Our lawyers represent clients on all matters related to labor and employment law.  We strive to minimize our clients’ litigation risk by addressing their unique needs and offering situation-specific solutions. When litigation is necessary, however, our lawyers litigate to win and, in fact, have an exceptional record of success in this area.  We regularly appear before courts and administrative agencies throughout New England, and in numerous other states, on behalf of our clients.  The cases we have handled in civil court and in arbitration include:

• Discrimination claims;
• Wrongful discharge;
• Sexual harassment;
• Noncompetition and trade secrets;
• Retirement compensation;
• Employee benefits;
• Wage and hour law;
• Defamation and privacy; and
• "Whistleblower" and retaliation claims.

Additionally, we advise clients on such matters as the administration of employee discipline, implementation of reductions in force, affirmative action compliance, alternative dispute resolution, union avoidance, executive contracts, and separation agreements.

How We Help Our Clients

• Ropes & Gray successfully litigated a significant age discrimination case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
• We have obtained the summary dismissal of numerous discrimination claims brought against our clients, thereby helping them to avoid costly trials.
• We successfully tried, before two different juries, claims of age discrimination brought by five former employees of a major defense contractor.
• We obtained a summary judgment in a first-in-the-nation upholding of the lawfulness of a cash balance retirement plan against challenges brought under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
• We obtained a directed verdict in federal court in favor of a large financial services organization defending claims of race discrimination.
• We represented a major utility company in its successful attempt to stop unemployment payments to 3,000 striking workers.
• We obtained judgments of no discrimination for a large corporation in 13 consolidated age discrimination cases tried in a public hearing before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
• We successfully defended (class decertified) a nationwide class action brought against an information technology consulting company pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• We have litigated numerous denial of tenure cases for leading universities with highly favorable results.
• We have successfully tried numerous arbitrations arising under golden parachute, change in control, and executive employment contracts, most recently in favor of a major Massachusetts health care organization.
• We have obtained favorable rulings for our clients in both the prosecution and defense of non-competition and trade secret agreements, both in state and federal court and in arbitral forums such as the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD).
• We have extensive experience in proceedings arising under labor and employment laws, such as:
  • The Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991 and other federal and state equal employment opportunity laws;
  • The Fair Labor Standards Act;
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act;
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act;
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act;
  • The Railway Labor Act;
  • Unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation laws;
  • The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA);
  • The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act;
  • The Occupational Safety and Health Act; and
  • The Work Adjustment Retaining and Notification Act.

In these areas, our work includes advising clients on compliance with laws and regulations, as well as representing clients in both investigatory agency proceedings and civil litigation.

For additional information, please click here to learn more about our corporate Labor & Employment Practice.

Our Clients

We represent clients of all sizes across geographies in numerous industries, including high technology, financial services, non-profit, education, and retail.

Contact

For further information on this area of practice, please contact:

• Robert B. Gordon 

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