Join us once again for our annual public sector virtual seminar! On May 5th we will host a two-hour virtual program featuring a general
Continue Reading Virtual Seminar | Legal Update for the Public Sector: 2022 Legal Trends

Emerging School Law Issues
Chris Engler focuses his practice on the area of labor and employment law. He has assisted both public and private sector clients in a range of legal matters, running the gamut from grievance arbitrations before the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration and prohibited practice proceedings before the State Board of Labor Relations, to claims of employment discrimination and retaliation before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
Join us once again for our annual public sector virtual seminar! On May 5th we will host a two-hour virtual program featuring a general…
Continue Reading Virtual Seminar | Legal Update for the Public Sector: 2022 Legal Trends
Jarad Lucan and Christopher Engler will present the session, “Connecticut FMLA and Leave Changes on the Horizon” during the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC)…
Continue Reading Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC) 2021 Annual Member Forum
On June 4, 2021, Governor Lamont signed into law Public Act 21-25, which is effective October 1, 2021. This Act, entitled “An Act Concerning Access…
Continue Reading New Obligations for Connecticut Public Employers With Respect To Union Access to Employees
Join us as we take our annual public sector seminar virtual! During the month of May, we will host a series of CLE webinars featuring
…
Continue Reading Labor and Employment Virtual Spring Seminar: 2021 Public Sector Legal Update
On June 27, we issued an alert concerning the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME (June 27, 2018). There, the Court held that mandatory agency fees (also sometimes known as service fees) for public employees violate the First Amendment rights of the affected employees. We wish now to follow up with further observations and recommendations for actions that public employers should consider to comply with the ruling.
Continue Reading Janus v. AFSCME: Implementation Issues
In a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court today ruled that provisions requiring public employees to pay agency fees violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In doing so, the Supreme Court expressly overruled its own 41-year-old precedent.
This closely watched case arose from a challenge by an Illinois public employee to the requirement that he pay agency fees. Prior case law prohibited public sector employees from being forced to join a union and pay union dues as a condition of employment. However, twenty-two states permitted contractual provisions requiring employees to pay an agency fee to cover the costs of collective bargaining and contract administration. The plaintiff in Janus argued that the requirement to pay an agency fee interfered with his First Amendment rights because it forced him to financially support his union’s political activities, even if he disagreed with them.
Continue Reading U.S. Supreme Court Declares Compelled Public Sector Agency Fees Unconstitutional
Don’t wait until it’s too late. There are steps you can take now to protect you and your business from costly litigation. The programs outlined…
Continue Reading Register Now for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training – 2018 Schedule
On May 3, 2017, Connecticut area high school students learned firsthand about the legal profession at Shipman & Goodwin’s Law Day 2017, an annual event…
Continue Reading Shipman & Goodwin Hosts Annual Law Day Event
Hiring the right employee can be a challenging task. New laws and court decisions have only complicated a process that is often done quickly. This…
Continue Reading Employment Law Webinar: Legal Guide to Hiring the Right Employee the Right Way
Just in time for the holiday season, employers have a reason to be thankful. On November 22, 2016, a federal judge in Texas issued a…
Continue Reading Breaking News: Judge Stops New Overtime Rule