PITTSBURGH, July 8, 2024 – Cozen O’Connor today welcomed veteran labor and employment attorney David J. Garraux — who brings some two decades of experience representing major employers in discrimination litigation, collective bargaining, wage and hour matters, and other high-stakes workplace disputes — to its growing Labor & Employment practice. Garraux, who joins as a shareholder and will work out of the firm’s Pittsburgh office, is the third litigator to join the Labor & Employment group in the past six weeks alone. He follows Walter M. Foster, who took up residence in the Boston office in late May, and Sandi F. Dubin, who joined the firm’s New York City office in mid-June.
Garraux comes to the firm from K&L Gates and focuses his practice on workplace disputes involving a range of labor arbitrations and administrative agencies, including OSHA, the EEOC, and the NLRB. He also advises on day-to-day employment issues, policies, and best practices, collaborating with in-house counsel and senior human resources professionals to develop and administer often complex collective bargaining agreements. He also advises on day-to-day employment issues, policies, and best practices, collaborating with in-house counsel and senior human resources professionals to develop and administer pragmatic, cost-effective solutions to challenging workplace situations.
“David’s a terrific addition to our practice. His track record with traditional labor work is as strong and diverse as our client base here in Pittsburgh,” said Thomas S. Giotto, chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Department and co-founder of the Pittsburgh office. “He brings to us significant experience in logistics, transportation, manufacturing, and consumer services, thereby deepening our bench, both locally and nationally. I’m thrilled he’s chosen to join us.”
“David also brings to us a rock-solid commercial litigation practice, aggressively defending and prosecuting clients’ interests in both federal and state courts,” said Jeremiah G. Garvey, Pittsburgh’s office managing partner. “With deep ties to the Pittsburgh area, his litigation experience touches on all manner of employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, PHRA, and the FLSA. He’s a terrific addition and I’m very happy to welcome him to the Pittsburgh office.”
In addition to his work as a litigator, Garraux helps employers assess and respond to union organizing campaigns — defending employers against NLRB unfair labor practice charges brought by employees in both represented and union-free environments; and developing timely, impactful strategies to ensure employer messages effectively reach employees during times of workplace uncertainty. He also advises on restrictive covenants, trade secrets, corporate restructuring, and reductions in force implicating the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN).
An accomplished author, Garraux publishes regularly — he’s a contributing editor to The Developing Labor Law, a two-volume treatise deemed an essential research tool for labor and employment law practitioners — while also presenting at various legal profession and client-sponsored events.
“Cozen O'Connor’s robust national platform is a perfect fit for my clients, many of whom conduct business in multiple jurisdictions,” said Garraux. “We have strong leadership, a growing geographic footprint, and deep experience throughout the Labor & Employment practice — all of which supports first-class client service in all the places I need to be. I’m thrilled to be here and I’m looking forward to meeting and working with my new colleagues.”
Garraux earned his J.D. at the Duquesne University School of Law, and his B.A. at Allegheny College.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.
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