Labor-management relations in United States

Jones Day's traditional labor practice has expertise in acting for employers in matters under the NLRA and RLA. The team regularly advises companies from the transportation, food and drink, media, manufacturing and healthcare industries, providing assistance with collective bargaining, litigation and arbitration proceedings, and developing labor strategies. Minneapolis-based Brian West Easley is regularly involved in mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies alongside traditional labor work, while Patricia Dunn in Washington DC is noted for her 'wealth of knowledge in the area of labor negotiations', and Curt Kirschner in San Francisco specialises in the healthcare sector. Other key individuals include Donald Munro in Washington DC, David Birnbaum, Michael Rossman and associates Samantha Woo and Allyson Werntz in Chicago as well as Houston-based Joanne Bush. The firm's labor and employment practice is led by Matthew Lampe in New York and Elizabeth McRee in Chicago.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP fields a highly experienced team, which is regularly engaged on labor matters by a range of notable companies including Boeing Company, General Motors and Marriott. While the team covers the full gamut of related matters, the group has particular experience in acting before agencies and representing clients in labor disputes; the practice is also well versed in labor unions issues including collective bargaining work and corporate campaigns. The practice is headed up by former NLRB-member Harry Johnson in Century City and Philadelphia-based Joseph Ragaglia. Practitioners in Washington DC include disputes expert Jonathan Fritts and the 'exceptionally talented' Philip Miscimarra. Steven Wall in Philadelphia has a strong focus on union corporate campaigns, while Daniel Bordoni in Washington DC and Los Angeles-based Nicole Buffalano have expertise in matters relating to the NLRA. Washington DC-based David Broderdorf made partner in October 2020.

Proskauer Rose LLP has a highly regarded labor practice, which is regularly instructed by clients from the US professional sports leagues, education sector and media industry. The team is deeply experienced in advising unionized as well as union-free employers. Public sector expert Neil Abramson and Joseph Baumgarten, who is well versed in collective bargaining negotiations, jointly lead the practice. Mark Batten in Boston has knowledge of labor and union agreements, while Paul Salvatore is another experienced collective bargaining contact. Bernard Plum is a key name for clients in the performing arts, entertainment and sport industries, while Boston’s Scott Faust is active in strategic corporate planning matters. Other key practitioners include Michael Lebowich, Howard Robbins, Los Angeles-based Mark Theodore, Adam Lupion and Steven Porzio, who was promoted to partner in November 2020. All individuals are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP impresses with an experienced traditional labor practice spanning various offices across the country, with a client portfolio, which includes numerous national corporations, with particular expertise in the retail and airline industries. The team covers the full gamut of relevant matters, ranging from representing clients in arbitration proceedings and unfair labor practice proceedings to policy development work. Bradford Livingston in Chicago is a prominent specialist in the labor field, and counsel Marshall Babson in New York is a former member of the NLRB; both Babson and Chicago-based Brian Stolzenbach have more than 20 years of experience. The team is led by Glenn Smith in New York, with Molly Gabel in Seattle and Kyllan Kershaw in Atlanta acting as vice-chairs; they are part of a strong up-and-coming bench which also includes Chicago-based Karla Sanchez and Bryan O’Keefe in Washington DC. Other names to note are Boston's Arthur Telegen, Joseph Damato in Washington DC, and Stuart Newman in Atlanta. Thomas Posey, formerly at Reed Smith LLP, joined the Los Angeles-office in August 2020. Josh Henderson left for Norton Rose Fulbright in March 2020.

Baker & Hostetler LLP has notable expertise in the manufacturing, transportation, hospitality, and health care sectors, and advises both non-union and unionized clients on a broad range of labor matters. The team also has experience representing companies in litigation before the NLRB and federal courts as well as acting in arbitration proceedings. It is jointly led by Washington DC-based Jay Krupin, who specialises in the hospitality industry, and Patrick Muldowney in Orlando. M.J. Asensio in Columbus is well versed in the healthcare sector, and, in Los Angeles, Nancy Inesta has considerable expertise in union negotiations. Other names to note include Ronald Linville and Jennifer Edwards in Columbus, Washington DC-based Peter Fischer and Louis Cannon, as well as Paul Rosenberg in New York.

DLA Piper LLP (US)‘s team is active in collective bargaining work, union organizing activities and contract administration issues, as well as advising clients on the NLRA. The group acts for a varied client roster including national companies from the automotive, food and manufacturing industries. Under the lead of New York-based Brian Kaplan, the team also regularly acts in disputes before agencies. Harriet Lipkin in Washington DC is well versed in assisting companies with union organizing efforts. Other key practitioners include Joseph Piesco in New York and of counsel Steve Hernández in Los Angeles. Ryan Vann has now left the firm.

The team at Greenberg Traurig LLP has 'expert knowledge' of the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, and handles unfair labor practice proceedings before the NLRB, as well as training and compliance matters. The group's client portfolio includes union-free as well as unionized employers from a range of industries. New York's Jerrold Goldberg has more than 30 years of experience in the labor field, and Terence McCourt in Boston has knowledge of labor arbitrations, while Charles Birenbaum in San Francisco and Jonathan Sulds in New York are further key contacts for contentious labor matters. Naomi Beer in Denver and Philadelphia-based James Boudreau lead the firm's practice group.

The team at McDermott Will & Emery LLP has a strong presence in Chicago and San Francisco and acts for a notable client roster, which includes impressive names from a variety of industries, including the transportation, aviation and entertainment sectors. The group is involved in collective bargaining issues, union relations and NLRB negotiations; it also covers matters relating to the NLRA and RLA. In the San Francisco office, David Durham is a key name for labor unions, while Ron Holland and Ellen Bronchetti are experienced in labor disputes; Christopher Foster is also a noteworthy practitioner. The firm’s Chicago office fields practice head Michael Sheehan, and Kristin Michaels, who handles labor negotiations.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP has notable experience in matters relating to the Railway Labor Act; the group's client portfolio encompasses various passenger and cargo airlines. The practice regularly handles collective bargaining negotiations, the RLA aspects of M&A transactions, litigation and arbitration proceedings. Robert Siegel in Los Angeles is a dedicated airline labor specialist, and Mark Robertson in New York is well versed in representing clients in contentious matters. Washington DC's Aparna Joshi is another key individual. The practice group is led by Apalla Chopra in Los Angeles.

The team at Vedder Price covers a wide range of labor-management relations matters, from assisting clients with union organizing and decertification campaign matters, to collective bargaining and strike support work. The practice’s client portfolio includes a range of national employers from a variety of industries. The group has a particularly strong line-up in Chicago, which includes Kenneth Sparks, Eugene Boyle and Patrick Spangler. Candice Zee is a skilled labor practitioner in Los Angeles, while labor and employment group head Amy Bess is based in Washington DC.