Carmen Decot

Labor & Employment

Carmen N. Decot is a partner and litigation attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP and is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice and Automotive and Food & Beverage Industry Teams and Manufacturing Sector. Carmen represents and counsels employers in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including but not limited to, compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Executive Order 11246, and other affirmative action laws and regulations; union grievances, National Labor Relations Board charges, labor arbitrations, and collective bargaining; employment litigation before federal, state, and local courts and administrative agencies; reductions in force; and various matters related to employee recruitment, hiring, performance, discipline, and discharge. Carmen also provides clients with practical guidance and proactive counseling regarding policies and best practices designed to help employers avoid labor and employment disputes and comply with the law.

Representative Experience

-Provided strategic advice for a manufacturing client in all areas of labor and employment law, including labor arbitrations, wage and hour related issues, and employment litigation matters.

-Obtained summary judgment victories for an automotive industry client in religious discrimination and multi-plaintiff gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuits.

-Successfully defended a food and beverage industry client in numerous employment litigation and labor matters.

-Played a key role in a major restructuring effort for a media client by advising on compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws, WARN Act notice requirements, contract compliance, and wage and hour issues and successfully defended the client in multiple post-restructuring employment discrimination lawsuits and administrative agency proceedings.

-Provided proactive compliance counseling in the areas of employment discrimination, family and medical leave, and affirmative action compliance to an energy industry client.

-Successfully represented a health care industry client in a variety of employment matters, including federal wage and hour litigation, federal and state employment discrimination matters, and a federal Section 1983 lawsuit and appeal.

University of Iowa College of Law

JD

University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse

BA