Combining more than 350 years of experience, Jones Walker's Labor & Employment attorneys offer clients one of the largest, most diverse, and experienced labor and employment law practices in the region. We represent employers and their interests exclusively and counsel an array of companies in a wide range of industries, both locally and throughout the United States, in all aspects of labor and employment law. We strive to help clients find solutions to labor and employment law matters using practical, common-sense approaches. We believe our ability to combine our depth in labor and employment law with Jones Walker's broad base of experience in other practice areas to address unique workplace and industry situations gives our clients a distinct advantage not available from small boutique law firms.

In recognition of the group's overall excellence, Jones Walker has been named the exclusive Louisiana member of the Employers Counsel Network (ECN), a national coalition of 51 leading labor and employment law firms in each state and the District of Columbia.

Jones Walker's Labor & Employment Practice also has been recognized for excellence in "Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business" since 2003. In its inaugural edition, Chambers USA identified Jones Walker as "one of the most prestigious firms in the field." Its 2009 publication ranked Jones Walker as one of the top Labor & Employment Practices in Louisiana, and listed more Jones Walker attorneys than attorneys from any other Louisiana firm.

Employment Litigation

Our group of experienced and successful trial attorneys handles every type of employment litigation, including class actions, in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Our experience extends to defending claims involving race, sex, age, and disability discrimination and sexual harassment; employee benefits issues; wage and hour law; wrongful discharge; breach of contract; and employment torts such as defamation, interference with contract rights, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. We handle suits to enforce confidentiality and noncompetition agreements and to protect our clients trade secrets from theft or misuse by employees and competitors. Our labor and employment attorneys also are adept at handling arbitrations and mediations of workplace disputes under private arbitration and mediation agreements.

Administrative Practice

We regularly represent employers before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor; the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP); and various other federal, state, and local government agencies.

Labor-Management Relations

We represent employers in all aspects of traditional labor-management relations throughout the United States, including union organizing campaigns, the defense of unfair labor practice charges, labor arbitrations, union contract negotiations and other collective bargaining issues, and all other matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act. We are experienced in dealing successfully with strikes, lockouts, picketing, and union violence to help our clients continue operating efficiently during labor strife. We also have experience in dealing with a variety of international labor law issues.

Employee Benefits

We frequently work with our Employee Benefits, ERISA & Executive Compensation practice on issues as varied as COBRA and the design of severance plans; the interplay between the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, group health insurance, including HIPAA, retirement plans, and other employee benefits; the design and drafting of executive employment contracts; and employee benefits litigation.

Immigration

We counsel employers on all aspects of the federal immigration laws, including, but not limited to, the various types of employment visas available, visa fraud, I-9 compliance, and national origin discrimination issues. We also assist employers in obtaining permanent employment visas as well as in procuring and/or extending a wide variety of temporary employment visas such as the H-1B visa for professionals, the L-1 visa for employees of U.S. companies abroad, and the B-1 visa for business visitors.

Counseling, Compliance & Training Programs

Our client service includes proactive counseling, compliance, and training programs. We counsel employers daily to troubleshoot and resolve problems in all employment hot spots to help our clients minimize the risks inherent in nearly all employment decisions. Through our audit programs, we offer a comprehensive review of employment policies, practices and documents to ensure compliance with federal and state labor law. We design affirmative action programs, separation agreements, and comprehensive employee handbooks and personnel policies and procedures. Our supervisor and employee training programs help employers reduce the risks of lawsuits, union organizing efforts, and other workplace problems.

News

• Jones Walker Presents Annual Labor & Employment Seminar
• Curtis Elected to LSBA House of Delegates
• Anderson Presents at Employment Law Symposium and Virtual Summit
• Adams Participates in "Employment Law Experts on Obama Labor & Enforcement Agenda" Panel Discussion

Events

• "The Times They Are A-Changing: Change is What the Obama Administration Promised, and Change is What We've Got"
• "DOL Audits and Wage & Hour Lawsuits are Hotter than Ever: Spot and Avoid the Most Common Traps"
• "Exempt vs. Nonexempt: The Million-Dollar-Plus Question (if a Lawsuit Ensues)"
• "Your Hottest Wage and Hour Questions"

Publications

• "The Family and Medical Leave Act"
  Jennifer L. Englander, Contributing Author 2009
• Jones Walker Overview of 2008 Louisiana State Legislature Regular and Extraordinary Sessions
  Jones Walker, July 3, 2008
• "Title VII Doesn't Protect Transsexuals, Right?... Wrong!"
  Joseph F. Lavigne
  Excerpt from Louisiana Employment Law Letter, June 2008
• "Cyber Policies: Social Networking Sites Could Jeopardize Employment"
  Jennifer L. Anderson
  The Forum, April 29, 2008