Manufacturing

We know that the employment needs of manufacturers are unique to the industry, and we approach them as such, bringing effective and practical solutions tailored to the needs of specific workplaces and workforces. Several of our attorneys were formerly in-house counsel with manufacturing companies, giving us additional insight into the time-sensitive and practical needs of our clients. Along with the myriad federal laws affecting manufacturers, there are regulatory challenges at the state and local levels. Our footprint and physical presence contribute to our ability to represent manufacturers in locations throughout the United States. We also have global capabilities that support our clients’ manufacturing and supply chain operations abroad.

Traditional Labor Relations

American manufacturing has historically been intertwined with organized labor. U.S. manufacturers either have unionized workforces or need to be constantly vigilant and strategic if they wish to remain union-free. Ogletree Deakins boasts a large traditional labor practice, with lawyers who practice in the areas of labor relations and union avoidance.

Workplace Health and Safety

We keep our manufacturing clients abreast of ever-changing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, and we assist clients in mitigating workplace safety problems when they occur—and litigating them, if necessary. Our workplace health and safety attorneys dedicate their practice to workplace safety compliance counseling, crisis management, and effective handling of OSHA inspections and citations.

Wage and Hour

Manufacturers face a host of wage and hour issues, including whether supervisors and team leaders qualify as exempt under federal and state wage and hour laws, meal and rest break requirements, donning and doffing issues, coordination of federal and state overtime rules, timekeeping obligations, and more. Our Wage and Hour Practice Group works to solve these issues for our manufacturing clients and defends them in wage and hour litigation, which has markedly increased in recent years.

Drug Testing

We assist employers in drafting and revising drug and alcohol testing policies, analyzing individual drug and alcohol testing situations, training employees, and litigating class and collective actions, single-plaintiff cases, and regulatory drug testing matters.

Immigration

Ogletree Deakins has one of the largest business immigration practices in the United States. Our immigration attorneys provide a wide range of legal services for employers seeking temporary business visas and permanent residence on behalf of foreign national employees.

Manufacturing Industry Group Leader

Michael D. McKnight