Shawe Rosenthal LLP

Managing Partners: Gary L Simpler, Teresa D. Teare

Number of partners: 14

Number of lawyers: 19

Languages: English 

Firm Overview:  

Founded in 1947, Shawe Rosenthal LLP was one of the first law firms in the country devoted exclusively to the representation of management in labor and employment matters. From its inception, Shawe Rosenthal decided to remain a boutique practice, select and centralized, rather than expand into regional offices. From this focused base, Shawe Rosenthal provides clients with effective and practical advice, strategic thinking, cutting edge knowledge of labor and employment developments, and enhanced efficiencies and responsiveness in rendering services. This philosophy has contributed to a professional excellence that has attracted clients from across the nation. In addition to Chambers recognition, the firm's attorneys are regularly named to ‘Best Lawyers’and ‘Super Lawyers’lists, and several partners have been inducted into the College of Labor and Employment Attorneys, among other significant honors. Shawe Rosenthal has for decades represented many Fortune 500 companies, including some of the country’s largest manufacturing, public utility, healthcare and insurance concerns, who have continued to turn to the firm for advice and counsel in the labor and employment field.

Shawe Rosenthal’s practice involves both traditional labor and employment law matters. The firm defends claims involving employment discrimination and harassment, contracts and torts, labor, leave, wage and hour, and occupational safety and health matters in court, including the United States Supreme Court, and before state and federal agencies, as well as through alternative dispute resolution. Shawe Rosenthal represents management in NLRB hearings, representation campaigns, grievances, arbitrations and collective bargaining negotiations. The firm prepares employment agreements, including restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions, and is active in litigation associated with disputes over such agreements. The firm counsels and advises human resources on discipline and discharge, as well as other personnel matters, including reductions in force, leave management and reasonable accommodations. In addition, Shawe Rosenthal attorneys develop employment handbooks and policies, and conduct training of managers and employees on a variety of topics, including diversity and harassment. The firm also assists government contractors in the creation of affirmative action plans and compliance with OFCCP regulations.

Because of Shawe Rosenthal’s stature and deep knowledge of labor and employment matters, its attorneys are frequently invited to speak at the local, regional, and national level on a wide range of labor and employment topics, and serve in leadership roles in many professional organizations. In addition, the firm has been selected to author many publications, including the 2022 Chambers Global Practice Guide - Employment - US Trends and Developments, and 2022 Chambers USA Regional Practice Guide - Employment - Maryland, as well as the Legal 500’s Country Comparative Guides 2023: United States Employment & Labour Law and Lexology’s Employment: North America Digital Edition 2022 - USA - Maryland. The firm also edits the ‘Maryland Human Resources Manual’ (2001-present), published by the American Chamber of Commerce Resources. In addition, the firm authored and edited ‘Employment Law Deskbook’ (1989-2018), ‘Labor and Employment Law - Volume 10’ (2004-2018), two chapters in ‘NLRA Law & Practice’ (1991) and ‘Corporate Counsel Solutions: Employment Policies and Practices’, published by LexisNexis Matthew Bender. The firm publishes a monthly E-Update, breaking news E-lerts, and a blog, www.laboremploymentreport.com.

Main Areas of Practice: 

Administrative Charges

Affordable Care Act

Alternative Dispute Resolution – Arbitration & Mediation

Appellate Litigation

Class & Collective Actions

Collective Bargaining/Labor Contract Negotiations

Employment & Severance Contracts

Employment Audit

Employment Discrimination & Harassment

Employment Litigation

Employment Law Training

Employment Policies & Handbooks

Family & Medical Leave Act

FLSA Compliance

Labor Arbitrations & Grievances

Labor-Management Relations

Layoffs and Reductions in Force

NLRB Proceedings

Occupational/Workplace Safety

OFCCP & Affirmative Action Compliance

Reasonable Accommodations

Strikes & Picketing Union Avoidance

Wage & Hour Litigation

Whistleblower Actions

Workplace/Human Resources Advice & Counseling

Workplace Investigations

Labor & Employment: 

Employment law including defense of statutory and employment discrimination claims, as well as employment tort and contract claims; labor management relations including collective bargaining, and proceedings before the NLRB; human resources advice and counsel; restrictive covenants litigation, including intellectual property and trade secrets; wage and hour defense; occupational safety and health; affirmative action programs; employee accommodations and leave including the Family and Medical Leave Act; mass layoffs and reductions in force, including under the Workers’ Adjustment and Retraining Act; employment policy and document review and preparation, including employment agreements, employment handbooks, policies and procedures; appellate litigation; class action defense.

Key Clients: 

The firm represents clients in all sectors of the economy including The Baltimore Orioles Baseball Club; major manufacturing concerns such as Danaher Corporation, Inc.; hospitals and other healthcare providers including Genesis HealthCare Corporation; business and financial services such as GEICO; power industry leaders including NRG Energy, Inc. and Calpine Corporation; and hospitality services including the Hay-Adams Hotel. Shawe Rosenthal also represents numerous midsize and smaller employers in each of these sectors.