Labor and Employment in Hospitality

Venable's labor and employment attorneys counsel and litigate on behalf of the firm's hospitality clients, dealing with affirmative action, personnel policies, collective bargaining, the legal and practical issues during union organizing efforts and campaigns, EEO claims and class actions, merger and acquisition labor cost reductions, wrongful discharge suits, restrictive covenants and trade secrets, OSHA, wage and overtime disputes, healthcare cost reductions, ERISA, and trade secrets/non-compete litigation.

Experience
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  • On behalf of a hospitality client, we won a significant employment case in the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, affirming a summary judgment ruling which determined that discharging an employee for making only internal complaints did not violate "a clear mandate of public policy" under state law sufficient to create an exception to the employment-at-will doctrine. This case sets new precedent in the employment-at-will doctrine
  • For hotel, casino, and restaurant clients, we have created union-prevention plans for opening new hotels, dealt with potential section 302 violations, handled unfair labor practices, negotiated labor agreements, and handled strikes
  • Over the past 10 years, we have negotiated more than 100 collective bargaining agreements, including many for the world's largest hotel companies

Recognition
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  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers
    • Best Law Firms, Employment Law – Management (Tier 1), National, 2011 – 2020, 2022 – 2023
    • Best Law Firms, Employment Law – Management (Tier 1), Baltimore, 2011 – 2020, 2022 – 2023
    • Best Law Firms, Labor Law – Management (Tier 1), National, 2011 – 2020, 2022 – 2023
    • Best Law Firms, Labor Law – Management (Tier 1), Washington, DC, 2011 – 2017
    • Best Law Firms, Labor Law – Management (Tier 1), Baltimore, 2011 – 2020, 2022 – 2023
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Labor & Employment (Tier 1), Baltimore, 2011 – 2020, 2022 – 2023
    • Best Law Firms, Litigation – Labor & Employment (Tier 1), National, 2011 – 2019
  • Chambers USA
    • Labor and Employment, Virginia, 2016
    • Labor and Employment, Maryland, 2004 – 2023