Stokes Wagner is strengthening its national Labor Relations practice, building on decades of experience representing hospitality employers in complex labor matters. As part of this effort, the firm is expanding the team dedicated to labor relations, broadening its capabilities in labor-focused due diligence and workforce strategy, and increasing its capacity to support clients with complex collective bargaining and multi-property labor matters.

The strengthened practice builds on Stokes Wagner’s longstanding labor and employment experience and deep roots in the hospitality industry, bringing together legal counsel, real-world operational perspective, and academic and industry insight to help clients address labor challenges before, during, and after they arise.

Paul Wagner and Michael J. D’Angelo will lead the practice, working alongside associate attorney Cinthya Rivera and other members of the firm’s labor and employment team. The practice also draws on the experience of David Sherwyn, Director of Cornell University’s Center for Innovative Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations (CIHLER) and a recognized leader in hospitality labor and employment relations.

Together, the team brings legal, operational, academic, and hospitality industry experience to the full spectrum of labor relations and workforce issues.

Built for the Realities of Hospitality

Labor relations have long been a core component of Stokes Wagner’s work, dating back to firm founder Arch Stokes and his work representing hospitality employers in labor matters. That foundation has continued to evolve alongside the hospitality industry and the clients we serve.

This next chapter reflects the growing complexity of the labor environment and the evolving needs of hospitality employers nationwide. Labor decisions can have an immediate impact on employees, operations, guest experience, and business performance. From union-dense urban markets to large-scale resort operations and multi-property portfolios, our clients need counsel that understands both the law and what it takes to operate a hospitality business.

Building on that foundation, the practice combines Stokes Wagner’s labor and employment experience with executive-level labor relations experience from within the hospitality industry, increased team capacity, and academic and industry insight into evolving labor and workforce issues.

The practice will focus on three core areas:

1.Labor Relations & Workforce Strategy

Providing practical, proactive counsel on day-to-day and long-term labor matters, including:

• Collective bargaining agreement interpretation and administration
• Grievance and arbitration management
• Labor-management relations
• NLRB compliance and proceedings
• Workforce planning and labor risk assessments
• Protected concerted activity and unfair labor practice prevention
• Positive employee relations and organizing preparedness
• Leadership and management training

2.Negotiation & Collective Bargaining

Representing hospitality employers throughout the collective bargaining process, from preparation through implementation, including bargaining strategy, economic analysis, proposal development, chief spokesperson and lead negotiator services, contract renewals, mid-term bargaining, and post-bargaining implementation.

3.Labor-Focused Due Diligence

Advising owners and operators on the labor implications of acquisitions, dispositions, developments, expansions, and new openings, including labor risk assessments, CBA audits, workforce analysis, successorship considerations, labor harmony obligations, and strategic planning for union and non-union environments.

Expanding What We Can Do for Hospitality Employers

For Stokes Wagner, strengthening the Labor Relations practice is a natural extension of how the firm has served hospitality clients for more than 50 years: understanding the industry, listening first, and providing practical legal strategies that work in the real world.

The strengthened practice provides clients with coordinated counsel that connects labor strategy and legal risk with the realities of day-to-day hospitality operations.

About Stokes Wagner

Stokes Wagner is a law firm focused on serving the hospitality industry. For more than 50 years, the firm has developed creative and effective legal strategies for hotels, restaurants, owners, operators, and other hospitality businesses across the United States. With six offices nationwide and professionals who understand the relationships among management, owners, employees, and guests, Stokes Wagner provides practical, responsive counsel across labor and employment, litigation, workplace investigations, preventive law, and hospitality business disputes.

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THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES A GENERAL SUMMARY AND IS FOR INFORMATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSULT WITH COUNSEL BEFORE TAKING OR REFRAINING FROM TAKING ANY ACTION.