Labor & Employment

At Sulloway & Hollis, our Labor and Employment Law Practice Group manages labor relations with skill and precision. Labor law is notoriously complex and employers navigating this area of law need more than just bare compliance. A prudent approach requires taking proactive measures to reduce risks and promptly addressing labor-related disputes as they arise.

Our Labor & Employment team stands with our clients to protect their interests and help employers take concrete steps to successfully manage labor relations. Our attorneys assist clients with:

• Negotiating, drafting and reviewing collective bargaining agreements (CBAs)
• Navigating union election campaigns
• Developing strategies to prevent union formation in the nonunionized arena
• Providing ongoing guidance on labor issues that arise during day-to-day operations

We serve clients in a wide array of industries, with a particular focus on health care providers, medical institutions, school districts, educational institutions, and municipalities. Our attorneys handle grievance investigations and arbitration involving issues such as:

• Performance evaluations
• Employee disciplinary matters
• Terminations
• Unfair employment practices
• Breaches of the CBA
• Other alleged violations of employees' rights

Should the grievance proceed to litigation, our legal team includes strong trial attorneys with extensive experience appearing before State and federal courts. As a result, we are well-prepared to protect the interests of management.

Employers depend on the Labor & Employment team at Sulloway & Hollis for strategic and effective advice on all aspects of ERISA, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation. We work with clients in a range of industries, both public and private and advise on all aspects of executive compensation and employee benefits.

We counsel clients on Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), federal income tax and securities laws, and state corporate law as well as a wide range of employee, executive and human resource issues, including:

• Advising clients on all employee, executive and human resource issues arising in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and public offerings
• Counseling boards of directors and compensation committees on executive compensation arrangements and human resource issues
• Counseling clients on all aspects of employee benefits
• Providing advice to trustees, investment managers and others concerning their fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA
• Conducting defensive reviews for potential takeover targets regarding compensation programs and change-in-control arrangements, including golden parachutes
• Advising companies going through corporate restructurings or downsizings, on matters such as reductions in force, early retirement programs and location closings
• Appearing on behalf of clients before regulatory agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and Department of Labor
• Assisting publicly held companies in their preparation of securities disclosure materials
• Designing and implementing executive compensation arrangements
• Assisting clients in connection with the formation of investment partnerships and the structuring of their individual investments to address ERISA's plan asset regulations
• Representing employers and senior executives in negotiating employment agreements
• Representing privately held companies concerning stockholder and compensation arrangements and related governance issues
• Advising companies on the unique issues associated with underfunded pension plans

We have deep capabilities in helping clients deal with the many compensation and benefits issues that arise with mergers and acquisitions, public and private financings, ERISA plan asset investments, bankruptcies and ERISA litigation.

Today's ever-changing compensation and benefits plans and programs present an array of legal challenges. Our highest priority is to develop an ongoing and knowledgeable counseling relationship with our clients. Many issues related to employee benefits and executive compensation require input and cooperation from different functional groups and individuals in an organization. We strive to work with all of them to form a knowledge base that lets us provide superior and integrated service.

Sophisticated employers look for employee benefits counsel who will become their partners in legal compliance and provide effective advice to support their organizational goals.

Experienced Guidance for Schools and Educational Institutions

Public schools and private educational institutions face a wide array of legal questions, from labor and employment issues to real estate matters and regulatory compliance. At Sulloway & Hollis, we understand the unique challenges confronting clients in the education sector.

Our school law practitioners have more than 30 years of experience advising New Hampshire school districts, school boards and educational institutions on all areas of education law. We develop strategies to minimize risks, reduce exposure to legal claims and enhance our clients' educational missions.

Comprehensive Services: Compliance, Counseling, Litigation And Conflict Resolution

Our School Law and Education Law Practice Group offers comprehensive services that include Compliance, Counseling, Litigation And Conflict Resolution.We assist clients with:

• Managing labor relations, including negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements, handling grievances, and defending against charges before the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board
• Addressing the full array of other labor and employment advice
• Preparing student handbooks and policies
• Addressing questions regarding school board governance
• Advising school boards and attending school board and annual district meetings
• Establishing policies for student discipline and safety
• Implementing statutory and regulatory requirements for special education
• Respecting students' privacy rights
• Complying with FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
• Complying with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• Addressing real estate, building, construction, land use and zoning issues
• Securing tax exemptions at the federal, state and local levels
• Providing guidance on general business and corporate matters, including but not limited to district management, contractual and internal organizational issues

We also represent clients in litigation, arbitration and mediation. Our attorneys have extensive experience appearing before administrative bodies as well as state and federal courts.