Harriet A. Lapkin

Harriet A. Lipkin

Senior Counsel
US Co-Chair, Hospitality and Leisure
About

Harriet Lipkin is a successful and experienced labor lawyer, whose practice has evolved in response to current labor relations trends and tactics, including the use of card check/ neutrality agreements, labor peace agreements, labor harmony agreements, framework agreements and aggressive union organizing efforts. Harriet has also achieved favorable project labor agreements, collective bargaining and other agreements, and guided clients in the establishment of double-breasted operations.

Harriet began her career with the National Labor Relations Board in the Division of Advice, which handles complex factual and novel legal issues, and advises the NLRB general counsel in the development of new NLRB law. Harriet continues to avail herself of the insights achieved, when addressing today's challenging issues, including aggressive union organizing, joint employer theories, bargaining orders and the status of "student-athletes."

Harriet handles unfair labor practice and representation cases filed with the NLRB, and addresses other workplace issues, including those arising under wage and hour, anti-discrimination, leave, plant closing, Davis Bacon, the Service Contract Act, and other laws.

Harriet's creative and grounded approach has resulted in her inclusion on transactional teams when buildings and/or businesses subject to labor agreements are acquired, sold or merged, achieving a close working relationship with the real estate and corporate groups.

Harriet is the Co-Chair of the Firm's Hospitality and Leisure Practice Group, a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and has been recognized by Legal 500, the Labor Relations Institute and Washingtonian Magazine.

Areas of FocusEmploymentReal Estate
Bar admissionsDistrict of Columbia
CourtsSupreme Court of the United StatesUnited States Court of Appeals for the First CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Education
  • J.D., Antioch School of Law 1978
    Editor, Abortion Law Reporter
  • A.B., Washington University in St. Louis 1975
    cum laude

Awards

  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Recommended, Labor-Management Relations (2016-2023)
  • Harriet was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Attorneys, election as a Fellow is the highest recognition by one's colleagues of sustained, outstanding performance in the profession, signifying integrity, dedication and excellence (2008)
  • The Labor Relations Institute named her one of the Top One Hundred Labor Attorneys in the United States (2006, 2008)
  • Washingtonian magazine named her to its list of Washington's top lawyers  (2007)

Harriet has been recognized for work in the negotiation, administration, and litigation of labor-management "neutrality and card check" agreements (i.e., contracts with labor unions that affect locations that are not currently unionized, including those that have not yet opened or been acquired).

Insight Overview

Harriet has published several articles on topics, including neutrality and card check agreements, protected concerted activity, Indian gaming and municipal law.

Bylines

Prior Experience

Harriet previously served as the corporation counsel for the City of Bloomington, Indiana and with the National Labor Relations Board in the Divisions of Advice and Enforcement.

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