Compliance Concerns for Employers with New Remote, Out-of-State Workforces

Sam Mitchel | Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Sam represents and advises local, national, and multi-national employers in a variety of complex labor and employment matters. He serves clients of varying disciplines, including food, consumer products, and industrial manufacturers, prominent healthcare, and higher education systems, PBMs, real estate developers, staffing agencies, and clients in the water industry.

Sam’s extensive litigation experience includes defending employers in federal and state courts against claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, multiple whistleblower laws, and other federal, state, and local employment laws. Sam routinely represents employers in administrative proceedings before federal and state agencies including discrimination, retaliation, and harassment charges. Sam also frequently counsels employers on the protection of trade secrets and the drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants.

A passionate and accomplished legal writer, Sam gives clients the upper hand in motion practice and on appeal. Sam’s high rate of success on achieving summary judgment for his clients in state and federal court is considerable, having secured numerous complete dismissals of a broad range of employment and other civil rights cases during his years of practice. Sam also specializes in judicial review of decisions issued by federal agencies, state agencies, and local governments.

Sam’s clients turn to him as a trusted counselor on myriad issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. Sam specializes in assisting his clients navigate the complex world of state and federal unemployment programs, including those under the CARES Act. Sam also actively advises clients on designing and implementing safe and effective return to work policies, particularly in office settings, and compliance with related federal, state, and local laws and public health guidance.

Sam maintains an active pro bono practice with a focus on representing indigent prisoners at both the trial court and appellate court levels. He most recently secured a favorable settlement on behalf of an indigent prisoner in a years’ long federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of Wisconsin involving a claim of First Amendment retaliation. Sam is also a deputized State Public Defender who represents clients before Wisconsin circuit courts and courts of appeal.

Farrah N.W. Rifelj | Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Sub-Practice Leader, Affirmative Action; Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Management Committee Member.

Farrah serves Michael Best in two capacities: as partner in the Labor and Employment Relations Practice Group and as a member of the Management Committee. Her practice focuses on employment counseling and employment litigation, with a particular emphasis on discrimination, noncompetition, and Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Farrah provides management with astute advice on employment topics such as: Affirmative action, Disability Accommodation, Discrimination, Employment contracts, Family and medical leave laws, Federal contractor/OFCCP regulations, Harassment, Hiring, and termination practices, Non-competition, and non-solicitation agreements, Unemployment compensation, Wage and hour law.

Ever mindful of the best outcome for her clients, Farrah has successfully litigated discrimination, contract, family and medical leave, wage and hour, non-competition and trade secret, and dealership issues in both state and federal courts. She also acts as a persuasive advocate before various administrative agencies.

Farrah is a 2015 recipient of In Business magazine’s “40 Under 40 Award.” She is a regular speaker at industry seminars and has written numerous articles on employment-related topics.

1. Foreign company registration | 12:00pm – 12:05pm
2. Leave laws | 12:05pm – 12:10pm
3. Market compensation | 12:10pm – 12:15pm
4. Payroll requirements | 12:15pm – 12:25pm
5. State unemployment and workers’ compensation programs | 12:25pm – 12:35pm
6. Wage laws | 12:35pm – 12:45pm
7. Varying anti-discrimination prohibitions | 12:45pm – 12:50pm
8. Special COVID-19 considerations | 12:50pm – 1:00pm