Labor & Employment Law
Our firm’s roots in labor and employment law run deep. Vercruysse Murray & Calzone was originally formed in 1996 by five experienced and nationally recognized labor and employment attorneys from a major Detroit law firm specializing in providing counseling, negotiation and litigation services to local and national employers. The firm has grown significantly since its inception, and the national reputation of the firm has grown with its size. With our firm clients benefit from large law firm experience at boutique rates. The practice of labor and employment law continues to be the foundation of Vercruysse Murray & Calzone.
Defending Public & Private Employers
Vercruysse Murray & Calzone’s attorneys have extensive experience representing employers in state and federal courts in age, race, sex, national origin, religious, and disability/handicap discrimination litigation, sexual harassment claims, and ERISA litigation. We also represent employers in affirmative action and discrimination matters before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Department of Labor and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Members of the firm have successfully defended both private and public employers in class actions and complex litigation in federal and state court. Our attorneys are heavily involved in the defense of wrongful discharge cases, contract and commission claims, implied employment contract claims, slander and libel claims, negligence and negligent retention claims, and whistleblower claims. We have also defended employers and trustees in class action and complex ERISA litigation. Our broad trial experience includes judge and jury trials, NLRB trials, administrative hearings and arbitrations.
Protecting Intellectual Property
Vercruysse Murray & Calzone has an extensive practice prosecuting and defending trade secret, breach of fiduciary duty, and non-competition agreement cases in state and federal court, as well as in arbitration under the NASD rules. These cases are typically fast-paced and often involve seeking preliminary injunctive relief and money damages.
We further specialize in negotiating and drafting executive and employee employment contracts. These contracts often include protections for the client’s intellectual property rights, trade secrets, and confidential information, as well as protecting against unfair competition through non-competition provisions. We also provide advice to our clients to help minimize the risk of litigation when hiring a competitor’s employees.
Negotiation & Dispute Resolution
In traditional labor law practice, our attorneys have considerable experience in negotiating collective bargaining agreements on behalf of employers and multi-employer associations in both the public and private sectors. In addition, the firm’s attorneys defend employers before the National Labor Relations Board and the Michigan Employment Relations Commission in both representation and unfair labor practice proceedings. Our long standing practice in negotiations has allowed the firm to gain the respect of both unions and their counsel, which enable our clients to achieve innovative results in negotiations.
Members of the firm represent employers in wage, hour, OSHA, and MIOSHA matters before both the United States and Michigan Departments of Labor. We also represent employers in arbitration matters throughout the United States and have considerable expertise in the use of alternative dispute resolution procedures. Members of our firm serve on advisory committees for both the Michigan Employment Relations Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Human Resource Solutions & Compliance Counseling
While the majority of our work consists of litigation, we also provide valuable advice and counseling to our clients on a wide variety of human relations and personnel matters with the intent of avoiding litigation or unionization and finding workable solutions to complex problems. As part of this effort, we assist employers in the development of personnel policies and procedures, affirmative action plans, disciplinary policies, employee handbooks, drug and alcohol testing programs, and reductions in force. We also have extensive experience in counseling employers on compliance with federal and state law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, ERISA, USERRA, Title VII, Title IX, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, the Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, 1-9 compliance, and NAFTA and IRCA discrimination matters.
An important part of our work comes from in-house counsel and referrals from law firms located across the country who rely on our advice and expertise in resolving intricate labor issues resulting from the sale, merger, or acquisition of a corporation, plant closures, and large force reduction; sensitive employment issues such as problem employees, terminations, sexual harassment, and violence in the workplace; and complex cases involving difficult and cutting-edge issues.
Contributing to Labor & Employment Law
Our firm’s attorneys have a number of publications to their credit, including the monthly Michigan Employment Law Letter, a multitude of articles in legal periodicals, and chapter contributions and/or editing responsibilities for the following books:
- Employment Law in Michigan: An Employer’s Guide (ICLE 2005)
- Employment Litigation in Michigan, 2nd Edition (ICLE 2004)
- Employment Litigation in Michigan (ICLE 1999)
- Employment Discrimination Law (BNA 2002)
- Age Discrimination in Employment Law (BNA 1999)
- Michigan Wrongful Discharge and Employment Discrimination Law (ICLE 1994)
- The Handbook of Fraud Deterrence (2007)
The firm’s attorneys are frequently featured speakers at American Bar Association, state and local bar associations, and Institute for Continuing Legal Education programs and seminars. In addition, Robert Vercruysse has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at The University of Michigan Law School, and several attorneys have taught classes at The University of Michigan Law School, Wayne State Law School, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and Oakland University.