At Fredrikson & Byron, we've built a reputation as the firm "where law and business meet" by bringing business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to our work with clients, and by operating as business advisors and strategic partners as well as legal counselors. Our lawyers blend a common sense approach with "in the field" experience, and we utilize our firm's strong reputation and our lawyers' broad networks of business and industry contacts to get things done for clients.

Fredrikson & Byron's Employment & Labor Group helps employers keep pace with the changing workplace. Our lawyers address the full spectrum of employment and labor law issues, from providing practical advice and counseling to defending or instituting lawsuits and administrative actions.

We counsel employers of all sizes in virtually every industry. We advise employers on hiring, firing, discipline, overtime, leaves of absence, and substance abuse. We help employers investigate harassment complaints, comply with wage and hour laws, and meet OSHA requirements. And, because we have many experienced lawyers, we are available when employers need us. In short, if an employer has a workplace problem, we can help find an effective solution.

We also help employers with all aspects of labor/management relations, including defending against union organization campaigns, negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements, and responding to pickets and boycotts. When labor problems boil over into litigation, we can help pursue or defend against unfair labor practice charges, lawsuits, and grievance arbitrations.

Our lawyers are skilled and aggressive litigators. We represent our clients in the full range of employment-related litigation matters, including discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of employment or noncompetition agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, defamation, tortious interference with contract, class action/wage and hour, and wrongful discharge.

We litigate in federal and state trial and appellate courts in Minnesota and around the country. We also regularly represent clients before the full spectrum of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Department of Labor, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Office of Federal Contract Compliance, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and various state human rights agencies throughout the country.