Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP is a firm with a real labor practice - not just litigators who try work cases. On a relative basis for a company our size, we have one of the largest employment and labor groups in California. Each of our attorneys works closely and personally with company clients to establish proactive compliance and conflict resolution techniques. We believe this one-on-one therapy is far more effective than an unwieldy group. We deal with clients to help them prevent work environment problems, however where debate is unavoidable, we have dealt with actually numerous jury trials, administrative trials and appeals before courts and administrative agencies across the country.

JMBM is recognized as a Go-To Law Practice & reg; for the leading 500 companies in the United States in the locations of labor lawsuits and employment labor & work law, as identified by American Lawyer Media's (ALM) yearly survey of in-house counsel at FORTUNE 500 & reg; companies. Because labor and employment issues typically include high stakes and intense time pressure, our legal representatives are committed to offering companies the most immediate service possible. We react immediately and without stop working, with simple recommendations from an experienced legal representative who won't pass your issue off to someone else. Issues like unwanted sexual advances and work environment violence demand immediate attention- and we provide it.

Employers in the middle of a conflict over an organizing drive or an unfair labor practice complaint rely on our aggressive and timely action. Accountability and accessibility are our watchwords, and you get direct access to the person who can resolve your issue or answer your concern.

One of the strengths of our labor and work group is the variety of the companies we represent. Public and personal companies in business sectors varying from basic production to innovation, clothing to aerospace and from healthcare to monetary services all rely on JMBM labor legal representatives, regardless of the problem. Many customers have been with us 10 to 20 years-in numerous cases dealing with the same knowledgeable lawyer who totally comprehends their service.

Our industry-specific prevention and employment readiness methods can avoid or lessen expensive claims. We work carefully with senior executives and internal counsel to craft tailored, efficient work policies - total with a focus on correctly training supervisors and HR staff on legal rights and obligations. Our services work to ensure compliance with national and state labor laws, minimize disagreements with workers, and maximize tactical benefit if litigation is required. We stress innovative preparation and aggressive advocacy for each client.

There are company sectors where we have special ability in handling employment matters. Many law practice count on us for counsel on problems including personnel and legal representatives, and we often encourage broker-dealers on non-compete and disciplinary controversies. Our legal representatives also efficiently represent lots of health care and hospitality market customers in collective bargaining and other labor and work concerns.

Any protected class of employees-by age, race, gender, disability, religion-could bring match versus a company under the discrimination statues. We have successfully litigated and resolved all kinds of discrimination matters brought under such work laws as the:

- Americans with Disabilities Act

- Family Medical Leave Act

- Age Discrimination in Employment Act

- Fair Labor Standards Act

- Family and Medical Leave Act


The finest method to handle any claim is to avoid it from being filed, and we provide customers reliable assistance right from the start to deal with complaints effectively and keep them from becoming lawsuits. If lawsuits is needed, our attorneys examine completely and prepare a strong position that can negate plaintiff claims.

We offer strong defense in state and federal court, in administrative actions before the Federal Equal Job Opportunity Commission and before all the California state firms - the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Employment Development Department.

Often overlapping with discrimination issues are claims for wrongful termination, vindictive treatment and whistle blowing. We comprehend the necessity in such cases to demonstrate that a company's actions were proper, and regardless of the notoriety that is sometimes involved, we have actually had substantial success at showing that company conduct was legitimate and managed appropriately.

Whether your business currently has third celebration representation or seeks to keep a work environment devoid of such participation, our extremely reliable labor relations counsel can be important to assisting keep a competitive work environment while lessening conflicts and maximizing management flexibility. Employers that face union organizing drives count on our help to:

- Maintain a positive workplace with open communication with all workers

- Adhere to NLRB election laws

- Counter aggressive unionizing efforts without creating a "union-busting" controversy


In unionized workplaces, our firm is a highly knowledgeable and responsive partner that works along with business personnels and labor relations personnel to:

- Participate in collective bargaining - consisting of multi-union, multi-location talks

- Respond to grievance and arbitration actions

- Manage reductions in force, drug screening, discipline proceedings and strikes

- Provide representation in NLRB procedures


Responsiveness, decision and focus are what set our labor relations counsel apart from that of other law practice. We provide immediate action, round-the-clock availability in crisis situations and aggressive defense of all companies' rights.

We defend numerous companies versus class action suits in which workers sue for back overtime pay-and countless dollars in damages-claiming that under company policies the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime pay exemption no longer applies to them.

JMBM labor legal representatives can assist companies prevent classification problems that cause claims by:

- Auditing existing salary policy and pay practices

- Reviewing the language of composed employment policies to make certain they comply with FLSA requirements for exempt and non-exempt staff members

- Making certain all exempt staff member task descriptions include management and supervision


If you as a company are confronted with a wage and hour claim, whether under federal law or California wage and hour statutes, we install an energetic and reliable defense. Your JMBM attorney will seek to deny class accreditation and work to secure an effective and reliable settlement that dismisses unproven claims and protects your interests.

Disputes over non-compete agreements including trade secrets often pit employers against each other - especially in California, where the state's Unfair Competition Law (Section 17200) makes it particularly tough to impose non-compete terms. We have actually managed lawsuits representing both workers' former and current companies, and are competent at securing and resisting TROs and long-term injunctions to protect company interests in either type of case.