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Overview

Calfee’s Labor and Employment litigators have extensive experience defending companies and individually named management representatives in both administrative proceedings and federal and state courts.

Our lawyers represent employers in matters involving the EEOC, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, other state FEP agencies, the Department of Labor, and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

Our experienced trial lawyers defend against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as alleged violations of the FSLA, NLRA, OSHA, WARN, and other employment-related laws. Our team has extensive experience litigating claims involving alleged breaches of noncompete and other agreements involving restrictive covenants.

We represent management before the National Labor Relations Board on petitions for union representation and in defense of unfair labor practice charges.

Our lawyers defend management in state and federal court litigation arising from complaints of age, sex, race, religion, national origin, and/or disability discrimination under state and federal laws, as well as in cases involving the Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and other federal and state workplace laws.

Calfee's Litigation attorneys provide aggressive, cost-effective defense of claims of “wrongful discharge” and violations of individual employment rights and specialize in the enforcement of noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and confidentiality agreements.

Our Workers’ Compensation practice attorneys regularly defend state-fund and self-employers in claims for workers’ compensation benefits in both administrative and court-related proceedings.

Noteworthy

Chambers USA Leading Law Firm Rankings

Since 2019, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Labor and Employment by Chambers USA, most recently in Band 3 in Ohio (2023). 

Chambers USA researchers note that the practice is known to be "proficient in the handling of a wide range of labor and employment matters. Areas of strength for the firm include the representation of management in collective bargaining negotiations with unions, defending clients against claims of wrongful discharge and discrimination, and day-to-day employment counseling. Calfee's expertise also stretches to the enforcement of post-employment agreements." 

Clients interviewed by Chambers USA said, "The Calfee team has a high level of knowledge. Calfee is consistently responsive, thorough, and knowledgeable. The attorneys we work with at Calfee are able to quickly distill and interpret the relevant information pertaining to a matter, cut past the emotional and subjective factors, and focus on the law. The firm is very thorough and concentrates on the details; they are experts in the law and how it applies to the issues while understanding the business needs. The group is accessible and calls you back very quickly. They are a pleasure to work with and every one of them knows their stuff. They are spot-on technically, on top of everything and always provide good solid counsel. We are extremely satisfied with the work Calfee has done for us. The group is thorough, creative, and responsive."

Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings

Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2024 "Best Law Firms" rankings in the following areas:

  • Employment Law – Management (Regional Tier 1 Cleveland)
  • Labor Law – Management (Regional Tier 2 Cleveland)

Benchmark Litigation Rankings

Calfee was selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation 2024 as a Highly Recommended Law Firm in Dispute Resolution in Ohio. Additionally, 14 of Calfee's Litigation partners have been ranked by Benchmark Litigation as "Litigation Stars" in the U.S. (National), Midwest, and Ohio and as “40 & Under" and "Future Stars" Honorees.

  • Chambers USA 2023 A Firm Badge

Professionals

Experience

Experience

  • Represented a major municipality in an action against a state Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to recover multimillion-dollar overpayments of workers’ compensation premiums charged over a nine-year period.
  • Defended an employer in a disability discrimination litigation to establish that discharged plaintiff-employee had engaged in physical activity during a period of alleged disability, which was prohibited by medical limitations imposed by his treating physicians.
  • Obtained a worldwide injunctive relief to enforce an unfair competition agreement to preclude a former Senior Product Development Engineer from providing product development services to a competing manufacturer of safety products.
  • Obtained consent agreement following commencement of litigation to enforce noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and nondisclosure covenants in Management Stockholder’s Agreement to preclude unfair competition by a former employee in a national industrial gas business.
  • Successfully defended against an $8 million third-party claims brought by administrators and fiduciaries of employee benefit plans against the employer of plan beneficiaries alleging violations of ERISA and the Labor Management Relations Act, unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation, indemnification, and contribution.
  • Successfully enforced claims by a national manufacturing client against a former employee and new employer in Florida following the discovery that, while on medical leave, a former employee had misappropriated and forwarded confidential designs and proprietary information to a new employer in direct competition with a manufacturing client, resulting in the discharge of an employee, return of all proprietary information, and shut down of competing enterprise.
  • Obtained a summary judgment on a “wrongful termination” claim pursued by a former employee discharged for sexual harassment. Pursued claim for reimbursement of legal fees against employee and counsel due to frivolous nature of the lawsuit.

Services

Services

  • Defense of charges/complaints filed with state and federal agencies
  • Employment discrimination litigation in federal and state courts 
  • Defense of “wrongful discharge” claims
  • Representation of management in National Labor Relations Act litigation
  • Collective bargaining agreement enforcement action
  • Actions concerning wage and hour issues under federal and state law
  • Defense of actions concerning affirmative action laws and regulations
  • Trade secret and confidentiality protection and prosecution
  • Defense of intentional and/or negligent infliction of emotional distress, interference with business relationships, and/or defamation claims
  • Actions to enforce and contest non-compete covenants
  • Litigation of actions concerning the federal plant closing (WARN) law
  • Defense of claims under Ohio’s wage payment, “whistle blowing” and other employment related statutes
  • Defense of intentional tort claims relating to workplace injuries
  • Defense of actions filed by discharged executives

Resources

News & Events

News

Alerts

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    Practice Contact

    Calfee's Labor and Employment practice is "proficient in the handling of a wide range of labor and employment matters. Areas of strength for the firm include the representation of management in collective bargaining negotiations with unions, defending clients against claims of wrongful discharge and discrimination, and day-to-day employment counseling. Expertise also stretches to the enforcement of post-employment agreements."

    Researcher comments, Chambers USA 

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