Oberlin College in negotiating a new union contract with 120 administration assistants, who were represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union.
- Secured numerous summary judgment rulings on behalf of clients in state and federal age discrimination, race discrimination, retaliation, defamation, and disparate impact discrimination cases.
- Successfully represented a private university in student-on-student Title IX and retaliation claims brought by a former student, resulting in a no-pay dismissal of all claims.
- Obtained dismissal of numerous employment-discrimination charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
- Secured unanimous jury verdict in favor of the employer in the Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas in a wrongful termination in violation of a public policy case.
