My first assignment as a lawyer over twenty-five years ago was on a bridge deck near Brainerd, Minnesota, helping a group of non-union construction workers get their job done in the face of a determined (and rather unpleasant) group of union business agents and pickets. My clients finished their job and I have loved the labor practice ever since.

Employment Counseling and Advice
I don't feel this old, but my practice in this area began before there was a recognized legal speciality in employment law. My practice has paralleled the growth of employment and discrimination law, the development of wrongful discharge employment claims litigation and the dramatic changes that state and federal law have brought to the work place. This area is a legal minefield for employers that can be enormously expensive if not properly navigated.  Your employees are your most critical resource and it is important that the decisions you make in this area take into account those potential pitfalls.  My first question to you will always be "What is your best business decision?"  It is my job to then help you navigate the legal maze to let you make that decision.

Union Contract Negotiations, Grievance Arbitrations and Union Elections
From the first rumblings of a union organizing effort, to a petition from the National Labor Relations Board telling you they intend to hold an election at your place of business, to contract negotiations, grievance arbitrations and decertification elections, the labor issues you may face involve a specialized knowledge of the federal law that governs this area and a heavy dose of street smarts and common sense. Perhaps more than any other area of law, union-management labor relations requires a combination of specialized, technical legal expertise that can only be acquired by practicing in this area, together with the ability to work well in an environment that is often rough and tumble and can test your courage as well as your common sense. I belong to a relatively small group of lawyers in Minnesota who have experience in all of these areas.