Back to Work: COVID-19 Employment Law Issues

Charles focuses his practice in the areas of ERISA, executive compensation, and taxation. Possessing a wealth of experience in all aspects of employee benefits arrangements, he frequently provides counsel to both for-profit and not-for-profit entities regarding numerous employee benefit and retirement benefit arrangements. Charles is regularly involved with issues involving defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans, Code Section 403(b) plans, multiemployer pension plans, ESOPs, and other equity-based and incentive compensation arrangements.

As many of his clients maintain both tax-qualified and non-qualified arrangements, Charles is often called upon to provide compliance and drafting guidance for deferred compensation arrangements, Code Section 457(b) and 457(f) plans, and similar executive compensation vehicles. Recognizing that education is a key to maintaining successful employee benefit plans, he regularly advises his clients with respect to their group health insurance arrangements, including the ever-changing aspects of compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Charles’s compliance expertise extends to ERISA fiduciary issues, prohibited transaction and controlled group analyses, and government-sponsored correction programs, such as the Employee Plan Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Correction Program (DFVCP), and the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP).

Pat practices labor, employment, and personnel law on behalf of employers and management personnel. He has a wide range of experience in all areas of litigation in both federal and state courts, defending discrimination and sexual harassment claims, wrongful discharge and whistleblower suits, and claims brought under the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the multitude of other civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. In addition, Pat represents parties in breach of contract claims and in actions involving unfair competition, restrictive covenants, and confidentiality agreements.

Pat has appeared before state human rights agencies throughout the country, as well as the EEOC, the National Labor Relations Board, and various wage and hour agencies. He has represented employers in numerous labor grievance/arbitration proceedings and in a variety of other matters relating to the unionization of employees and collective bargaining. He has also worked extensively with employers on public works contracts to ensure compliance with prevailing wage laws.

A great deal of Pat’s practice concentrates on counseling employers in making workplace decisions, which will reduce or avoid entirely the risk of litigation. He regularly counsels his clients on issues concerning independent contractors and contingent workers, employment policies, employee discipline and terminations, reductions in workforce, and plant closings. Pat has conducted sexual harassment investigations and employment law audits, and has drafted numerous employee handbooks and substance abuse and workplace privacy policies. He has also conducted management and employee training and legal compliance sessions in a variety of areas, including the performance appraisal process and anti-harassment.