Foley Adds Accomplished Labor & Employment Group in Boston

Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that James Nicholas and Donald Schroeder have joined the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice as partners in the Boston office.

Nicholas represents and counsels employers on a wide range of federal and state employment issues, including wage and hour, employment classification, wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, leaves of absence and the enforcement of noncompetition and nondisclosure agreements. He has represented clients in numerous actions before federal and state courts in cases involving claims for wage and hour violations, defamation and shareholder disputes, among others. A significant portion of his litigation experience involves defending employers against wage and hour class actions brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws.

Schroeder has extensive national trial experience in state and federal courts representing Fortune 500 clients on a wide range of employment matters, including restrictive covenant litigation, wage and hour class actions and single plaintiff discrimination cases. His trial experience includes state and federal court jury trials, bench trials and employment arbitrations throughout the United States. Schroeder’s client base spans a number of industries including staffing, healthcare, sports, higher education and technology.

Schroeder also regularly handles traditional labor matters related to union avoidance training, unfair labor practice proceedings, union elections, mass picketing, labor arbitrations and collective bargaining negotiations. In his traditional labor work, Schroeder routinely appears before the National Labor Relations Board.

“We look forward to having Jim and Don on our team. Their strong track record litigating complex cases and vast experience will help ensure our clients remain compliant and protected across a myriad of employment issues,” said Kevin Hyde, chair of Foley’s Labor & Employment Practice.

In addition, both Nicholas and Schroeder have experience drafting C-Suite level employment agreements and advising clients on the terms and use of offer letters, employee handbooks and personnel policies.

“Our clients will benefit from Jim and Don’s decades of combined experience related to employment issues and proceedings. We are excited to add them to our robust litigation bench in Boston,” said Susan Pravda, managing partner of Foley’s Boston office.

In addition, they will be joined by their former colleagues, Jill Collins (Washington, D.C. office) and Erin Horton (Boston office), who are mid-level associates.