Vincent Norwillo is an expert in labor and employment law, exclusively representing management in his 30+ years of practice.  He represents employers across a range of business sectors, with a specialization in the contingent employment (staffing) and construction industries.

Mr. Norwillo’s traditional labor experience is comprehensive, including collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance and arbitration proceedings, ULP litigation before the Regional Offices of the NLRB, including appeals to the Board and federal appellate courts, strike planning and work stoppage management, trust fund contribution compliance and audits, as well as union avoidance campaigns.

Vince’s employment counsel and litigation practice has likewise involved a complete range of employment issues, including employment discrimination, retaliation, and discharge; state workers’ compensation and federal USL&H claims; state and federal wage and hour issues including Davis-Bacon and state prevailing wage disputes; OSHA and MSHA compliance matters; ERISA/benefits administration; immigration; and the enforcement of post-employment restrictive covenants.

In addition to labor and employment issues, Vince has also handled licensing, apprenticeship, and other regulatory compliance matters, has investigated and litigated scores of unfair labor practice charges, and successfully defended representation petitions filed by building and construction trade unions in various NLRB Regional Offices.

While serving as National Labor & Employment Counsel at Tradesmen International, Vince successfully litigated federal and state employment and workers’ compensation cases, including successful Ohio jury trials.  He also monitored and interpreted industry specific legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments and tailored Company policies and procedures to secure compliance.  In addition, he provided regular training and counseling on topics including union avoidance, workplace harassment, hiring, discipline and discharge, as well as wage and hour and OSHA compliance.

From this experience, Vince has developed a specialty in the labor and employment legal challenges facing the construction industry and contingent employers, and he is a frequent lecturer and speaker on these topics in various forums across the country.  Notably, he has provided expert testimony before the U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on Employment, Safety & Training on the impact of proposed federal legislation.

Professional Experience:

• Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, Partner, Labor & Employment (2016-2018)
• Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan, Partner, Labor & Employment (2010-2016)
• Tradesmen International, Inc., National Labor & Employment Counsel (1997-2009)
• Duvin, Cahn & Hutton (1990-1997)

Education:

• The George Washington University National Law Center, J.D. with honors, 1990
• King’s College, B.S. Economics / B.A. English, summa cum laude, 1987

Courts and Admissions:

• Ohio
• New York
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit
• Ohio Supreme Court
• U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Associations:

• American Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. (ABC)
• American Staffing Association (ASA)
• Medina County Chamber of Commerce

Highlight of Notable Cases:

• Stover v. Myocare Nursing Home Inc., Case No: Cv-14-831894, slip op., (Cuyahoga County (Ohio) C.P. 2015) (Age discrimination summary judgment);
• Machlup v. TIAA-CREF Indiv. & Inst. Serv., et al., 2013 Ohio 2704 (8^th (Ohio) Ct. App. 2013) (ERISA dismissal affirmed);
• Kendrick v. Walgreen Company et al, No. 3:2011-cv-00404, slip op., (S.D. Ohio 2012) (Title VII and ADEA summary judgment)
• Chao v. Tradesmen International, Inc., 310 F.3d 904 (6th Cir. 2002)
• Tradesmen International, Inc. v. NLRB, 275 F.3d 1137 (D.C. Cir. 2002)
• Tradesmen International, Inc., 338 NLRB No. 49 (2002).

Honors and Awards:

• Crain’s Cleveland Business Best Lawyers in Ohio 2015
• Top Rated Labor & Employment Attorney Ohio Super Lawyers® 2015-2017
  
• Provided expert testimony at U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Employment, Safety and Training