Derek Barella is a partner in the labor and employment department, concentrating his practice on labor and employment-law counseling and litigation.

Mr. Barella’s practice is primarily focused on labor, employment, and employee-benefits litigation. To that end, Mr. Barella has represented clients before the state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as administrative agencies such as the NLRB, the EEOC, the Department of Labor, and labor-contract arbitrators.

Mr. Barella represents clients in connection with a wide range of labor law issues, including unfair labor-practice litigation, collective-bargaining negotiations and labor disputes, contract administration, audits of union-sponsored health and welfare plans, and union certification and decertification campaigns and elections. Mr. Barella also represents clients in the negotiation and preparation of employment and related agreements, both for individuals and in connection with corporate acquisitions and reorganizations, and has experience litigating the enforceability of covenants not to compete and other restrictive covenants.

In addition, Mr. Barella assists clients with litigation and counseling matters involving employment discrimination, employment-at-will, wage payment and compensation, and the establishment and application of employment policies and handbooks.