Labor and Employment and Litigation Practice Areas
Chip Cavagnaro recognizes that management's objective should be not to secure a favorable verdict in litigation but to avoid any involvement in such things. This is why he is committed to the principle of prevention. But should a client become involved in litigation, such matters must be handled in an aggressive, creative, yet affordable manner to secure the desired result.
Mr. Cavagnaro represents management in state and federal courts in all aspects of labor and employment law, as well as before numerous government agencies. His clientele ranges from small companies with only a few employees to multinational corporations. By using his experience in the courtroom and before administrative agencies, he has been able to formulate policies and practices that address the challenges faced by employees through claims of discrimination or unfair treatment. He can effectively advise the firm's clientele on reducing the risk of employment litigation.
He has handled:
- discrimination claims based on race, sex, age, national origin, religion, pregnancy, and disability
- claims of sexual and racial harassment
- violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- claims for unpaid wages and overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state law
- claims for wrongful discharge and retaliation for exercising protected employee rights;
- employment-related tort claims
- workers' compensation claims
- the enforcement (or defense) of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements
- drafting employment contracts and separation/severance agreements
- auditing employee handbooks
- investigating and responding to EEOC, DOL, NLRB, and OSHA charges and other government agency complaints
- assisting in management's response to union organizing campaigns
- representing management in grievance arbitration under collective bargaining agreements
- conducting client seminars on current labor and employment law topics such as effective handling of employee relations issues, union avoidance, FMLA compliance, and required sexual harassment and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance training for supervisors
Mr. Cavagnaro is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management and the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Memphis Bar Association. He is also a member of the Olive Branch Rotary Club and former president of the Plantation Property Owners Association. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time on the Tennessee River with his family, playing golf, and watching the Memphis Tigers.
Education:University of Memphis (J.D., with honors ,1996)
University of Memphis (B.B.A., cum laude, 1992)
Admitted to Practice: Tennessee, 1996
Contact:phone: 901.474.6142
fax: 901.374.7569
email: ccavagnaro@evanspetree.com
