The Conklin Firm is highly regarded for its employment law expertise. It is ranked in the top two bands in New Mexico in labor and employment law by Chambers U.S.A. The most senior member of the Firm, Robert Conklin, has been ranked in the top band of labor and employment law attorneys in each of the last five editions of Chambers U.S.A.
Litigation and charges of discrimination
The Firm regularly represents employers, large and small, public and private, in State and Federal Court, and before the New Mexico Human Rights Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Labor. We have represented companies in hundreds of EEOC/HRD charges.
We have defended many large cases, including class-action, 13-plaintiff, 4-plaintiff and 3-plaintiff employment lawsuits, as well as hundreds of single-plaintiff cases brought by employees or former employees. Types of claims litigated by our attorneys include:
- Breach of employment contracts and contracts
- Breach of non-competition and confidentiality agreements
- Defamation
- Discrimination (including age, disability, race, national origin, sex and sexual harassment)
- Infliction of emotional distress
- Injunctions
- Retaliation
- Tortious interference with contract
- Family Medical Leave Act
- ERISA
Counseling
The Firm also regularly works with clients in drafting and updating their personnel policies and advises clients on the full range of personnel and employee relations matters, including:
- Hiring, discipline and discharge
- Wage and hour
- Leave and disability
- Sexual harassment
- Violence in the workplace
- Internal investigations
- Grievances
- Other terms and conditions of employment
Employment/labor arbitrations
We have extensive experience handling arbitrations. Mr. Conklin has over twenty-five (25) years of experience handling labor arbitrations for Public Service Company of New Mexico and other clients. He has handled at least 80 labor arbitrations. These have included all aspects of contract interpretation, discipline, discharge and plant closure. He has successfully handled an overtime arbitration involving claims exceeding $1.0 million, a plant closure arbitration involving claims exceeding $650,000.00, and an arbitration challenging over 70 staffing and promotion decisions by management.
The Conklin Firm has preserved management’s rights to utilize its manpower, assign work, arrange and change shifts, select and discharge personnel, and subcontract work. We have provided advice to clients and members of negotiating teams during negotiations of collective bargaining agreements, and we regularly advise clients concerning grievance responses and contract interpretation.