Labor & Employment

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP is a company with a true labor practice - not just litigators who try employment cases. On a comparative basis for a firm our size, we have one of the biggest work and labor groups in California. Each of our lawyers works closely and personally with employer customers to develop proactive compliance and conflict resolution methods. Our company believe this individually therapy is even more efficient than an unwieldy team. We work with customers to help them avoid office issues, however where debate is inescapable, we have actually dealt with literally hundreds of jury trials, administrative trials and appeals before courts and administrative firms nationwide.

JMBM is acknowledged as a Go-To Law Practice® & reg; for the top 500 companies in the United States in the areas of labor lawsuits and labor & employment law, as figured out by American Lawyer Media's (ALM) annual study of in-house counsel at FORTUNE 500® & reg; companies. Because labor and work issues often involve high stakes and extreme time pressure, our legal representatives are devoted to giving employers the most immediate service possible. We react promptly and without stop working, with straightforward advice from a skilled attorney who will not pass your problem off to someone else. Issues like sexual harassment and office violence need immediate attention- and we provide it.

Employers in the middle of a conflict over an organizing drive or an unreasonable labor practice grievance rely on our aggressive and prompt action. Accountability and availability are our watchwords, job and you get direct access to the person who can solve your problem or address your question.

Among the strengths of our labor and work group is the variety of the employers we represent. Public and personal companies in organization sectors ranging from fundamental manufacturing to innovation, clothing to aerospace and from healthcare to financial services all rely on JMBM labor legal representatives, despite the issue. Many clients have actually been with us 10 to 20 years-in numerous cases working with the same experienced attorney who intimately understands their company.

Our industry-specific avoidance and preparedness can avoid or decrease costly claims. We work carefully with senior executives and internal counsel to craft personalized, effective work policies - complete with a focus on appropriately training managers and HR staff on legal rights and commitments. Our services work to guarantee compliance with nationwide and state labor job laws, decrease disputes with workers, and maximize strategic benefit if litigation is necessary. We worry innovative preparation and aggressive advocacy for every single customer.

There are organization sectors where we have special skill in handling work matters. Many law practice rely on us for counsel on problems including staff and legal representatives, and we typically advise broker-dealers on non-compete and disciplinary debates. Our lawyers also efficiently represent numerous health care and hospitality industry clients in collective bargaining and other labor and employment issues.

Any protected class of employees-by age, job race, gender, special needs, religion-could bring match versus a company under the discrimination statues. We have successfully prosecuted and resolved all kinds of discrimination matters brought under such work laws as the:

- Americans with Disabilities Act

- Family Medical Leave Act

- Age Discrimination in Employment Act

- Fair Labor Standards Act

- Family and Medical Leave Act


The very best way to manage any claim is to avoid it from being filed, and we provide clients reliable assistance right from the start to manage grievances correctly and keep them from ending up being suits. If lawsuits is required, our attorneys examine completely and prepare a strong position that can negate complainant claims.

We offer strong defense in state and job federal court, in administrative actions before the Federal Equal Job Opportunity Commission and before all the California state firms - the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Employment Development Department.

Often overlapping with discrimination issues are claims for wrongful termination, vindictive treatment and whistle blowing. We understand the requirement in such cases to demonstrate that an employer's actions were appropriate, and regardless of the notoriety that is in some cases included, we have had considerable success at revealing that company conduct was legitimate and managed effectively.

Whether your organization currently has 3rd party representation or looks for to preserve a work environment without such participation, our extremely efficient labor relations counsel can be crucial to helping preserve a competitive work environment while lessening disputes and taking full advantage of management flexibility. Employers that deal with union arranging drives rely on our help to:

- Maintain a positive working environment with open communication with all employees

- Adhere to NLRB election laws

- Counter aggressive unionizing efforts without developing a "union-busting" controversy


In unionized work environments, our firm is a highly experienced and responsive partner that works together with company human resources and labor relations workers to:

- Engage in cumulative bargaining - consisting of multi-union, multi-location talks

- React to complaint and arbitration actions

- Manage reductions in force, drug testing, discipline procedures and strikes

- Provide representation in NLRB proceedings


Responsiveness, determination and focus are what set our labor relations counsel apart from that of other law firms. We offer immediate response, round-the-clock accessibility in crisis scenarios and aggressive defense of all employers' rights.

We safeguard many companies versus class action lawsuits in which employees demand back overtime pay-and countless dollars in damages-claiming that under company policies the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime pay exemption no longer uses to them.

JMBM labor legal representatives can assist employers prevent classification issues that lead to lawsuits by:

- Auditing existing wage policy and pay practices

- Reviewing the language of written employment policies to make sure they comply with FLSA requirements for exempt and non-exempt employees

- Making certain all exempt worker job descriptions include management and guidance


If you as a company are confronted with a wage and hour lawsuit, whether under federal law or California wage and hour statutes, we install a vigorous and efficient defense. Your JMBM legal representative will look for to reject class accreditation and work to secure an efficient and reliable settlement that dismisses unfounded claims and secures your interests.

Disputes over non-compete arrangements including trade tricks typically pit companies versus each other - especially in California, where the state's Unfair Competition Law (Section 17200) makes it specifically challenging to implement non-compete terms. We've managed litigation representing both workers' former and present companies, and are skilled at protecting and withstanding TROs and job permanent injunctions to secure company interests in either kind of case.