REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Leann M. Walsh
Investigations
Investigated allegations regarding workplace sexual harassment and retaliation within a credit union, including with respect to alleged compensation inequities
Investigated allegations of compensation disparities relating to the corrective action processes of a financial services company
Investigation allegations of discrimination and retaliation, including with respect to compensation, on behalf of an international provider of music and related products
Investigated allegations relating to Title IX and federal Clery Act compliance in a highly publicized pro bono matter on behalf of Roxbury Community College
Represented publicly traded technology company relating to investigation of potential theft of company property, confidential information, and trade secrets
Advised software company with respect to internal allegations relating to sexual harassment in the workplace
Represented online media company relating to investigation of criminal arrest of executive
Conducted investigation regarding workplace bullying, harassment, and other allegations of inappropriate employee conduct for national health care client
Advised digital solutions agency regarding internal investigation relating to employee fraud and misrepresentations during interview process
Investigated employee workplace injury relating to electrical arc-flash for manufacturer of home building materials
Counseling
Advised federal contractor clients, including health care facilities and airlines, regarding affirmative action plan development, implementation, and compliance
Advised employee staffing company regarding complex issues under the federal Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act (the WARN Act) relating to transition of leased employees in distribution center to direct employment with multinational shoe, clothing, and accessories manufacturer
Ongoing representation of a rapidly growing internet search engine providing global employment law assistance, including advising regarding recruiting, hiring, global employment mobility, leaves of absence, performance improvement, disability accommodations, employee immigration, occupational health and safety, diversity, equity and inclusion, and terminations for the company’s workforce around the world, regular day-to-day employee benefits and executive compensation advice, and providing diversity and inclusion training and internal investigations training for the company’s Legal, Human Resources, and Talent Acquisition teams
Advised wireless network infrastructure and technology support service provider with respect to employee workplace injury
Ongoing representation of a publicly-traded global chemical and materials company to serve as primary outside counsel for U.S. labor and employment matters, including legal advising relating to COVID-19 workplace safety compliance (including employee vaccinations), Fair Credit Reporting Act compliance, anti-harassment and equal employment opportunity policies, employee discipline matters, employee recruitment and retention matters, and employee terminations and retirements
Ongoing representation of a multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company, including advising regarding the company’s internship program, workforce drug and alcohol testing, employee and applicant disability accommodations, drafting executive employment agreements, representing the company in a potential sale process, complying with state and federal employee COVID-19 vaccine mandates, incentive compensation frameworks, wage and hour compliance, and internal harassment investigations
Ongoing representation of a leading provider of data access and connectivity solutions with respect to global workforce matters, including legal issues relating to employees and independent contractors
Employment law counseling assistance for a nationwide provider of autism behavioral therapy, including negotiating executive separation agreements, revising the company’s nationwide employee handbook, advising regarding COVID-19 vaccine compliance and worker health and safety initiatives, reductions in force, internal compliance projects, applicant background check policies, wage and hour matters, and administrative discrimination, harassment, retaliation and benefit administration claims
Ongoing representation of homebuilder business in the United States with respect to labor and employment matters, including employee background checks
Advised health care executive regarding employment agreement with full-service community pharmacy
Ongoing representation of sleep medicine therapy provider with respect to employee hiring matters, including restrictive covenant agreements
Ongoing representation of energy trade association with respect to employment matters, including executive employment arrangements
Represented mental health service provider with respect to employment matters, including employee incentive compensation and retention arrangements
Ongoing representation of executive in the dental industry with respect to consulting arrangement
Transactional
Advised with respect to all labor and employment matters a developer, manufacturer and distributor of medical devices for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing and oxygen therapy on its acquisition of a global ventilator device manufacturer, which was named a Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year by the M&A Advisor. Also advised the same client with respect to labor and employment matters in its acquisitions of multiple cardiac monitoring service providers and a home sleep testing company
Counseled Red Ventures, a portfolio of digital brands, on employee-related matters concerning its $500 million acquisition of CNET Media Group from ViacomCBS, and Red Ventures’ divestiture of CNET Content Solutions to 1WorldSync
Advised Discovery Education, a global leader in standards-based digital curriculum resources for K-12 classrooms worldwide, on employment-related issues concerning its acquisition of Mystery Science, a K-5 STEM curriculum provider
Advised a publicly-traded leading internet information and services company on employment-related matters in connection with its acquisitions of a behavioral-based marketing solutions and research company and a cybersecurity training company
Counseled with respect to employment-related matters a publicly-traded specialty contractor that provides fully integrated solutions for the electric power, pipeline, industrial and communications industries on its acquisition of a provider of specialty construction services
Provided transactional assistance relating to private equity client investment into multi-state transportation and logistics provider employer
Provided transactional assistance relating to private equity investment into employer with hundreds of employees across the southeastern United States in the business of designing, manufacturing, installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing equipment critical to the operation of industrial facilities
Performed employment-related due diligence relating to financial investment in provider of commercial aviation simulation and training
Advised regarding employment law matters relating to a client investment in two vegetation management services providers with almost 1,000 employees across eight states
Provided employment-related transactional assistance for strategic public company client investments into a digital health platform delivering medically-reviewed consumer content with more than 300 employees across California, New York and the United Kingdom and North Carolina-based leading provider of marketing and enrollment services to post-secondary institutions in the United States
Provided transactional assistance on employment matters relating to private equity client investment into provider of signage and mailbox solutions in the building industries with employees in multiple states
Advised regarding employment law matters relating to client acquisition of pool industry supplier
Provided employment-related transactional assistance related to private equity firm investment in virtual anatomy application provider
Provided transactional assistance on employment matters relating to $100M+ strategic acquisition of South Carolina sawmill business
Provided transactional assistance on employment matters relating to acquisition by private equity client of national global litigation support services company
Successful resolution of federal lawsuit relating to alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, race- and sex-based discrimination and harassment, retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and wrongful discharge in violation of public policy under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-422.1
Provided transactional assistance on employment matters relating to investments by a multinational investment bank and financial services provider into a cryptocurrency financial services company and a global payments platform company
Represented renewable energy executive in connection with negotiation of employment agreement in conjunction with acquisition of executive’s employer by a publicly traded power and energy company
Litigation and Arbitration
Secured a favorable jury verdict on behalf of a global investment services company under the Family and Medical Leave Act
Obtained dismissal of a discrimination complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability, national origin, race, and age, as well as unlawful retaliation against a multinational information technology and outsourcing company
Successful resolution of federal court litigation matter concerning age discrimination claims arising from a failure to hire a prospective employee
Successful resolution of investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) into complaint alleging that a hospital discriminated against persons with disabilities and was not compliant with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Obtained dismissal of an unfair labor practice charge on behalf of a national professional organization by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board relating to alleged protected concerted workplace activity
Obtained administrative dismissal by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of disability discrimination and retaliation charge against fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization
Assisted with defense of class action lawsuit against fintech company relating to alleged unpaid employee overtime
Successful resolution of arbitration demand and Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower complaint with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration regarding termination of employment of chief financial officer of public company client
Advised regarding complex strategic employment issues relating to corporate asset purchase by global market research and consulting firm
Successful resolution of state court claims for breach of contract, unpaid wages, and unjust enrichment concerning unpaid employee commissions
Obtained administrative dismissal by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of racial discrimination and retaliation charge in favor of emergency medical services billing provider
Successful resolution of reverse-discrimination federal court claims by former employee of public technology company
Successful resolution of former employee claims against former employer and related estate involving breach of contract and the North Carolina doctrine of necessities for home health services
Successful resolution of claims by former employee of a pharmaceutical manufacturer relating to allegations of invasion of privacy, defamation and the tort of false light
Successful resolution of claims by a former employee of medical device developer relating to commission dispute
Obtained dismissal of Occupational Safety and Health Administration complaint regarding alleged workplace safety concerns relating to COVID-19
Successful resolution of alleged breach of contract claim by former executive for unpaid severance of online retailer of electrical suppliers and tools
Litigated on behalf of a nationwide transportation company in numerous civil suits arising out of alleged misclassification of independent contractors
Successful resolution on behalf of manufacturer and distributor employer of proposed citations by Occupational Safety and Health Division of the North Carolina Department of Labor relating to employee workplace amputation
