Employment Law

What We Do

As trusted advisors to clients throughout the firm, Golan Christie Taglia’s Employment Law Practice Group works to minimize clients’ risk and reduce costs while establishing a solid framework for policies and procedures.

Employment Relations and Personnel Management

Clients in the Midwest and beyond turn to GCT to address their most pressing employment counseling needs. In each instance, we work with their team to achieve full compliance with employment laws and regulations as well as to empower them to resolve personnel matters effectively and efficiently.

Our employment attorneys provide practical guidance on: 

• Drafting and implementing employee handbooks, personnel policy manuals and employment contracts
• Addressing leave questions relating to FMLA, PTO and disability
• Onboarding and terminating employees, including setting interview guidelines and selection procedures
• Proper employee classification
• Developing templates for application and job evaluation forms, as well as offer letters and employment contracts
• Tackling wage and hour questions and disputes
• Creating and implementing anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training programs

Employment Litigation

While we promote a preventive approach to employment relations, we recognize there are situations when litigation may be unavoidable. Our attorneys represent clients in the prosecution and defense of all employment litigation including:

• Employment discrimination and retaliation
• Wrongful termination
• Breach of employment agreements including restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements
• Wage and hour claims
• Equal Pay Act and compensation discrimination complaints

Employee Benefits and ERISA

GCT attorneys regularly identify and implement appropriate benefit plans for tax-exempt entities, professional organizations and businesses of all sizes.

Our practice includes:

• Retirement plan design and implementation
• Benefit plan compliance claims
• Executive compensation and Section 409A compliance
• Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)
• COBRA compliance and claims
• ERISA rights & fiduciary responsibilities

Who We Serve

The GCT employment practice group works directly with human resource professionals, in-house legal counsel and C-suite executives in both large and small companies in a variety of industries, including:

• Manufacturing
• Professional services (including doctors, accountants and law firms)
• Not-for-profit
• Technology
• Health care administrative services
• Financial services
• Retail, restaurant and hospitality
• Staffing agencies

How We Do It

GCT understands that our clients’ businesses and needs are ever-evolving. As such, we work to dig deep into their businesses and goals in order to expose questions and needs before they become challenges.

Our holistic approach allows us to truly partner with businesses to address current and future employment needs, while preventative counsel ensures compliance that avoids costly litigation that can devastate a business.