Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer assists employers as they plan for and execute discharges, reductions in force, layoffs, mergers, acquisitions, and other significant employment restructuring. By advising clients as to appropriate legal strategies, we are able to assist companies by reducing the risks of litigation and discrimination claims arising out of these employment decisions.
In the fast-paced employment arena, employment decisions can often have dramatic, yet unintended, effects on business. Given our resources, our employment law attorneys are able to identify and limit potential exposure in any type of significant corporate change, such as mergers and acquisitions.
At Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer, lawyers from different departments work together to prepare retention incentive and severance pay plans, review executive employment agreements to identify possible stock acceleration and severance payment requirements, advise employers as to successorship status, review the requirements of collective bargaining agreements and determine their impact upon the sale, and analyze the fiscal impact upon the sale, and analyze the fiscal impact that these decisions may have upon an employer’s business.
Employment Litigation Services
We represent employers of all sizes and in a wide range of employment litigation. We have the resources and personnel to meet all of your litigation needs, whether it be in the defense of a small straightforward termination case, or a major class action lawsuit. In every instance, we are able to provide you with efficient, high quality legal representation that not only provides a cost-effective and solution-oriented approach to employer’s problems, but also emphasizes the personal touch often not found with other law firms.
We have experience in the following areas:
wrongful discharge
wage and hour violations
employee privacy
trade secret protection
violation of covenants not to compete
wrongful hiring, firing, and retention issues
workplace violence
defamation
unemployment compensation
collective bargaining
Minnesota Government Data Practices Act
whistleblower claims
embezzlement and misappropriation of confidential information
contract disputes
unlawful discrimination claims, including:
Title VII claims
42 U.S.C 1981 claims
Americans with Disabilities Act claims
Age Discrimination in Employment Act claims
Minnesota Human Rights Act claims
Sexual harassment claims
Public Accommodation claims
Equal Pay Act claims
Individual attorneys are licensed to practice in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa state courts; the Federal District Courts in Minnesota and Wisconsin; the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; and the United States Supreme Court. The firm represents clients in claims filed with Administrative Agencies, such as the EEOC, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, the Minneapolis Commission on Human Rights, the St. Paul Department of Human Rights, the Department of Labor, NLRB and OSHA.
Utilizing the many alternatives to litigation, we are also experienced in all forms of mediation, arbitration, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Client Counseling and Preventative Employment Law Services
In today’s world, employers are constantly faced with new challenges and burdens in their employment practices. Federal and State Courts and Legislatures are continuing to develop the employment law field on a daily basis. To help employers deal with the numerous developments in employment law, Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer regularly provides assistance to human resource directors and corporate officers to develop consistent employment policies and practices. Through our counseling services, we desire to reduce the risk and expense of litigation, protect an employer’s advantage, assist in the restructuring of an employer’s work force, and most importantly, provide employers with every opportunity to avoid employment-related lawsuits. The need for appropriate employment practices has never been more apparent.
To help our clients stay abreast of new developments in employment law, we offer the following client counseling and preventative services:
assist in the drafting and implementation of employment applications
assist in the drafting and implementation of employment agreements and contracts
assist in the drafting, implementation and persistent review of employment handbooks
counsel management on proper lawful employee investigations and termination practices
assist employers with lawful workplace investigations
provide workplace training and investigation to limit discrimination and sexual harassment claims
counsel clients as to appropriate responsive measures to be taken toward discrimination and harassment claims when they arise
assist employers in their analysis of leaves of absence and identify practical solutions to reasonable accommodation requests
assist in the drafting and enforcement of non-compete, confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements
resolution of termination disputes
resolution of employee benefit claims and preparation for responsive litigation
counseling employers on wage and hour laws
counseling employers on unemployment compensation and insurance issues
evaluation of workplace safety efforts
counseling employers with respect to employee privacy issues in the electronic workplace
development of anti-discrimination, and related behavior policies
assist in the drafting, implementation, and review of e-mail, internet, and voicemail policies
provide preventative discrimination and harassment seminars in compliance with federal and state laws
As part of our employment counseling and preventative practices, we are able to provide cost effective seminars and training sessions for both management and the entire workforce. These sessions can provide valuable assistance to human resources staff and other officials to insure that an employer is properly prepared to deal with divergent issues on a daily basis.
A Final Word
Through our highly individualized business approach, we have developed many long-term relationships with our clients. Whether it is a matter of providing legal counsel on a complex development in the employment law arena, handling a complicated discrimination or misappropriation of trade secrets proceeding, or offering day-to-day advice on such matters as drug and alcohol testing or employee handbook review, we know that our clients have instilled a measure of trust in our services, and we value our relationships with them highly. The pride we take in our employment law services reflects our commitment to the field of law, and the value we place in the strength of our relationships with our clients.
Learn More
To learn more about the services our employment lawyers provide, please call us at 952-432-3136 or, if you prefer, contact us using our online form.