Labor & Employment

Wickens Herzer Panza's Employment and Labor practice group represents employers throughout Northeast Ohio, helping businesses of every size navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of employment and labor laws.

On the preventive side, our attorneys draft and update employee handbooks, policies, and restrictive covenant agreements (non-competes, non-solicits, confidentiality agreements), and counsel on wage and hour compliance, employee classification, and accommodation obligations. We regularly train managers and HR teams to reduce legal exposure before problems arise.

When disputes occur, we defend employers against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims before the EEOC, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and in state and federal court, and conduct independent workplace investigations. Our attorneys also handle labor relations matters such as union organizing campaigns and collective bargaining. We also prosecute and defend trade secret and noncompetition agreement disputes.

Our workers' compensation practice defends employers in contested claims, handles appeals, and advises on return-to-work and safety programs to help control costs.

Clients value our big firm ability, small firm agility approach: direct access to experienced partners, practical advice geared toward business realities, and a collaborative team drawing on our corporate and litigation attorneys whenever workplace issues intersect with broader business matters.