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Employment Law
Helping You Retain the Talent You Need
Helping You Navigate International Employment Law
Managing a diverse workforce across borders presents unique challenges. Our experienced international employment lawyers can help you navigate the complexities of international labor laws and regulations.
Our Global Employment Law Reach
We have a unique advantage – a team of dedicated international employment lawyers strategically located on the ground in key markets:
- Australia
- China
- Mexico
- Portugal
- Spain
- United States
This physical presence allows us to provide deep legal expertise and cultural understanding tailored to your specific needs in each region. Additionally, we have established a strong network of trusted local employment lawyers across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. This global network allows us to seamlessly handle your international employment matters, regardless of location.
How We Can Help You Thrive in the Global Marketplace
- Developing Compliant Hiring and Onboarding. We ensure your hiring practices meet the legal requirements of the countries where you operate, from crafting compliant job postings to navigating visa applications.
- Structuring Competitive Compensation and Benefits. We help you design employee compensation and benefits packages that comply with local regulations while remaining attractive to top talent in the global market.
- Enforceable Employment Policies and Contracts. Our lawyers draft and review employment policies, contracts (including non-competition agreements), ensuring they are enforceable and compliant in different jurisdictions.
- Managing Cross-Border Employee Relations. We provide guidance on managing employee relations issues across borders, including leaves of absence, terminations, potential discrimination claims, and disciplinary actions, while ensuring compliance with local regulations.
- Navigating Cultural Nuances. We help you foster a positive and productive work environment for your international workforce by understanding and addressing cultural differences in communication styles, management practices, and workplace expectations.
- Bilingual Employment Documents. We create clear and legally sound employment documents in multiple languages to ensure clear communication with your global workforce.
- HR Audits and Compliance. Our team conducts comprehensive HR audits to identify and address any potential compliance gaps in your international employment practices, minimizing risk and ensuring adherence to local laws.
- Mergers and Acquisitions. We guide you through the complexities of international mergers and acquisitions, ensuring compliance with employment laws during the integration process. We are often hired on private equity deals to handle the overseas employment law issues of foreign country subsidiary companies.
- Global Mobility. We advise on immigration issues, work permits, and global mobility programs for your international workforce.
Partnering with Harris Sliwoski will give you the peace of mind of knowing your international employment practices are legally compliant, culturally sensitive, and strategically effective for attracting and retaining top talent around the world.
We’re Here to Resolve Your Global Employment Challenges
Employment issues can disrupt your business and create unnecessary stress. At Harris Sliwoski, we’re dedicated to helping companies navigate workplace challenges and achieve positive outcomes. Our experienced international employment lawyers understand the complexities of employment law in a variety of industries, including retail, professional services (including law firms), entertainment, and emerging technologies.
We offer a comprehensive approach to employment law, including:
- Protecting Your Business: We fiercely advocate for your interests in litigation when necessary. We have a proven track record of success in defending businesses against a wide range of employment claims, including non-competition agreement disputes, data breaches, and harassment suits.
- Finding Solutions: We’re also skilled in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods like negotiation and mediation, which can often resolve disputes more efficiently and cost-effectively than litigation.
- Preventing Problems: We help you develop proactive strategies to minimize legal risks, such as drafting clear and enforceable employment policies and conducting preventive training programs for your workforce.
We can help you address your worldwide employment challenges and protect your business.
Our International Employment Law Services
Protecting Your Global Workforce: Our international employment law team can help you navigate the complexities of international employment law, ensuring your workforce is compliant and protected across borders.
- Employment Agreements: We draft and review international employment agreements that comply with local regulations and protect your company’s interests.
- Employer Audits for Legal Compliance: We conduct comprehensive audits to identify and address any potential compliance gaps in your international employment practices.
- Employer-Employee Handbooks: We develop clear and legally sound handbooks tailored to the specific employment regulations of each country where you operate. These handbooks are mandatory in some countries. See e.g., China Employer Rules and Regulations: A Must Have No Matter Your Size,
- Settlement Agreements: We guide you through the negotiation and drafting of settlement agreements to resolve international employment disputes efficiently.
- Employment Litigation Advice and Counsel: Our experienced lawyers advise and represent you in all types of international employment litigation, including:
- Sexual Harassment: We help you prevent and address sexual harassment concerns in your global workforce.
- Discrimination: We advise on complying with anti-discrimination laws and defend against discrimination claims.
- Wage and Hour: We ensure your compensation practices comply with local wage and hour regulations in different countries.
- Enforcement of Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements: We help you enforce agreements that protect your confidential information and client relationships assist you with.
- Global Mobility: We advise on immigration issues, work permits, and global mobility programs for your international workforce.
- Mergers and Acquisitions: We guide you through the complexities of international mergers and acquisitions, ensuring compliance with employment laws before and during the integration process. Private equity firms and their lawyers often retain our international employment lawyers to conduct due diligence regarding a potential acquisition’s foreign entity employment law compliance.
China Employment Law
Our team of China employment lawyers are widely recognized for their deep expertise and practical guidance. We combine a thorough understanding of China’s ever-evolving legal landscape with strong relationships with local labor authorities. This unique combination allows us to:
- Navigate Complexities: We help you navigate the intricacies of China’s labor laws, including unique regulations regarding employment contracts, social security, collective bargaining, and dispute resolution.
- Stay Informed: We keep you apprised of the latest legal developments and regulatory changes impacting your China operations.
- Mitigate Risk: Our proactive approach helps you identify and address potential compliance gaps, minimizing legal risks and ensuring a smooth operation.
- Develop Compliant Practices: We assist you in developing and implementing employment policies and practices that comply with Chinese law and best practices.
- Foreign-invested Enterprises (FIEs): We understand the specific challenges faced by FIEs in China and provide tailored solutions to ensure compliance.
- Mergers and Acquisitions: We advise on employment law considerations during M&A transactions involving Chinese entities.
Mexico Employment Law
Mexico’s labor laws are known for being employee-protective and they tend to be difficult for foreign companies to navigate. Our experienced (and on the ground) Mexico employment lawyers can help you:
- Develop Compliant Hiring Practices: We ensure your hiring process adheres to Mexican labor regulations, from crafting compliant job postings to navigating visa applications.
- Structure Competitive Compensation and Benefits Packages: We design compensation and benefits packages that comply with Mexican law,while remaining attractive to top talent.
- Draft Enforceable Employment Agreements: Our lawyers draft and review employment agreements to ensure enforceability under Mexican law.
- Manage Employee Relations: We provide guidance on managing employee relations issues in Mexico, including leaves of absence, terminations, and potential claims.
- Handle Collective Bargaining: We advise on navigating collective bargaining agreements with Mexican unions.
- Minimize Labor Risks: We help you identify and address potential compliance gaps in your Mexican employment practices
Portugal Employment Law
Portugal’s employment law landscape has undergone significant changes in recent years. Our Portugal employment lawyers stay up-to-date on these developments and can help you:
- Develop Compliant Employment Contracts: We draft and review employment contracts that comply with Portuguese labor laws, including regulations regarding fixed-term and open-ended contracts, probationary periods, and termination clauses.
- Manage Working Hours and Overtime: We ensure your working hour practices comply with Portuguese regulations and advise on overtime compensation requirements.
- Navigate Employee Leave and Benefits: We provide guidance on complying with Portuguese regulations regarding paid leave, social security contributions, and other benefits.
- Handle Dismissals and Terminations: We advise on the legal requirements for dismissal procedures in Portugal, minimizing risks of wrongful termination claims.
- Promote a Positive Work Environment: We offer guidance on promoting a positive work environment that fosters employee well-being and reduces the risk of workplace disputes.
Our China, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain Employment Law Services:
- Employment Contract Drafting and Review
- Compensation and Benefits Structuring
- Working Hours and Overtime Management
- Employee Leave and Benefits Administration
- Dismissal and Termination Procedures
- Workplace Investigations and Dispute Resolution
- Labor Audits and Inspections
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Our Clients' Successes
“Harris Sliwoski expertly guided us through the formation of our company. They continue to assist with necessary registrations and compliance with numerous regulations. They were able to promptly answer all our many questions and provide understandable options, explanations and practical advice. We expect to continue to use Harris Sliwoski on a regular basis as our company expands. They were also able to introduce us other professional experts. We would not hesitate to recommend Harris Sliwoski to any companies in need of legal advice.”
Three Continents Foods LLC
This law firm was a huge help as our company went through the process of commercial licensing in the California cannabis industry. They have helped us with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while clearly communicating with us throughout the process. Everyone we’ve worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field and we have always felt that we were in good hands through our legal representation.
Wil Crummer, CEO PRO Farms
Legal stuff is always scary. And I’ve had to play offense a couple times, begrudgingly. To have Harris Sliwoski have my back? It made things a lot less prickly. They quickly walked me through my options, and were refreshingly consistent in their communications, timing and billing. I’ve been lucky to stay out of the legal side of things my whole career, thankfully. When things went a little wrong, Harris Sliwoski quickly made things right.
Aaron Draplin, Founder Draplin Design Co.
I am impressed with this law firm. They answered all my questions regarding cannabis businesses and the California cannabis framework, and they have helped me with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while always clearly communicating with us throughout the process. They also redirected me to other quality people for my business needs. Everyone I worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field, and I was in good hands throughout my legal representation.
Corey T., CEO Thinc Cubed, LLC
I have been working with the lawyers at Harris Sliwoski for more than 20 years both as a business owner and as an executive at a large east-coast health system and that is because they have always efficiently provided high level and clear international law advice. Most recently, Harris Sliwoski provided legal support on many matters related to procuring medical products worldwide. Their support was particularly helpful to during the onset of COVID, when there was a big need for securing PPE quickly, all while navigating complicated international and domestic legal requirements. Harris Sliwoski’s team of international lawyers helped by conducting rapid-fire due diligence on potential suppliers, navigating the legal logistics for getting product from overseas and through U.S. customs, and drafting contracts to protect against various sorts of horribles. They did this by essentially providing what amounted to 24/7 service. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Dan Pak Hospital Supply Chain Executive
Harris Sliwoski has represented our company in the legal cannabis industry for years. Harris Sliwoski has advised us in a wide variety of legal matters, and they are truly experts in their field. I would highly recommend Harris Sliwoski to anyone with questions about cannabis law, or any legal matters. They have been great for our Company, and will continue to guide us as our industry evolves
Matt Hurt, COO Cannabis Nation
You won’t find a better partner than Harris Sliwoski when trying to navigate the complex world of healthcare regulations. They not only give sound and reliable legal advice, but they are also very responsive and are able to guide you in a way that helps you reach your business objectives as well.
Joseph Axelrod, General Counsel Irwin Naturals
When we started the process of building a ‘seed to sale’ cannabis company in Oregon, we saw the need for expert legal counsel. The cannabis sector is fraught with potential peril at every turn, and we wanted the best legal advice we could find. After talking to several firms and individuals, we feel extremely fortunate to have chosen Harris Sliwoski as our legal counsel.
Tony Theiss, CEO and Co-Founder Redbarn Cannabis
We use Harris Sliwoski on all our international legal matters, including on our international litigation matters. We have over the last few years been involved in a couple big international legal disputes and Harris Sliwoski’s international dispute resolution team provided us with expert legal assistance on both matters. They were always very careful to explain to us what they were doing and why and what their actions would likely cost us in legal fees. Most importantly, we did extremely well on both cases and I have no doubt Harris Sliwoski was a big factor in that.
Kevin English, CEO We Are Camp
We have used Harris Sliwoski for legal help related to our international manufacturing. The lawyers with whom I worked had extensive familiarity with the international legal issues involved in our various projects and offered us key insights. I particularly appreciated how they always quickly and efficiently do what they say they will do and always within their cost estimates.
Andrea Barona Valladolid, Senior Legal Counsel Fairphone