Irl is a member of Bailey Cavalieri LLC, where he practices in the labor and employment department. Irl has represented employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including guiding employers through work stoppages and strikes, maintaining a union-free environment, arbitrations, proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, trade secret and non-competition litigation, wage and hour investigations and litigation, employment discrimination matters, and collective bargaining. He also has extensive experience as the lead trial counsel in employment and labor litigation, including FMLA and WARN litigation, as well as wrongful discharge litigation. Irl regularly counsels employers on a wide variety of labor and employment matters, risk avoidance, and positive human resources management. He is a periodic speaker to groups, organizations and clients regarding labor and employment issues, as well as management training.
Noteworthy Experience
- Successfully represented employers to favorable judgments in age discrimination, disability discrimination, FMLA, breach of fiduciary duty, invasion of privacy, breach of contract, race discrimination, sex discrimination, and wrongful discharge cases in various federal and state courts. Successfully defended and prosecuted trade secret, non-competition, unfair competition, and tortious interference with contract cases in numerous states, including California, Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina, and Ohio.
- Served as lead negotiator for Fortune 500 corporations, as well as family owned businesses, in collective bargaining negotiations and work stoppage guidance for several industries and facilities throughout the country involving Steel Workers' Union, Teamsters' Union, Seafarers' Union, UNITE, OCAW, and UAW. Negotiations resulted in contracting work to independent contractors, relocation of facilities, elimination of bargaining unit, reduction in compensation and benefits, incentive pay compensation, and stronger management rights. Guided several employers through the permanent replacement of striking employees and decertification or withdrawal of recognition of union.
- Successfully represented employers in various labor arbitrations involving termination of employment for cause, misuse of social media by employees, entitlement to health benefits, implementation of production standards, and management rights. Represented employers in successfully maintaining union-free status in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Michigan, and Nevada in organizing efforts by Teamsters, UNITE, OCAW, Mine Workers and UAW. Represented employers in dismissal of NLRB charges resulting from union campaign, negotiations, and job actions.
- Irl routinely provides advice to employers in the areas of administration of collective bargaining agreements, union avoidance, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour, affirmative action compliance issues, FMLA compliance issues, WARN reduction in force issues, and other compliance issues in connection with labor and employment statutes and regulations.
Professional Recognition
- Cy Young Award, 1978
- Martindale Hubbell, AV Rating
Education
- University of South Carolina, J.D. (1978)
- Indiana University B.A. (1974)
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
- United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- Court of Appeals for the First Circuit