EMPLOYMENT LAW
We practice before the United States Department of Labor, the New Hampshire Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New Hampshire Human Rights Commission, the Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination, and in state and federal courts throughout New England.
Cooper Cargill Chant represents both employers and employees in disputes relating to labor and employment practices, including the defense and prosecution of: claims of discrimination based upon race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, gender, gender orientation or expression, sexual preference or orientation, or military status; claims of sexual harassment and/or sexual misconduct in the workplace; claims for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other laws relating to the workplace; and claims relating to non-compete agreements and other employment contracts.
Cooper Cargill Chant also assists businesses, non-profits, and public entities by offering preventative counseling to human resource and business professionals addressing contemporary workplace issues such as discrimination, termination, non-compete and wage and hour disputes. Through day to day counseling services, Cooper Cargill Chant employment lawyers prevent costly employment litigation by customizing employee handbooks, drafting employment agreements, performing workplace audits and delivering management training seminars.
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Day-to-day preventative counseling for businesses and human resource staff regarding all aspects of the employment relationship with particular focus on topical management issues such as wage and hour disputes, termination, disability, overtime, medical and other state and federal employee leave laws.
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Draft employment agreements ranging from offer letters, non-compete, commission, invention and confidentiality, executive, termination and severance agreements.
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Conduct independent investigations for employers of all sizes and prepare employer responses to workplace harassment or discrimination claims on the state and federal level.
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Draft and customize employee handbooks for employers of all shapes and sizes ranging from mid-market companies to non-profit organizations.
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Create and deliver customized human resources training to fit needs of employer including state-mandated anti-harassment training for Maine businesses and best practices measures for human resource departments or business professionals.
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Conduct full compliance audits for businesses including gap analysis review and recommend areas of improvement in preparation of government audit, sale of business or just general housekeeping and best practices measures.
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Represent employers in wage and hour claims, Department of Labor proceedings and employment litigation matters.
CAPABILITIES
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
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Drafted employee handbooks for over 2 dozen clients ranging from 10 employee companies to non-profit organizations to a publicly traded company.
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Represented client in high stakes sexual harassment case including the drafting of position statements and attending mediation, at the Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination.
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Drafted shareholder agreement between 50/50 business partners with succession planning integral part of agreement.
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Represented executive employee on executive employment agreement replete with stock options and favorable severance provisions.
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Implemented non-competition agreement at 500+ employee manufacturing company across several states with sensitivities to occupation and state law
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Representation of ski resorts, timeshare resort and vacation condominium resorts in gender discrimination disputes.
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Consultation for restaurant and hospitality business regarding employee relations, including proper procedures to avoid and/or investigate discrimination, harassment and hostile workplace claims.
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Successfully defended owner operated vacation condominium in Whistleblower claim at New Hampshire Department of Labor proceeding.
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Successfully defended construction business against wage and hour claim by employee at New Hampshire Department of Labor.
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Consultation with summer camps to design proper wage and hour policies for short term and youth employees.
