January 2015 Main Office: Philadelphia, PA (215) 656-3600 Toll Free: (800) 631-1233

News from Willig, Williams & Davidson

Of Counsel Partnership with Illinois Advocates

Willig, Williams & Davidson of Philadelphia and Illinois Advocates of Chicago Partner on Union Representation and ERISA Matters

Our Philadelphia labor, employment and workers' compensation law firm has entered into an Of Counsel partnership with Chicago-based firm, Illinois Advocates, LLC in order to jointly represent certain union clients and their members.

"This strategic partnership presents an outstanding opportunity to expand our law firm's reach into Chicago's robust union environment while adding outstanding practitioners to the Willig, Williams & Davidson family," said managing partner Deborah R. Willig.

Read more about our new partnership...

Willig, Williams & Davidson Named a 2015 'Best Law Firm' by U.S. News - Best Lawyers

Willig, Williams & Davidson has been named a U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firm" for 2015, achieving Philadelphia and Harrisburg Tier 1 rankings in the practice areas of union labor law and employment law on behalf of individuals.

Read more about Best Law Firms...

NLRB Modernizes Union Representation Election Rules

The National Labor Relations Board has announced a new final rule governing union representation elections. Published in the Federal Register on Dec. 15, 2014, the new rule will modernize and streamline the NLRB's process for handling union representation elections.

In the News: "Interns" vs. "Employees"

Earlier this fall, a former intern of "The Late Show with David Letterman" made national news by filing a class action lawsuit against the Letterman show for unpaid wages. While the Letterman lawsuit came and went quickly, it prompted a nationwide conversation about unpaid internships and under what circumstances they are legal. The answer is, it depends.

Grandparents Are People, Too: Custody Rights of Grandparents in Pennsylvania

Anyone may file for custody of a child if they stand in loco parentis (in place of a parent) to that child. But Pennsylvania’s statute goes even further by including two provisions that specifically address the rights of grandparents.

PA Supreme Court Upholds $151 Million Wage-and-Hour Verdict Against Wal-Mart

In a victory for workers seeking fair pay for an honest day’s work, on Dec. 15, 2014 the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania upheld a $151 million Philadelphia County court judgment against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for failing to pay its workers for time spent working through their unpaid breaks and meal periods. This victory shows that even the largest employers can be brought to justice if they fail to properly compensate their workers.

Featured Practice Area: Overtime / Wage-and-Hour / Minimum Wage

The rules that determine who is exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements and what hours count as "hours worked" can be complex. Misclassification of independent contractors and employees is a growing problem that can result in a violation of wage and hour laws.

This is a highly specialized area involving the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state laws, among other things, that Willig, Williams & Davidson attorneys are equipped to handle.

Read more about our wage-and-hour practice here...

Workers' Compensation Q&A – Did You Know?

Our firm often answers questions about workers' compensation. Here are some of the most frequently asked:

Special Announcement: Willig, Williams & Davidson Founder and Managing Partner Named to Gov.-elect Tom Wolf's Transition Review Team

We are pleased to announce that Deborah R. Willig has been named to the Committee on Labor and Industry, one of Governor-elect Tom Wolf's transition review teams. These teams will work with the outgoing administration to better understand the issues and challenges that face the executive branch.

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Attorney Happenings and Headlines

Willig, Williams & Davidson attorneys are very active in the community and often serve on boards, speak at industry events, and make news headlines. Here are some of the firm's latest goings on:

Stuart Davidson Appointed to Board of Advisors for Workshop School
Partner Stuart W. Davidson has been named to the Workshop School’s Board of Advisors. Davidson along with other board members will assist in developing a growth and sustainability plan for the Philadelphia-based school.

Stuart Davidson Contributes Article to Huffington Post on University of California’s Student Workers Union Fumbling Anti-Israel Initiative
Union and labor law attorney, Stuart W. Davidson, contributed an article to Huffington Post Politics on the effects of the recent vote that took place by University of California's "student workers" union to approve the "Boycott, Divest from and Sanction Israel (BDS)" movement.

Willig, Williams & Davidson Partner Presents at Conference of International Employee Benefit Plans
Wendy F. Pongracz a partner of Willig, Williams & Davidson, recently spoke as a co-leader of a workshop during two programs both entitled, “The Details – Don’t Get Tripped Up” at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans in Boston, Mass.

Attorney Ryan A. Hancock Discusses 'Criminal Convictions and Employment Discrimination'
Ryan A. Hancock of counsel at Willig, Williams & Davidson, recently spoke on a University of Pennsylvania Law School panel to discuss the legal rights of individuals with criminal history record information when seeking employment, the collateral consequences of criminal records, and negligent hiring.

Willig, Williams & Davidson’s Wendy Pongracz Speaks at Philadelphia LERA Meeting
Wendy F. Pongracz, an employee benefits lawyer, was a panelist at a recent Philadelphia LERA meeting held at the Philadelphia Racquet Club on a topic entitled, “The Affordable Care – What Practitioners Need to Know.”

Philadelphia Employment Law Attorney Ryan A. Hancock Presents at Bar Institute
Ryan A. Hancock of counsel and chair of the Employment Law Department of Willig, Williams & Davidson, recently presented during a workshop at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute for the Tri-State Human Relations Coalition Conference.

Philadelphia Labor Law Attorney Bruce M. Ludwig Presents at International Conference of Teamsters Lawyers
Bruce M. Ludwig, a labor law attorney, presented a paper at the 29th meeting of the International Conference of Teamsters Lawyers in Providence, R.I., entitled, "Growing the Union at Penn State University: Issues in Organizing a Residual Unit in the Public Sector."

Attorney Richard Poulson Interviewed on NBC10 About Police Layoffs In Franconia Township
Richard G. Poulson, union law attorney, comments on police force layoffs in Montgomery County, PA and the budget cuts that took place without notice to residents.

Labor Law Attorney Ralph Teti Quoted On Temporary Injunction Against School Reform Commission
Union lawyer, Ralph J. Teti, was quoted on the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge's decision to grant a preliminary injunction sought by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The School Reform Commission plans to cancel the union contract of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and impose new health care coverage rules.

Teacher Union Attorney Ralph Teti Comments on Moving Court Location in Dispute with School Reform Commission
Ralph J. Teti, a union lawyer, commented on the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers' decision to ask the court to change the venue from Commonwealth Court to Common Pleas Court, where they contend the case rightfully belongs.

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Willig, Williams & Davidson is one of the largest and most respected union-side labor law firms in the United States with offices in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Jenkintown and Media, Pa., as well as Haddonfield, N.J. The firm's accomplished and diverse legal team focuses on representing labor unions, employee benefit funds and individual working people and their families. Its attorneys work with clients to find practical and efficient solutions to the problems that they face in a variety of legal forums, including national, regional and local contract negotiations and dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration and court litigation. The materials contained in this correspondence have been authored or gathered by Willig, Williams & Davidson for informational purposes only. This correspondence is not intended to be and is not considered to be legal advice. Transmission of this document is not intended to create, and receipt does not establish, an attorney-client relationship. Legal advice of any nature should be sought from legal counsel. In some states, this correspondence may be considered attorney advertising.