Andrew Prescott represents private and public sector employers in diverse labor, wage and hour and discrimination matters. His labor practice includes unfair labor practice charge hearings, collective bargaining and grievance arbitration. He represents employers nationally and in various industries, including gas transmission and energy, transportation, manufacturing and health care. He has advised foreign employers on compliance with United States employment and labor law.
What do you focus on?
Employment Litigation
I defend employers in state and federal courts and administrative agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. I have handled cases before the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, state courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and federal court in Rhode Island.
When my clients get sued, I help them develop and execute litigation plans focused on achieving resolution while managing cost. I spend time exploring the feasibility of alternative dispute resolution and pursuing cost effective settlements when it makes business sense. For example, in related cases brought against a bank client, I prevailed in one case on summary judgment and reached a successful settlement of the other through mediation in a coordinated approach that saved money and vindicated management’s decisions.
Training and Employment Counsel
I also educate and train managers and other employees on a variety of subjects, including sexual and other forms of harassment and best management practices, to help minimize exposure to employment liability. I recently delivered management training for a hospital that provided interactive opportunities to assess risk and share approaches to common problems. My goal is to provide a practical and useful understanding of the many laws governing employers. I help human resource and executive personnel stay ahead of changes in the law through such training and day-to-day advice.
Labor Relations
Employers turn to me for counsel in remaining union free and for representation when they must deal with a union representing their employees. I have negotiated and written collective bargaining agreements covering employees of power generating facilities, health care institutions, manufacturers and public transit providers.
Management rights, incentive compensation and other provisions I negotiate give my clients the operational flexibility they need to thrive in competitive environments. In grievance arbitration cases, I use my litigation skills to represent employers defending cases involving termination and discipline, contract interpretation, operational/management rights and benefits.
Victories I have obtained in grievance arbitration have ensured that terminated employees would not be forced back by arbitrators; reinforced management rights; and permitted necessary changes in benefits. Often, employers dealing with unions need representation on multiple fronts such as when I concurrently negotiated a first collective bargaining agreement and defended the same employer in unfair labor practice proceedings alleging firing the chief union organizer for making threats of violence.
