Tony Rizzotti is a Shareholder in Littler’s Boston and Providence offices and Co-Chair of the firm’s Healthcare Practice Group. He represents healthcare employers and other companies in all aspects of labor relations including collective bargaining negotiations, labor arbitrations, and union elections. Tony also handles litigation in federal and state courts and administrative proceedings involving discrimination, non-compete, trade secret and wage and hour matters. Tony also drafts executive employment agreements, non-competition agreements and change-in-control agreements.
A seasoned civil trial attorney with more than 30 years of experience, Robert Wolff is the Co-Chair of Littler’s Healthcare Practice Group. He has represented clients in healthcare and other industries in employment litigation and counseling, and has handled more than 60 jury trials involving matters such as wrongful death, age, race, disability and gender discrimination, and civil rights and wage and hour class actions. Previously, Rob served as Chairman of the Management Committee at Duvin, Cahn & Hutton, which later merged with Littler and was also the chief labor and employment lawyer for the City of Cleveland. He has been named in Best Lawyers in America since 2005, and in 2012 was named by Best Lawyers as Cleveland’s top management side employment attorney. Since 2009, Rob has been named by Ohio Super Lawyers as one of Cleveland’s top 50 and Ohio’s top 100 lawyers (all specialties) and he has been a Chambers USA Leading Lawyer since 2004. In 2010 and 2011, Rob was named one of the Nation’s 100 Most Powerful Labor and Employment Attorneys by HRE/Lawdragon. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Cuyahoga County Human Resources Commission.
Craig Brown has practiced labor and employment law on behalf of employers for over 30 years. A primary focus of his practice has been representing a wide range of healthcare employers. He has served as counsel for many acute care hospitals, including one of the largest healthcare systems in the country, regional and community hospitals, non-profit and faith-based institutions, and numerous nursing homes. His practice covers traditional labor relations, including union avoidance and collective bargaining, and litigation before the National Labor Relations Board, federal and state courts, and arbitrators. Craig also counsels clients and provides training on employment discrimination and wage and hour law, and provides strategic advice on mergers, acquisitions, and other ventures. Craig frequently speaks before various trade and professional organizations on labor and employment law.
John Doran’s healthcare practice covers the entire spectrum of traditional labor, employment advice and employment litigation issues facing healthcare employers. John conducts collective bargaining negotiations and advises clients on day to day contract administration. He has handled scores of arbitrations for healthcare clients involving issues such as terminations for patient abuse, diversion of narcotics and changes to health insurance and retirement benefits. John also represents healthcare employers in federal and state courts in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Robert Drake represents employers in all aspects of employment law, with a particular focus on healthcare and hospital employers. Prior to joining Littler, Robert was senior counsel in labor, employment and corporate litigation for a global health services company. He was also chief employment law counsel for an acute care hospital system for more than five years. Robert’s practice includes internal investigations of potential employee wrong-doing, fraud, improper influence, kick-backs, false claims or false certifications, theft of controlled substances, and similar matters. He provides advice and representation in government and law enforcement investigations, and whistleblower claims. Robert has extensive experience counseling hospitals and other healthcare employers on compliance with Medicare/Medicaid and other government regulations, including laws and regulations governing the employment of physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Ryan Eddings’ healthcare practice includes regularly advising clients on a wide variety of issues arising under federal and state labor and employment laws, including drafting employment and independent contractor agreements, preparing employment policies, compliance with wage and hour laws and regulations, and reducing the risk of workplace violence. Ryan represents hospitals, pharmacies, physician practice groups, and other healthcare employers in litigation involving discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wage and hour, workplace violence, contract disputes, wrongful termination, and ERISA litigation. Additionally, Ryan has represented employers in administrative proceedings before the EEOC, Department of Labor, and state and local human rights agencies.
David Goldstein works with medical device manufacturers, hospitals, and other healthcare providers to proactively identify and implement creative solutions to employment issues. He assists clients in complying with legal and regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of liability and resolving internal and external disputes. David devotes a significant portion of his practice to assisting employers in resolving OFCCP jurisdictional issues, preparing and obtaining approval of affirmative action plans, and representing government contractors in connection with OFCCP, state, and local audits. David also represents health care industry clients in state and federal court litigation, including class actions, and administrative proceedings.
Barbara Hoey is a shareholder in Littler’s New York office and a member of the Healthcare Practice Group. She has more than two decades of experience representing healthcare clients in all areas of employment law, and thus recognizes the unique challenges faced by employers in this highly-regulated industry. Barbara counsels health care clients on a wide variety of matters including termination of medical staff members, issues relating to incident reporting, JCAHO preparation, disciplinary issues, and dealing with labor unions. Barbara also represents clients in litigation and agency proceedings, both single plaintiff and class actions, and has litigated and won more than a dozen jury and bench trials. Barbara also oversees internal investigations and advises on corporate governance matters.
Ben Huggett represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and has significant experience representing healthcare clients in both safety and labor matters. He understands the unique aspects of these issues in the healthcare setting. Ben’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) practice includes safety and health program development, auditing, training, advice, and representation of clients in OSHA investigations and inspections in both routine matters, whistleblower cases, and when fatalities and catastrophes occur. He regularly appears in state and federal courts, and before the OSHA Review Commission to litigate and negotiate settlement of citations and penalties. Ben also represents employers in labor matters, negotiating contracts, advising on policy implementation, conducting arbitrations, and defending unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board.
George O’Brien represents acute care and specialty hospitals, long term care facilities and physician practices throughout the northeast in all types of employment matters. Among other accomplishments, he obtained multi-million dollar contract concessions from a registered nurses union in New York, helped a Massachusetts hospital defeat union organizing efforts, and won a defense verdict for a Connecticut hospital in a jury trial where the plaintiff claimed racial discrimination and retaliation. George is regularly consulted by health care clients about training, labor relations planning, regulatory compliance and risk avoidance.
As part of her healthcare practice, Michele Malloy represents health systems, hospitals, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in all aspects of employment law. She provides advice and counsel to employers on compliance with federal, state, and local healthcare and employment laws and regulations, and in developing legally compliant policies and programs. Michele also defends healthcare employers in all aspects of employment litigation, including collective and class actions.
Breanne Sheetz specializes in litigating wage-and-hour class and collective actions in a number of industries, including security, technology, financial services, retail, and healthcare. She is the co-author of a book on the FLSA and a book chapter on Washington State wage-and-hour laws. Before attending law school, Breanne managed research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health and developed an outcomes tracking system for Washington State’s Mental Health Division. She currently volunteers as the Editor-in-Chief of a legal handbook for seniors, which features chapters on healthcare issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, long-term care, and healthcare advance directives.