Proactive global support for employers on workforce issues
Outside forces are reshaping the workplace. New technologies and working practices, disjointed regulatory requirements, and economic and geopolitical uncertainties are challenging every industry. We help you anticipate employment challenges and stay compliant. And we act for you in disputes and strategic projects when your reputation may be on the line.
Companies worldwide increasingly face complex labor and employment law challenges. We solve these global issues for businesses of all sizes, from startups to multinationals, and from every industry. Our lawyers identify workforce risks, and opportunities you can seize.
The world’s leading brands and businesses rely on us to resolve high-stakes disputes. These include non-compete and class action litigation, whistleblower and governmental investigations and other contentious matters. We also handle cross-border, strategic projects: compliance, regulatory, collective bargaining and others.
“DLA Piper has a very solid labor and employment team. You can tell that they have a group of experienced professionals who go above and beyond the day-to-day regulations and provide creative solutions to our problems.”
We help assess your practices and obligations by jurisdiction, and develop creative ways to solve your employment issues. Examples include global mobility, policies and procedures, compensation and benefits, incentives, pensions, works councils and unions, and workplace investigations.
We’re also involved in the employment aspects of M&A, spinoffs, joint ventures, outsourcings, expansions, and reductions in force. With decades of experience supporting companies on thousands of transactions, we ensure your transformational projects turn out as planned.
With 400+ lawyers in 40+ countries, we’re one of the largest employment teams, and we bring the right skills to every challenge. Our sector, regional and country experience mean you get exceptional service and results. Growth, cost saving, a new market – whatever your objectives, you can rely on us to help you succeed.
Where needed, we integrate our advice with support from our global practice and sector groups. Collaborative problem-solvers, we’re known for handling critical, cross-border employment matters.
Awards and recognition
Experience
How we have delivered for our clients
- Advised a leading national insurance brokerage and consulting firm on non-compete matters, including the refinement of the company’s restrictive covenants nationwide
- Advised a global pharmaceutical company in connection with a high-stakes restrictive covenant dispute regarding the prospective employment of a C-suite member
- Advised a well-known US-based healthcare chain regarding a non-compete issue involving a high-ranking physician
- Advised a global technology client on drafting and implementing a global code of conduct in 50+ jurisdictions
- Provided strategic advice to a global life sciences company on issues related to COVID-19 testing and vaccine mandates in 50+ jurisdictions
- Advised a global consulting firm on paid time-off benefits, leaves of absence, overtime and time-keeping requirements in 65+ countries
- Advised a technology company on diversity data collection issues in 37 jurisdictions
- Advised a California-based telecommunications company on employment considerations and conduct employment/HR compliance audit covering 46 jurisdictions worldwide
- Represented one of the nation's largest retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of apparel in defense of litigation alleging pregnancy discrimination and retaliation in US District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Represented a global hotel chain regarding a claim brought by a former employee for indirect sex discrimination (and in the alternative equal pay) in relation to their enhanced redundancy scheme
- Represented a leading casino and resort company in employment-related matters, including putative class actions involving alleged off-the-clock work and failure to pay overtime, alleged misclassification of exempt status, and alleged failure to pay mandatory service charges to banquet servers, and strategic advice and counseling
- Acted for a global healthcare company in a cross-border investigation and litigation involving the misuse of highly confidential information and staff poaching in multiple jurisdictions
- Advised a global social media platform on employee investigations in the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia
- Advised a leading insurance company on a high-level exit and investigation into misconduct and sexual harassment in India
- Acted for a global healthcare company in a cross-border investigation and litigation involving the misuse of highly confidential information and staff poaching in multiple jurisdictions
- Advised a European airline on numerous complex class action litigations
- Advised various global clients on the EU Whistleblowing Directive, including on establishing whistleblowing channels and adjusting existing whistleblowing channels to meet the requirements of the Directive
- Supported a leading distributor with the setup of a hotline and whistleblowing policy across multiple European jurisdictions
- Advised a global music company on the restructuring of its global workforce, with project support across 20+ jurisdictions
- Assisted a global energy company with implementing a global restructuring impacting employees in 30 jurisdictions
- Advised a US streaming and technology company on its expansion in 50+ jurisdictions
- Led multiple reductions in force for a global technology company covering 50+ jurisdictions
- Advised a global biotechnology company on the employment aspects of its multi-billion-dollar acquisition of a pharmaceuticals company across 50+ jurisdictions
- Represented a ride-sharing service on reductions-in-force in 50+ jurisdictions
- Advised a global technology company on the global employment aspects of various acquisitions, handling the deal agreement drafting and negotiation, diligence, employment agreements and employee integration
- Advised a global fintech company on the global employment aspects of its USD302 million acquisition of rapper Jay-Z’s music-streaming service company Tidal, including employment-related diligence, deal agreements and integration of employees and consultants in multiple countries
- Advised a power company on labor strategy and planning in relation to its employees, who are represented by several public sector unions, including complex issues related to corporate integration, conversion to private sector NLRB jurisdiction, and union negotiations and strike contingency planning
- Obtained a NLRB decision on behalf of an American gaming and casino company holding that employers have the right to challenge the certification of a union while also asserting confidentiality objections, a reversal of Board precedent
- Advised a leading aerospace company on labor issues, including union activity, collective bargaining agreement negotiations, unfair labor practice charges, and a potential strike
- Advised a leading manufacturing company on labor and employment issues, including the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with the International Chemical Workers Union Council and United Food and Commercial Workers and various OSHA matters
- Assisted a leading global food delivery company in drafting and negotiating a collective agreement for over 4,000 members of staff which was jointly signed by the local trade unions
- Assisted a leading pharmaceutical firm in preparing an interactive report on cross border TUPE implications or other acquired rights implications when targeting an international company for acquisition
- Advised on implementing a 900-employee global restructuring, affecting employees in 30+ jurisdictions worldwide
- Acted for a global IT company providing legal project management and full cover HR advice in an outsourcing project which affected more than 400 employees in 15 countries and included collective consultation in several countries
- Assisted a software development company with international employment, equity and benefits advice across 20+ jurisdictions
- Designed and implemented stock option purchase rights and RSU programs for global software and manufacturing companies in 50+ countries
- Represented a USD9 billion, leading global technology company, in connection with advice on structuring, documentation and implementation of a multi-jurisdictional employee share purchase plan and related compliance with local laws and regulations
- Advised a NASDAQ-listed SaaS software company on employment and compensation issues related to global expansion and the movement of executives and employees across borders
- Advised a Silicon Valley-headquartered technology company, on its employee equity incentives around the world, including tax, securities and other regulatory implications
- Represented a multi-billion-dollar investment fund that researches and innovates technology for vehicles, in connection with structuring all of its equity and incentive arrangements
- Advised a social media platform on ongoing compliance matters related to executive and incentive programs, including tax, securities and regulatory implications
- Advised a clean energy automotive company, in connection with their global equity compensation plans
- Advised on the design and implementation of an award-winning incentive plan offered to all the employees of a global technology company in 70+ countries
- Implemented a suite of new share plans for a multinational asset management business and advised on compliance with the remuneration rules which apply to the sector, local laws and the preparation of a comprehensive suite of implementation documents
- Advised on the design of executive and all employee incentive plans in a number of countries for several listed life sciences companies
- Provided share plans advice to the buyer on a multi-billion-dollar acquisition in the energy sector which included a wide range of employee share plans operating in approximately 40 countries
- Acted on a pioneering transaction in which we advised the trustees of a leading financial services insurance pension scheme on a high-profile, cutting-edge GBP1.9 billion longevity risk transfer/swap arrangement with a leading global investment bank
- Represented a Dutch pension fund in connection to instructions given by the Dutch Central Bank to phase out the fund's investment in gold
- Advised on modifications to previous pension schemes post-acquisition for a global beverage company
- Advised a leading hotel group on the pension aspects of its debt for equity swap, hailed at the time as the biggest debt for equity swap in UK corporate history
- Advised a trustee of a fund on nine separate hedge fund/pooled fund investments over the course of 18 months as part of the implementation of a new investment strategy
- Advised a parent company on the provision of guarantees to the trustees of a UK defined benefit pension scheme, as part of the funding negotiations which the UK employer had with the trustees and advised on the provision of benefits for internationally mobile senior employees
- Advised a multinational semi-conductor business on a claim by a Belgian ex-employee, temporarily working in the US, for a top-up on his pension plan, taking into account his higher US remuneration
- Advised on carried interest schemes and lucrative interest schemes for managers and other staff of private equity houses
- Advised a USD2 billion global group of safety equipment companies, on all day-to-day benefits administration in the US and globally including matters related to ERISA and fiduciary governance as well as the current restatement of its retirement plan document and handling questions regarding benefit claims, COBRA matters and recent CARES Act mandates
- Represented a global pharmaceutical and cannabis company, to lead on all executive compensation and benefits work in connection with a USD8 billion merger
- Represented the largest bowling alley operator in North America, in its PE-backed acquisition of publicly listed Bowl America, Inc. and 17 Bowl America entertainment center locations in Virginia, Maryland, and Florida
- Represented a leading tech provider of value-based care to seniors, in a USD614 million SPAC merger deal, handling all matters related to executive compensation, SEC reporting and disclosure as well as advising on subsequent acquisitions
- Represented a multi-billion-dollar, multinational pharmaceutical and biotech company in connection with all benefits and executive compensation work, including all representations for the pension committee, fiduciary work and tax-related issues
- Represented a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company, in connection with its equity plans, regulatory disclosures and filings, including proxy statements and transactions
- Advised a Las Vegas hotel operator on defined benefit plans, defined group health and welfare plans, and other benefits matters
- Represented a global flower delivery service with respect to all issues arising from COVID, COVID vaccinations, HIPAA and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
