Employment Law
Proactive Employment Solutions for Business Growth and Risk Mitigation
Our Employment Law practice provides comprehensive counsel to businesses and individuals navigating the complex landscape of workplace relationships. Our approach combines deep legal expertise with practical business insight gained from in-house corporate experience, enabling us to deliver solutions that protect legal interests while supporting operational objectives. We understand that employment law is not just about compliance—it's about creating workplaces where businesses thrive and employees succeed.
Core Services:
Proactive Compliance & Risk Management – Employment handbook development, policy drafting, FMLA and ADA compliance, EEOC guidance, and FLSA wage and hour compliance, manager or employee training (English or Spanish)
Employment Contracts & Agreements – Reviewing, drafting, or negotiating non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, employment contracts, separation agreements, and restrictive covenant enforcement
Executive Compensation Packages – For both employers and employees, analyze and negotiate compensation packages, contracts, and agreements
Workplace Policy Development – Anti-harassment policies, social media guidelines, remote work policies, and comprehensive workplace standards
Employee Relations Guidance – Discrimination claims, wrongful termination suits, wage and hour disputes, and employment-related litigation management
Strategic Exit Planning – Separation negotiations, severance agreements, and transition strategies for both employers and employees
Our Unique Approach: Our practice is distinguished by our dual perspective as employment attorneys as well as experiences as a former in house Chief Human Resources Officer of a national companies. This rare combination of legal expertise and executive HR experience enables us to understand not just the law, but the practical realities of implementing employment policies in dynamic business environments. We focus on preventive counseling and early intervention to help clients avoid costly disputes while building stronger workplace cultures.
Notable Results:
Comprehensive employment law support for businesses ranging from start-ups to multinational corporations
Successful defense of complex employment litigation while maintaining positive workplace relationships
Implementation of compliance programs that have helped clients avoid EEOC enforcement actions and costly litigation
On site EEOC and ADA training of every employee of a Florida municipality (from the sanitation workers, firemen, and policemen through the City Manager).
Business Solutions
Integrated Legal and Business Counsel for Growing Companies
Our Business Solutions practice delivers comprehensive legal support designed specifically for small and midsize businesses that need sophisticated counsel without the overhead of a traditional large firm relationship. We combine legal expertise with business acumen to provide practical, cost-effective solutions that enable our clients to focus on growth while ensuring legal compliance and risk management.
Core Services:
Contract Negotiations & Management – Purchase agreements, service contracts, vendor agreements, and contract review and negotiation
Business Formation & Structure – Entity selection and formation, operating agreements, partnership structures, and corporate governance
Regulatory Compliance – Industry-specific compliance, licensing requirements, and regulatory risk assessment
Healthcare Practice Specialization – Specialized healthcare industry legal support such as drafting physician contracts, medical practice partnership agreements, evaluating healthcare non-competes, and buying or selling a medical practice
General Business Counsel – Day-to-day legal guidance, risk assessment, and strategic business decision support
Crisis Response & Business Continuity – Emergency legal support, rapid response services, and business disruption management
Our Unique Approach: Legal issues are rarely black and white, and our approach reflects this reality. Rather than simply saying "no," we work collaboratively with clients to find creative solutions that achieve business objectives while meeting legal requirements. Our team’s MBA training and in-house corporate executive experience provides a unique perspective that enables us to balance legal risk with business opportunity, ensuring our advice supports rather than hinders business growth.
Notable Results:
Served as outside general counsel for numerous small and midsize businesses across diverse industries including national fast food chains and the largest dietician services provider in the U.S.
Successful navigation of complex regulatory environments for healthcare and other highly regulated industries
Implementation of legal frameworks that have supported significant business growth and expansion
Serve as General Counsel of national concierge medicine trade organization
Representing Executive and Employees
A Thoughtful Exit Strategy Makes Leaving a Current Employer Less Stressful and More Successful
Many executives and employees realize they need to develop an exit strategy before leaving a job. Most have not been in this situation before. Despite a wealth of business experience and expertise, they can profit from professional representation in navigating and negotiating a successful transition.
Considering Leaving Your Present Employer? Common Questions Arise
How much severance should I get?
Will I get my annual bonus?
What about deferred compensation?
Will I get paid for my unused vacation?
What about my vested and non-vested equity-based compensation?
Will I continue to receive health care coverage and life insurance?
Do I have a claim of discrimination or other legal claim?
Is the non-compete I signed enforceable or negotiable?
What about references?
A Positive Start with a New Employer Is the Other Half of the Equation — and Just as Important
The best time to negotiate terms of employment and other details is at the outset of a new job or a new assignment. Clarifying and documenting mutual understandings can bolster your success, reduce future conflict, and provide peace of mind. Not only for you, but also for your new employer.
A Firm with the Experience and Expertise to Help You
Areas in which Barbas Cremer can provide you with legal advice and solutions include:
Employment agreements
Severance and Separation Agreements
Non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants
EEOC charges and other claims
Executive compensation
Benefits
Anchor a Fresh Start with Expert Representation
Terin's law-firm experience is bolstered by years as corporate in-house labor, benefits and employment counsel, providing guidance on executive and employee departures. This mix of independent and corporate legal experience gives unique perspectives you can harness to your advantage.
Workplace Investigations
Independent, Thorough, and Defensible Workplace Investigations
Our Workplace Investigations practice provides professional, independent workplace investigations that protect both employers and employees while ensuring compliance with legal obligations. As a certified member of the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI-CH), our team brings specialized expertise and proven methodologies to complex workplace situations that require careful, objective analysis.
Core Services:
Discrimination & Harassment Investigations – Sexual harassment, discrimination complaints, hostile work environment claims, and retaliation allegations
Executive-Level Investigations – Senior leadership misconduct, conflicts of interest, and high-sensitivity workplace issues requiring discretion
Policy Violation Investigations – Code of conduct violations, workplace safety issues, and compliance breach investigations
Third-Party Neutral Investigations – Independent investigations when internal resources face conflicts of interest or credibility challenges
Post-Investigation Support – Remedial action planning, policy recommendations, and follow-up monitoring
Investigation Training & Consultation – Internal investigation team training and investigation methodology development
Our Unique Approach: Our investigations combine legal expertise with deep understanding of workplace dynamics gained through extensive HR executive experience. We understand that effective investigations require not just legal compliance, but sensitivity to organizational culture, employee relations, and business operations. Our methodology ensures thoroughness while maintaining confidentiality and protecting the integrity of the process.
Notable Results:
Conducted comprehensive workplace investigations across multiple industries, organizational sizes, cultures, languages, and countries
Conducted cross-cultural investigations for numerous multinational companies in European countries including France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
For a major multinational technology company based in Europe with revenues over $7 billion, completed several investigations spanning employees and C-Suite executives across four continents
Developed investigation protocols that have withstood legal scrutiny and supported successful defense of employment claims
Conducted high-profile public sector investigation including public record requests and regular media correspondence
Crisis Management
Rapid Response Legal and Strategic Support for Business Emergencies
Our Crisis Management practice provides rapid-response legal counsel combined with strategic communications and stakeholder management to help businesses navigate unexpected challenges and emerge stronger. When crisis strikes, businesses need immediate, expert guidance to protect their interests, preserve relationships, and minimize long-term damage.
Core Services:
Emergency Legal Response – Immediate legal assessment, liability evaluation, and crisis response planning
Media & Communications Strategy – Public relations coordination, media response development, and reputation management
Stakeholder Management – Employee communications, customer relations, and investor/partner coordination during crisis situations
Regulatory Crisis Response – Government agency communications, regulatory compliance during emergencies, and enforcement action response
Litigation Prevention & Management – Early dispute resolution, settlement negotiations, and litigation strategy during crisis events
Business Continuity Planning – Legal framework development for crisis preparedness and business continuation strategies
Our Unique Approach: Crisis management requires more than legal expertise—it demands understanding of business operations, stakeholder dynamics, and communications strategy. Our approach integrates legal counsel with practical crisis management experience gained in corporate executive roles, enabling us to provide comprehensive support that addresses legal, operational, and reputational concerns simultaneously.
Notable Results:
Successfully managed crisis situations involving workplace safety, regulatory enforcement, and public relations challenges
Coordinated multi-faceted crisis response strategies that minimized legal exposure while preserving business relationships
Developed crisis preparedness frameworks that have enabled clients to respond effectively to unexpected challenges
People Problems
Firing an Employee
Not every personnel decision carries the potential for a lawsuit, but if you suspect the person you want to fire for misconduct or poor performance might have a complaint against you, an employment lawyer can help minimize your risk. Some cases where you might want to consult a lawyer include:
The employee is covered by an employment contract.
The employee is soon to be vested in a stock plan or retirement account.
The employee is a member of a protected class, such as a pregnant woman, a person with a disability, or a religious minority.
The employee has access to trade secrets or valuable proprietary information.
The employee believes the firing is in retaliation for whistleblowing.
The employee has complained about harassment or discrimination, or filed a complaint against you.
In many cases, it‘s also a good idea to have a lawyer look at any proposed severance packages, especially for high-level employees.
Employee Classification
It's essential to classify positions correctly to avoid facing huge fines, back pay and overtime pay, and legal penalties. A lawyer or law firm can help you identify which positions are exempt versus non-exempt, and whether a work relationship is that of an independent contractor (a non-employee who works on a contract basis) or an employee. Employee handbooks, policies, and procedures It's a good idea to have a lawyer review your office policies, procedures, and employee handbooks to make sure you don't violate any employment laws. A lawyer can ensure you meet requirements for wages, overtime, and family medical leave, among others.
Lawsuits and Complaints
If one of your employees has filed a harassment or discrimination complaint against you with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or other state agency, or if you are the subject of a lawsuit by a disgruntled employee, contact a lawyer immediately. Even for lesser claims, such as appealing a denial of unemployment or worker's comp benefits, you may still want to consult your lawyer. This is especially true if the employee has their own attorney.
Contact Barbas Cremer to begin your objective investigation and to protect the company from liability.
Talent Management
Strategic Human Capital Solutions for Business Success
Our Talent Management practice recognizes that the right talent is fundamental to business success and provides comprehensive human capital solutions that integrate legal compliance with strategic workforce development. Through our partnership with Stravino Penrod Search Partners, we offer a unique combination of legal expertise and professional recruiting services designed to support the complete employee lifecycle.
Core Services:
Strategic Recruitment & Placement – Executive search, professional placement in Accounting, Finance, HR, and Legal roles through strategic partnerships
Behavioral Assessment & Selection – Predictive Index testing, candidate evaluation, and hiring decision support with legally compliant selection tools
HR Strategy & Operations – Customized HR solutions, engagement strategies, and organizational development consulting
Performance Management Systems – Performance review processes, coaching programs, and talent retention strategies
Workforce Planning & Development – Succession planning, leadership development, and organizational capacity building
Employment Compliance Integration – Ensuring all talent management practices meet legal requirements while supporting business objectives
Our Unique Approach: Our talent management practice leverages our managing partner's background as a former Chief Human Resources Officer to provide insights that go beyond traditional legal advice. We understand that effective talent management requires balancing legal compliance with practical workforce development strategies. The integration of legal counsel with professional recruiting services ensures that clients receive comprehensive support from initial hiring through ongoing employee relations.
Notable Results:
Successful placement of key executives and professionals across multiple industries and organizational levels
Implementation of talent management systems that have improved employee engagement and retention while ensuring legal compliance
Development of HR frameworks that have supported significant organizational growth and transformation
Human Resources Consulting
Strategic Human Capital Solutions for Business Success
We help businesses navigate complex employment laws by providing guidance on workplace policies, compliance, and risk management. Our team supports you with employee relations, hiring practices, terminations, performance improvement plans, employee coaching, and employee training to keep your organization legally compliant and thriving.
Core Services:
Trainings to Fit Your Needs- The law requires training on certain topics, such as sexual harassment. The EEOC often requires training as a part of settlement agreements and consent decrees. Additionally, employees who receive training are more likely to remain engaged in the workplace.
Coaching Valuable Executive or Employees- There are times when what is required is one-on-one coaching regarding appropriate conduct in the workplace. It may be the result of an investigation into issues raised by an employee, or it may be required by the EEOC as a result of a settlement agreement or consent decrees.
Working with C-Suite Executives - When coaching C-suite executives about workplace behavior, sensitivity, and insight can go a long way toward developing a productive relationship and ensuring successful results.
Our Unique Approach: In Terin’s work as in-house legal counsel, and as Chief Human Resources Officer, she has worked side-by-side with C-suite executives on important employment issues. This background engenders credibility and mutual respect. Knowing how to speak the language of corporate leaders gives Terin credibility and puts the executive clients at ease.