Employment Litigation + Administrative Advocacy

Stephen has extensive experience leading the defense of companies facing Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) misclassification claims, including hybrid claims under federal and state law. He frequently wins summary judgment on discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, free speech, and other employment claims. He is hired by employers and insurance carriers seeking experienced trial counsel to defend cases brought to trial.

Stephen also handles hearings on injunctions in noncompete cases for both former employers and new employers, including related claims such as misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and employee theft.

Health Law

While Stephen represents employers in many industry sectors, he often represents the health care industry. He regularly defends hospitals, health care systems, and physician groups from discrimination, wage and hour, whistleblower retaliation, and free speech claims as well as compliance actions. Stephen also works with senior management on implementing best practices, risk avoidance, investigations, and litigation oversight. In addition, he contributes to the firm's Health Law Diagnosis blog.

Counseling, Compliance, + Training

Drawing from his prior experience as in-house employment counsel, Stephen also counsels companies and human resources professionals on litigation avoidance techniques, investigations, policies, discipline and performance management, governmental and internal audits, employment contracts, contingent worker liabilities, severance and separation agreements, workplace safety, individual terminations and reductions-in-force, and noncompete, nondisparagement, nonsolicitation, and confidentiality agreements.

Stephen often presents seminars and training programs on employment law topics, including litigation strategies, personal liability, wage and hour claims, COBRA, ERISA, employment at will, wrongful discharge, employment contracts, handbooks, defamation, privacy rights, reductions-in-force, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and workplace violence. He has authored articles on employee free speech claims, the Dodd-Frank Act and whistleblower retaliation claims, damages under the FLSA, Title VII damages, contingent worker liabilities, wage and hour claims procedures, discrimination litigation, and other topics.