Stephen J. Stanford

Throughout his legal career, Steve has assisted private and public-sector employers in labor relations and union activities such as union elections, collective bargaining, labor arbitration, and administrative agency and court litigation.

As a litigator, he defends employers against employee claims of employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, and violation of other employment-related laws. He counsels and represents both employers and employees as to covenants not to compete. In addition, he has represented employers in over 200 labor arbitration cases.

Steve is responsive to his clients who need labor and employment law advice and timely solutions. One benefit of being effective and efficient is that it can assist clients in creating facts that can be beneficial in labor and employment law litigation when necessary.

In labor and collective bargaining, Steve has negotiated, or provided counsel for over 100 labor contracts in the private and public sectors.

He assists employers with drafting employee handbooks and policies, and with keeping employers compliant with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disability (ADA) regulations, and State Employer Relations Board (SERB) mandates.

Steve has served as counsel to a Taft-Hartley Health and Welfare Fund providing retiree benefits nationwide.

Relevant Experience

Labor and Collective Bargaining

• Steve has negotiated, or provided counsel, in well over 100 labor contracts in the private and public sectors. He has decades of experience in handling NLRB and SERB matters, and he has represented employers in over 200 labor arbitration cases.

Discrimination and Wrongful Discharge Lawsuits

• Steve regularly defends employers in federal and state court against allegations of discrimination and wrongful discharge.

Compliance with FMLA, ADA, Wage-Hour Law

• Assisting employers in complying with these laws, especially in the preparation of employee handbooks and policies, is a staple of Steve's practice.