Williams & Connolly LLP's litigation practice includes the representation of individuals and companies, as well as federal and private sector unions in employment and labor litigation.

The firm handles a broad array of employment disputes. The firm represented Dick Grasso, former chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, in his dispute with the New York Attorney General over his compensation.  The Wall Street Journal described the firm's victory in that case as "one of the biggest defeats suffered by authorities in the past decade in white-collar civil and criminal cases aimed at alleged financial improprieties."  The firm is representing bankers in a multi-million dollar employment dispute over bonus awards. Coach Larry Brown also retained the firm in his employment dispute with the New York Knicks. Williams & Connolly LLP lawyers took to trial and won a class action case for a midwestern power company and its senior officers brought by pension plan participants. The plaintiffs claimed a $200 million drop in the value of their pensions after a merger, despite having had access to outside investment advice regarding diversification of their investments.

Williams & Connolly prevented Par Ridder, publisher of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, from decamping to its main competitor the Minneapolis Star Tribune with proprietary information belonging to the Pioneer Press and another Pioneer Press executive. The firm also successfully defended an automobile retailer against claims of race discrimination in denial of a dealership franchise.  The firm has represented both newspapers and federal government attorneys in separate disputes regarding overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The firm has also represented both employers and employees in a wide range of employment-related disputes involving issues such as breaches of employment agreements, rights to stock options, enforceability of agreements not to compete, and the rights of employers and employees regarding alleged trade secrets. For example, we successfully represented the largest legal placement firm in Washington in a dispute with a group of former employees who attempted to establish a competing enterprise in violation of various contractual and statutory obligations. 

In cases involving claims of race, age, disability, and sex discrimination, the firm has represented a wide variety of individuals and companies, including several major media companies, major law firms, a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company, a nationally known charity, a major bank, major universities, a large supermarket chain, large railroads, several hotels, a car dealership, and a national magazine. The firm's experience covers not only employment discrimination claims of individuals, but also the defense of class actions involving thousands of individuals and millions of dollars. Although we often represent defendants, the firm has also represented plaintiffs with employment discrimination claims.

Labor

From its earliest days, Williams & Connolly has represented major labor unions, individual labor leaders, and pension funds in litigation, government investigations, and internal reform efforts. The firm has defended such parties in a wide variety of matters, including those brought by private companies, minority union factions, the Department of Labor, and the United States Department of Justice. The firm was instrumental in bringing about the landmark agreement between the Laborer's International Union of North America and the Department of Justice permitting the union to achieve significant reforms.