Employment

Buist Moore Smythe McGee’s Employment Practice Group represents employers in all aspects of federal and state employment law, including employment discrimination, wrongful termination, trade secrets and restrictive covenants, harassment, retaliation, immigration and wage and hour matters. Members of the Employment Practice Group appear regularly in federal and state court, and before federal and state administrative agencies. The firm also provides extensive advisory counseling services in such areas as employment contracts, employee handbooks, restrictive covenants, family and medical leave, disability law requirements, and sexual and other unlawful harassment.

Our Group is headed by a Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law and members of the Group have been recognized for their accomplishments in such publications as The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers and  South Carolina Super Lawyers. Our Practice Group leader is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and members of the Group include a former President of the Employment and Labor Law Section of the South Carolina Bar.

Areas of Experience

Employment-Related Litigation

Represent employers before federal and state administrative agencies (e.g., S.C. Human Affairs Commission, S.C. Department of Labor, S.C. Employment Security Commission, EEOC, United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division)

Defend employers in federal court actions involving allegations of race, sex, age and disability discrimination, sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation

Defend employers in state court actions involving allegations of breach of contract, violation of public policy and defamation

Represent employers in prosecuting and defending cases involving trade secrets and covenants not to compete

Advisory and Counseling Services

Provide extensive advisory services and training to national, regional, and local companies with regard to federal and state labor and employment law complianceextensive advisory services and training to national, regional, and local companies with regard to federal and state labor and employment law compliance

Prepare and review employee handbooks, anti-harassment policies, substance abuse policies, job descriptions and employment applications

Prepare and review policies relating to the ADA and FMLA compliance

Negotiate and draft employment contracts and post-employment restrictive covenants on behalf of employers and highly compensated individuals

Advise employers on hiring practices and employee discipline and discharge

Advise employers regarding wage and hour laws

Advise employers regarding compliance with immigration laws

Assist employers in workplace investigations

Present training programs on a variety of employment-related topics such as documentation and discharge and sexual harassment