Jamie R.Rich
Partner
Labor & Employment
jrich@seyfarth.com
Jamie is a creative legal strategist who represents clients in all areas of labor and employment law, with a focus on labor-management relations.
More About Jamie
Jamie provides clients with a multidimensional perspective on labor and employment law issues, representing them in labor-management relations, employment litigation, and counseling matters. She focuses a significant portion of her practice on labor law—she has spent over a decade helping clients navigate representation and unfair labor practice cases before the National Labor Relations Board. Jamie also advises clients across the US who are facing union organizing drives. She understands the importance of helping her clients maintain positive employee relations in both union and nonunion settings.
Clients in heavily unionized industries, such as hospitality, healthcare, and energy, look to Jamie to first chair collective bargaining negotiations and labor arbitrations. She enjoys providing practical advice and helping her clients strategically resolve legal disputes so that they can focus on their operations.
Jamie’s experience includes defending employers against harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lawsuits in state and federal courts. She also handles administrative charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state agencies.
In addition to her litigation practice, Jamie maintains a strong counseling practice, and regularly advises clients on cutting-edge labor and employment law matters. She often consults with human resources professionals, executives, and board members regarding all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring and firing practices, employment contracts, enforceability of covenants not to compete, reductions in force, and safety-related issues. Jamie also advises foreign and out-of-state companies with a California presence on unique California-related employment law issues.
Clients in heavily unionized industries, such as hospitality, healthcare, and energy, look to Jamie to first chair collective bargaining negotiations and labor arbitrations. She enjoys providing practical advice and helping her clients strategically resolve legal disputes so that they can focus on their operations.
Jamie’s experience includes defending employers against harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lawsuits in state and federal courts. She also handles administrative charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state agencies.
In addition to her litigation practice, Jamie maintains a strong counseling practice, and regularly advises clients on cutting-edge labor and employment law matters. She often consults with human resources professionals, executives, and board members regarding all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring and firing practices, employment contracts, enforceability of covenants not to compete, reductions in force, and safety-related issues. Jamie also advises foreign and out-of-state companies with a California presence on unique California-related employment law issues.
- JD, Pepperdine University School of Law
- BA, University of Southern California
- California
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
Related Services
Representative Labor Relations Litigation — National Labor Relations Board
- First chaired representation proceeding for cruise and event client before Region 21 of the NLRB, which resulted in a win for the employer. °
- First chaired representation proceeding for transportation client before Region 2 of the NLRB. Advised regarding union organizing, campaign strategy, and election, and secured a win for the employer. °
- Second chaired representation proceeding for energy client before Region 20 of the NLRB, and contended that a system-wide bargaining unit was the only appropriate unit given unique factors present in the energy industry. Obtained favorable Regional Director ruling, resulting in union’s withdrawal of petition for election. °
- Represented an energy client in a test-of-certification case and multiple unfair labor practice charges before Region 20 of the NLRB. Following briefing before the D.C. Circuit, the union disclaimed interest in the bargaining unit and the Board granted a petition to revoke the union’s certification as the employees’ representative. °
- Successfully resolved several unfair labor practice charges before Region 28 of the NLRB, involving allegations that an acute care hospital client terminated employees in retaliation for their union activity. °
- Defended construction industry client in unfair labor practice charge before Region 29 of NLRB, involving allegations that the employer engaged in regressive bargaining after an economic strike. Obtained withdrawal of the charge. °
- Defended hotel management client in several unfair labor practice charges before Region 31 in connection with a union organizing drive. Charges alleged that employees were disciplined and terminated in retaliation for protected, concerted activity. Pursued charges against union for coercion and secondary boycott. °
Representative Labor Relations Arbitration Matters
- First chaired heavily-contested labor arbitration and defended related EEOC charges of racial discrimination and harassment against acute care hospital client. Prevailed in arbitration proceeding and obtained dismissal with prejudice of related EEOC charges. °
- First chaired a contract interpretation arbitration involving a gaming client’s promotional bid process. Successfully defended claims and obtained arbitrator ruling that management’s hiring and promotional practices did not result in age discrimination. °
- First chaired labor arbitration for gaming client, and defended it against allegations that a truck driver was wrongfully terminated. Obtained arbitrator ruling that client had just cause for terminating employee. °
Other Representative Matters
- Negotiated collective bargaining agreements (including both initial and successor agreements) on behalf of multiple clients in the health care, energy, and customer service industries. Advised clients on contentious disputes regarding medical plans, policy changes, sick leave issues, California PAGA issues, and joint employer issues. °
- Represented multiple clients in Project Labor Agreement negotiations with state and local California Building Trades for hotel, residential real estate, battery, and solar projects. °
° The above representations were handled by Ms. Rich prior to her joining Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Related News & Insights
-
Webinar
Dec 14, 2023
Could Cemex Cement a Union in Your Workplace?
-
Media Mentions
10/05/2023
Jamie Rich, Lisa Lehmann Nichols and Joseph Vento Discuss Cemex Construction Materials Pacific Case in Material Handling & Logistics
-
Legal Update
Aug 28, 2023
Board Wipes Out Decades of Precedent with Card Check Requirements, Punts on Issuing “Captive Audience” Ban or New Rules About Employer Speech
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Employment Law - Management (2023-2024)
- Recognized for Labor and Employment - Labor-Management Relations by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2020)
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Committee on the Development of the Law Under the NLRA, member
- National Association of Women Lawyers, member
- California Women Lawyers, member
- Marin County Women Lawyers, member
- San Francisco Bar Association, member
- Co-Author, "Board Wipes Out Decades of Precedent with Card Check Requirements, Punts on Issuing “Captive Audience” Ban or New Rules About Employer Speech," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 28, 2023)
- Co-Author, "NLRB GC Abruzzo Charges Forward With Memos Detailing Controversial Labor Agenda," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2023)
-
Contributing Editor, Developing Labor Law: The Board, the Courts, and the National Labor Relations Act (2017-2022)
-
"Three Tips for Handling Remote Worker Reimbursement Claims," Law360 (December 21, 2020)
-
"Joint-employer standard left unsettled after NLRB vacates ruling," The Daily Journal (March 22, 2018)
-
"U.S. Supreme Court to Reconsider Whether Employees May Be Forced to Pay Fair Share Fees to Unions," The Recorder (October 23, 2017)
-
"Immigration Rechecks May Violate the NLRA," Society for Human Resource Management (August 25, 2017)
-
"When Are Employers’ Unilateral Changes Prohibited?" ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law, Volume 32, Number 3 (Spring 2017)
-
Employment Laws Update: Understanding these five issues will ensure your business’ labor force is within federal compliance," Vineyard & Winery Management (January 10, 2017)
-
"Wine businesses can’t outsource liability for labor practices," North Bay Business Journal (October 10, 2016)
- Co-Speaker, "Could Cemex Cement a Union in Your Workplace?," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 14, 2023)
- Speaker, "Welcome to Jurassic Park: The Revival of Joy Silk Mills," ABA Committee on Development of the Law Under the National Labor Relations Act, Midwinter Meeting (February 28, 2022)
-
Speaker, "Life is (No Longer) a Highway: Remote Worker Implications for Multistate Employers," Society for Human Resource Management, Annual Conference (September 11, 2021)
-
Speaker, "Social Justice in the Workplace: Corporate Responsibility and Compliance," Society for Human Resource Management, Talent Conference (August 24, 2021)
-
Speaker, "The Ethics of Collective Bargaining," 13th Annual ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference (November 8, 2019)
-
Speaker, "When Are Employers’ Unilateral Changes Prohibited? A Look at E.I. Du Pont, Minteq and Graymont," ABA Committee on Development of the Law Under the National Labor Relations Act, Midwinter Meeting (February 28, 2017)
Jamie is a creative legal strategist who represents clients in all areas of labor and employment law, with a focus on labor-management relations.
More About Jamie
Jamie provides clients with a multidimensional perspective on labor and employment law issues, representing them in labor-management relations, employment litigation, and counseling matters. She focuses a significant portion of her practice on labor law—she has spent over a decade helping clients navigate representation and unfair labor practice cases before the National Labor Relations Board. Jamie also advises clients across the US who are facing union organizing drives. She understands the importance of helping her clients maintain positive employee relations in both union and nonunion settings.
Clients in heavily unionized industries, such as hospitality, healthcare, and energy, look to Jamie to first chair collective bargaining negotiations and labor arbitrations. She enjoys providing practical advice and helping her clients strategically resolve legal disputes so that they can focus on their operations.
Jamie’s experience includes defending employers against harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lawsuits in state and federal courts. She also handles administrative charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state agencies.
In addition to her litigation practice, Jamie maintains a strong counseling practice, and regularly advises clients on cutting-edge labor and employment law matters. She often consults with human resources professionals, executives, and board members regarding all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring and firing practices, employment contracts, enforceability of covenants not to compete, reductions in force, and safety-related issues. Jamie also advises foreign and out-of-state companies with a California presence on unique California-related employment law issues.
Clients in heavily unionized industries, such as hospitality, healthcare, and energy, look to Jamie to first chair collective bargaining negotiations and labor arbitrations. She enjoys providing practical advice and helping her clients strategically resolve legal disputes so that they can focus on their operations.
Jamie’s experience includes defending employers against harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lawsuits in state and federal courts. She also handles administrative charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state agencies.
In addition to her litigation practice, Jamie maintains a strong counseling practice, and regularly advises clients on cutting-edge labor and employment law matters. She often consults with human resources professionals, executives, and board members regarding all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring and firing practices, employment contracts, enforceability of covenants not to compete, reductions in force, and safety-related issues. Jamie also advises foreign and out-of-state companies with a California presence on unique California-related employment law issues.
- JD, Pepperdine University School of Law
- BA, University of Southern California
- California
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
Related Services
Representative Labor Relations Litigation — National Labor Relations Board
- First chaired representation proceeding for cruise and event client before Region 21 of the NLRB, which resulted in a win for the employer. °
- First chaired representation proceeding for transportation client before Region 2 of the NLRB. Advised regarding union organizing, campaign strategy, and election, and secured a win for the employer. °
- Second chaired representation proceeding for energy client before Region 20 of the NLRB, and contended that a system-wide bargaining unit was the only appropriate unit given unique factors present in the energy industry. Obtained favorable Regional Director ruling, resulting in union’s withdrawal of petition for election. °
- Represented an energy client in a test-of-certification case and multiple unfair labor practice charges before Region 20 of the NLRB. Following briefing before the D.C. Circuit, the union disclaimed interest in the bargaining unit and the Board granted a petition to revoke the union’s certification as the employees’ representative. °
- Successfully resolved several unfair labor practice charges before Region 28 of the NLRB, involving allegations that an acute care hospital client terminated employees in retaliation for their union activity. °
- Defended construction industry client in unfair labor practice charge before Region 29 of NLRB, involving allegations that the employer engaged in regressive bargaining after an economic strike. Obtained withdrawal of the charge. °
- Defended hotel management client in several unfair labor practice charges before Region 31 in connection with a union organizing drive. Charges alleged that employees were disciplined and terminated in retaliation for protected, concerted activity. Pursued charges against union for coercion and secondary boycott. °
Representative Labor Relations Arbitration Matters
- First chaired heavily-contested labor arbitration and defended related EEOC charges of racial discrimination and harassment against acute care hospital client. Prevailed in arbitration proceeding and obtained dismissal with prejudice of related EEOC charges. °
- First chaired a contract interpretation arbitration involving a gaming client’s promotional bid process. Successfully defended claims and obtained arbitrator ruling that management’s hiring and promotional practices did not result in age discrimination. °
- First chaired labor arbitration for gaming client, and defended it against allegations that a truck driver was wrongfully terminated. Obtained arbitrator ruling that client had just cause for terminating employee. °
Other Representative Matters
- Negotiated collective bargaining agreements (including both initial and successor agreements) on behalf of multiple clients in the health care, energy, and customer service industries. Advised clients on contentious disputes regarding medical plans, policy changes, sick leave issues, California PAGA issues, and joint employer issues. °
- Represented multiple clients in Project Labor Agreement negotiations with state and local California Building Trades for hotel, residential real estate, battery, and solar projects. °
° The above representations were handled by Ms. Rich prior to her joining Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Related News & Insights
-
Webinar
Dec 14, 2023
Could Cemex Cement a Union in Your Workplace?
-
Media Mentions
10/05/2023
Jamie Rich, Lisa Lehmann Nichols and Joseph Vento Discuss Cemex Construction Materials Pacific Case in Material Handling & Logistics
-
Legal Update
Aug 28, 2023
Board Wipes Out Decades of Precedent with Card Check Requirements, Punts on Issuing “Captive Audience” Ban or New Rules About Employer Speech
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Employment Law - Management (2023-2024)
- Recognized for Labor and Employment - Labor-Management Relations by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2020)
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Committee on the Development of the Law Under the NLRA, member
- National Association of Women Lawyers, member
- California Women Lawyers, member
- Marin County Women Lawyers, member
- San Francisco Bar Association, member
- Co-Author, "Board Wipes Out Decades of Precedent with Card Check Requirements, Punts on Issuing “Captive Audience” Ban or New Rules About Employer Speech," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 28, 2023)
- Co-Author, "NLRB GC Abruzzo Charges Forward With Memos Detailing Controversial Labor Agenda," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 24, 2023)
-
Contributing Editor, Developing Labor Law: The Board, the Courts, and the National Labor Relations Act (2017-2022)
-
"Three Tips for Handling Remote Worker Reimbursement Claims," Law360 (December 21, 2020)
-
"Joint-employer standard left unsettled after NLRB vacates ruling," The Daily Journal (March 22, 2018)
-
"U.S. Supreme Court to Reconsider Whether Employees May Be Forced to Pay Fair Share Fees to Unions," The Recorder (October 23, 2017)
-
"Immigration Rechecks May Violate the NLRA," Society for Human Resource Management (August 25, 2017)
-
"When Are Employers’ Unilateral Changes Prohibited?" ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law, Volume 32, Number 3 (Spring 2017)
-
Employment Laws Update: Understanding these five issues will ensure your business’ labor force is within federal compliance," Vineyard & Winery Management (January 10, 2017)
-
"Wine businesses can’t outsource liability for labor practices," North Bay Business Journal (October 10, 2016)
- Co-Speaker, "Could Cemex Cement a Union in Your Workplace?," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 14, 2023)
- Speaker, "Welcome to Jurassic Park: The Revival of Joy Silk Mills," ABA Committee on Development of the Law Under the National Labor Relations Act, Midwinter Meeting (February 28, 2022)
-
Speaker, "Life is (No Longer) a Highway: Remote Worker Implications for Multistate Employers," Society for Human Resource Management, Annual Conference (September 11, 2021)
-
Speaker, "Social Justice in the Workplace: Corporate Responsibility and Compliance," Society for Human Resource Management, Talent Conference (August 24, 2021)
-
Speaker, "The Ethics of Collective Bargaining," 13th Annual ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference (November 8, 2019)
-
Speaker, "When Are Employers’ Unilateral Changes Prohibited? A Look at E.I. Du Pont, Minteq and Graymont," ABA Committee on Development of the Law Under the National Labor Relations Act, Midwinter Meeting (February 28, 2017)