Kristine Grady Derewicz - Lawyer in Philadelphia, PA

Kristine Grady Derewicz represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, ranging from proactive counseling to litigation, in both union and non-union settings. She has tried numerous discrimination and Family and Medical Leave Act cases to successful resolutions, including mediated settlements and jury trials, and she has substantial knowledge of:

• Title VII and Title IX
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• The Fair Labor Standards Act
• The National Labor Relations Act

She appears in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board. Kristine has also handled numerous employment arbitrations involving claims of discrimination, compensation disputes, and breach of contract claims. Her experience also includes drafting employment and severance agreements, drafting and litigating covenants not to compete, and labor-management relations.

Kristine handles traditional union matters, including:

• Labor arbitrations
• Disputes under collective bargaining agreements
• Collective bargaining negotiations
• Representation elections
• Unfair labor practice proceedings

When clients handle negotiations themselves, she provides behind-the-scenes advice and counsel. Kristine also regularly counsels clients about discrimination and wage and hour concerns. She frequently represents healthcare employers, private schools, and colleges and universities, among other employers, and works closely with in-house counsel and human resources professionals to:

• Implement best practices in the workplace
• Address employee relations concerns creatively and effectively
• Avoid unnecessary litigation
• Aggressively defend actions initiated by employees and unions

Kristine is the office managing shareholder and one of the founding members of Littler Mendelsons Philadelphia office, and has served on the firm's Associates Committee, the Good Business Practices Committee, and the Nominating Committee. Kristine also represents a number of Philadelphia-based social service agencies on a pro bono basis. Prior to working at Littler, she was associate counsel with a large private university's health system, handling all of the system's labor and employment law needs.