Labor & Employment Group Success Story

“The Labor & Employment Group at Cohen Seglias prides itself on giving clients the ‘rules of engagement’ in a case so that they can function within lawful parameters. Clients often think that because they are business owners, they can treat their employees any way they see fit. That is not the case. Employees have meaningful rights -- and if an employee is union-minded, he or she could have even more rights than a business owner may think.

Our firm achieves remarkable results for our clients in cases involving union-related matters and various forms of discrimination charges. We are proud of our many precedent-setting cases before the National Labor Relations Board, as well as the excellent results that we routinely enjoy before both federal and state agencies. We have successfully assisted our clients in their efforts to rid themselves of oppressive collective bargaining agreements and to withstand vindictive litigation brought by malingering employees.

In one such case, a client was faced with an adverse preliminary finding by the EEOC. They had handled the matter in-house and asked us to conduct a review for the simple purpose of providing them with an appropriate settlement strategy. Our review yielded something far different. We uncovered a conspiracy involving a manager and the complaining employee. They had attempted to defraud the employer by filing a falsified charge and supporting it with falsified records. Instead of reaching a mid-six-figure settlement with the complaining employee, the charge of discrimination was dismissed.

Whether we're working through a sexual harassment charge or helping a client survive a difficult strike or picketing situation, our clients consistently ask us the same question: “How are you able to anticipate what the other side intends to do?” The answer is simple: “Experience.” The attorneys in our practice group have over a century of combined legal experience. This experience means that we understand how the other side thinks and operates.

Because of this experience, we can also help our clients refine their definition of "victory." Is it truly a victory if you must expend tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees to achieve the “win”? How sweet is a victory if you are unnecessarily tough in union contract negotiations and are left with a company full of disgruntled employees? The lawyers at Cohen Seglias continuously look for a better long-term result. We consider a successful negotiation to be one where the client obtains an agreement within the parameters he or she is seeking and the employees understand that they are getting the best possible resolution under the circumstances. That's what I call good business.”